How did you do

[Nutty Fisherman]

JMR: Do you guys hunt north of town on 169? I hunt by Norsland. Didn't hear much shooting on Sat morning like I have on other years.

[Mark Christianson]

I finally bagged a real nice one. Saturday morning at 8am, the guys next to us were looking for a small buck they were trailing. Fortuneately for me, Big Daddy was lounging between us, and they kicked him my way. I heard the distinct sound of a deer running, grabbed my gun, and saw antlers as clear as the day was. A "shooter" in my book. At 80 yds he stopped to look back at what was chasing around behind him. The rest is history, and he is going on my wall.

I measured it at 144 gross. Plus or minus several inches, since I have never measured a rack. Inside spread is 19 1/2 inches.

[Sarge]

Nice deer!

[JMR]

Nutty,

We hunt up by Isanti. I live in St. Peter. Sorry, I probably should have put that in my post. I haven't talked to anyone down here as of today to see how things went. Congrats on your deer!

Joel

[WB make the CUT]

Congrats Biglake.....Great pictures!!!!

[Gissert]

BLB -

Wow! GREAT looking buck, Congratulations!

Are you heading out again this weekend?

[Jeremy Donabauer]

Iceman and Dan- What do you guys do if you don't get drawn? If I bought a doe tag I don't think I could sit there and let a Booner walk by me.

[Dan Wood]

I only hunt ND when I draw a buck tag. I go out sometimes with the guys that draw and bring a camera along and help them find bucks. I plan to start bowhunting that area as I think it would be real good. Sounds like you bowhunt ND Dunn? Any big bucks with the bow out there? The guy we were hunting with on opener shot the states 2nd largest bow kill a couple years ago - 196 or something adjusted...

[Mark Christianson]

Gissert

I am bowhunting Crow Hassan Park(St Michael) on Friday and Saturday morning. Then jumping in the car, and coming up to rifle hunt Sat night and Sunday morning.

I gotta believe the corn is coming down in masses this week.

We still have one buck tag open(and of course loads of anterless permits that we have no intention of filling unless a wounded animal comes by and needs dispatching).

I don't believe we had any other large bucks using our property based on trail camera photos, but that doesnt mean another big boy hasn't been chased our way with all the activity last weekend in the woods, and now all the field activity. Crossing my fingers and praying Dad gets his chance to bag a monster. He is due!

[Jeremy Donabauer]

We have shot some very nice 3 1/2 year old deer with the bow and have had some close encounters with some true grinders but the biggest to date with the bow is somwhere around 135". The biggest I shot was a 127" eight last year. I'll be back out there in 23 hours waiting for one of those monsters to get within 30 yds.

[Iceman77]

Dunns,

It really isn't that tough to let one of those monsters walk by. In fact I saw 2 this year that would be between 145-160" well within the range of my rifle. The fact that I was out near such a truly impressive animal and I know he would have been mine is rewarding in itself. The memories that I receive from hunting and the time and dedication that I have also put into this makes this rewarding. I know that these animals will be the main breeders in this area so good genetics will help my opportunity in the future to shoot my 170"+ buck.

[Gissert]

BLB -

Good luck on the stick flinging.

The in laws started combining corn last week. They are in no big hurry after they did the math on the propane drying costs: 44 cents a bushel. That a lot of $$$ when corn is at two dollars.

The wife is gonna hunt the farm on Saturday and Sunday, so I'll probably hunt with her. We'd like a couple more deer for the frezer yet.

[Jeremy Donabauer]

Iceman let me get this straight- you have a buck tag in your pocket but you let a 160" deer walk? Not many people even see 160" deer in their lifetime. A 160" buck is very, very big. That is very impressive- I have been hunting very hard (25+ days per year) in the same area for three years and I have only seen 3-4 bucks that would gross over 170". And I do hunt in what I think is one of the best areas in the state (or least in the county I hunt). To let a 160" deer walk is almost unbelieveable.

[Mark Christianson]

Yikes, I have never even seen a 150" deer while on stand. Much less a 160 or bigger yet.

This year I came close to a 150, but thats far and away bigger than anything I have ever seen while hunting. Close or far away.

Impressive to say the least to pass on deer that size.

[Buckslayer]

I am going to pull the bull#%#@ card. If any of you are or were passing on 160 class deer, you better quit your day jobs and start hunting professionally, cause you could have your own TV series. I'm with Biglakeba$$ in most people dont even see 150, let alone pass on 160. Lets see some pictures!

[Big-Al]

I agree Buckslayer, most people will look at a 120-130 deer and claim it is a 150-160. I've closeley examined at lot of racks that have been scored and a 120 rack is quite impressive. I had a 160 7/8 in my hands this weekend and that thing is beyond belief. (by the way that one was found after the season several years ago)

[PikeTipper]

Shot a nice 8 pointer Sat morning. Our group of 3 shot 3 bucks by 7:30am, best opening day that I can ever remember. I was surprised though to see so few does in the area.

[Iceman77]

Dunns,

I already shot my 4X4 by that point, otherwise one of the two would have been mine. During years I have a doe tag you have to let them pass by and it does not affect me one bit negatively. It only makes me think more positively about the future of the local deer herd. As a side note to the doubters you can believe what you choose as it makes no difference to me. I am a dedicated hunter and know how to score my deer so if I guess the buck is in a certain range it is very likely he will be when measured. I have always been very close to my approximations after obtaining my game. I also know the area very well and know there are always truly impressive deer in that area especially when looking at the food sources for the area with little hunting pressure. So I can put myself into high success rate areas for a once in a lifetime buck.

