Hunting the North Woods

[Eric_Sieve]

I am an avid deer hunter, to say the least, and I have a few questions about hunting Bemidji area and northern woods in general. I was origionaly from the Virginia/Tower area and hunted the area when I was young, but really grew up hunting the farmland and oak covered bluffs of deer southeast minnesota. So, I moved back up to the north for college (Bemidji). I am having a hard time adapting to the different style of hunting that the northwoods brings, so here are my questions.

1. What do deer forage on here? I know they eat acorns when available and remember they like cedar, but what else?? And where do I find the stuff they eat??

2. Are they all day movers, Or are they like the deer I am used to that like to move around the edges of day? (Thinking that they might move more in the woods because they feel safer)

3. Where would you hunt around the Tower/St. Louis county area?

4. ANY OTHER TIPS WOULD BE APPRECIATED GREATLY!!!!

Thank you all soo soo much!!!

[beef]

Eric,

I hunt Deer in this area and to say the least there is a ton of them. Opening weekend I saw over 300 deer. I was lucky this year a shot a 10 pointer but the rack was a little small.

Some ideas or help for you:

1. I have noticed the deer seem to be the most active in the morn. & eve. HOWEVER, I have seen more deer lately during the afternoon.

2. As for what they like to eat. I hunt areas that have cedar swamps and farm fields. You can make your call on that source of food. As for looking for the forage. Check around or look on the DNR web site. They have aerial photos that sometimes show the forest growth. The maps have different shades or colors for the differnt types of growth.

3. Around the Tower area. Sorry can't help you there, I usually hunt as far East as Cass Lake. Around there I like to search for rubs and heavily traveled paths. I usually find those signs in areas where the cedar switches to popple. If you can find a nice popple slash with pine nearby you might find deer.

Good luck

Beef