While bowhunting in Minnesota I will not shoot a deer with the bow unless I believe he is 150"+. It takes a lot of time and dedication and the decisions on to pass on some very nice bucks. Some have been close to that but I have made the decisions to let them pass and to breed for my future opportunities. One day my patience will pay off with a nice reward and memory of a committed hunt.

[Jeremy Donabauer]

What did your 4x4 score. I dont doubt anyone because I have had people doubt me and I like you just flat out don't care but my proof is on my wall. I just know that when I get drawn in ND I am going to hunt out there until I see one to shoot that is over 160".

[Nutty Fisherman]

No problem JMR I was surprised to see somebody else from St. Peter.

[Dano2]

everything went wrong that possibly could have.

I atleast could have had a last chance doe sunday evening

when several were walking between the land we hunt(private) and a minnimum maint. road, and of all the times for someone to come driving down it it had to be this time, and instead of worrying about getting shot as I had my scope on one of the doe, he decided he would keep driving along side them as they were running, same deal once they got to the other side of the hil where my buddy was posted, he couldn't take the shot either. To tell ya the truth, after thinking about it for awhile, I should have shot, and my buddy should have also, we each would of easily got one and the guy in the truck (that was obciously probably doing it on purpose) could of shoved it up his........

By the way, biglakebass, man that is one heII of a nice buck, definetly put that on your wall, its better than the 8 on got on my wall by far.

[Kingfisher]

My brother-in-law from Billings MT bagged his buck on our farm on Sat late afternoon. 11 point, 18" inside spread, field dressed out at 214 lbs. I'm still waiting for his big brother.

[bigbucks]

13 deer for 12 guys hunting, nothing big. 6 smaller bucks, three fawns, 2 yearling does, & one big doe. I also shot a nice bodied 6 pointer Friday night with my bow. I would not have shot that on the property where we were gun hunting, but where I was bowhunting Friday night any deer's a bonus.

[WalleyeDundee]

We went three for three. Not too bad. For me, I got my first deer!!!! Notice the Fishing Minnesota sticker on the sled

[WB make the CUT]

Nice PIC Wally DD

[pikerliker]

I ended up with 2 bucks, an 8 pointer and a fork 5. The real story however is the one that got away. I hunt on public land in a large area in NW MN. On opening day I spent over 10 hours in my stand without seeing a single deer. I knew from experience (and my luck in the stand last year also 2 bucks) to stick it out. In case your wondering yes we party hunt.

At 0755 am on the next day (Nov 7th) I saw the 8 pointer coming out of some thick brush straight out from my stand. He was walking broad side about 80 yards away initially. When I brought my rifle up to draw down all I got was a white glare! The sun was at the worst possible angle and I must have had some moisture on the scope. So I'm furiously trying to wipe off the scope while the buck is walking casually in front of me. I'm still having trouble getting the scope to clear up and the buck is now about 100 plus yards out now off to the right a ways. Well he suddenly turns and starts following a trail right back towards my stand! Well after a few more nervous seconds of wiping off the scope and trying to see through it I finally get it cleared up. I shoot a few times and the buck drops about 25 yards right in front of my tree stand! Well now I'm pumped because I was sure that my scope problem was going to cause me to miss this buck so I let out a loud "Yea!". I get out of my stand and gut the deer.

Well I had left the string that I use to put my tag on the deer back at my truck. I have to walk through water to get to my stand so I had to put on my waders, walk back to the truck, get the string, and then walk back to my stand. I get back to my 8 pointer and put on the tag. Now just to set the scene I'm in waist high grass and I'm kneeling by my buck. I admire him for a minute or so and stand up. Just as I get to full standing height I look up and it takes me a few seconds to register what I'm seeing. A huge buck with I'm guessing a 17-18 inch spread is just coming to a stop and looking me in the eye from 15 yards away!! We both look at each other like "Where the @#$# did you come from!?". Well my rifle was loaded but lying 5 feet off to my right side. I remember my mind racing with "how do I get to my rifle". The buck after a few seconds (which seemed like hours) suddenly blows loudly and jumps two large bounds back to the edge of some very thick brush, and turns back to look at me. I jump for my rifle and by the time I get it in my hands he is well back in the brush blowing and snorting and making a real racket! The whole incident seemed so sureal that at the time I almost couldn't comprehend what just happened to me! To make a long story short he's still out there and I never fired a shot at him.

I got the fork five the next day out of the same stand and gave it to my uncle and cousin who hadn't filled thier tags, and I'll be back next year looking for Mr. big!! Awesome hunt with some great memories! It's what hunting is all about.

~piker

[half2fish]

9 guyes hunting bagged 11 deer. 8 bucks and 3 does. my uncle got a 8 point and a doe, my cousin got a 6, my other cousin got a real nice 9, my uncles buddy got two spikes, my little brother got his first deer it was a nice doe,my dad got a small 3 point and a 6 point, and i got to see 3 deer. shot a spike on friday and a doe yesterday morning. fun hunt.

[ducksnbucks]

Well I had a great year. Shot an 8 pointer the first sunday, a doe on wednesday and a seven pointer on friday. Hope I didn't curse myself and now I won't get a deer for three years. Overall we ended up with 9 deer for 10 guys. A 10, 9, 8, 7, two 3's, a spike, and 2 does. Great season, and awsome weather all week.

[Eric_Sieve]

SAW NOTHING BOW HUNTING! Granted I didn't hunt that hard, wind blew like hell and the deer ceased to move in my part of the woods!!!

[MasterGophHunter]

We went 4 for 4 this weekend. My cousin shot his first deer at about 10 minutes after legal shooting hours on the first morning. A 8 point yearling. We also got a 5, 6, and a doe. We were all done by Sunday morning. Good hunt.

-MGH-