Hunting the big woods

[Eric_Sieve]

I am an avid deer hunter, to say the least, and I have a few questions about 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 and Bemidji area?

4. ANY OTHER TIPS WOULD BE APPRECIATED GREATLY!!!! (like where to scout for deer and place stands etc)

Thank you all soo soo much!!!

[Cooter]

Oak stands with good cover nearby are always good as long the trees are dropping that year. Other than that, fresh clear cuts are tough to beat as well. Look for trails leading in to them or set up an evening where you can see a long ways and observe where they're coming out and set up later accordingly. Spend plenty of time scouting, both before and during hunting season. Good luck, hope this helps.

[EXTREME]

It really depends on what time of year you plan on hunting. Bow season, you will find the deer in oaks(assuming acorns) or lush hay fields. The staging areas that go to the fields are usually a sure thing for evening bow hunting. The oak patches can be good through December and can be hunted during any time of the day. Other than that it is tough to predict whether any one area is better than others. Go out this Spring and scout last years scrape and rub activity. This should give you a decent feel for how many bucks are in the area. Scouting in the north country is absolutely key. I like to do it in the spring so I don't spook anything out of the area. Good luck and hope it helps....ps I went to BSU a few years back. Good hunting in the area...especially around Bagley area.

[iffwalleyes]

In heavy woods I look for about a few things before placing my stands. Food isn't a big of an issure because you really don't have that in heavy woods so I look for the next best thing water. I like to find sloughs to hunt on or around. The next thing I look for is where are they moving and can I find a spot that will funnel them to a specific area. I like to hunt on top of a ridge line or hill. Often the will walk the top of the ridge or right along side of it. Put your stand in a area like that and generally they will walk around you. Also another good way is to find any clearing in a heavy wooded area. Give your self some room so that you can see. To give you an idea what I hunt I am ontop of a ridge line. I have a slough in front and to my left. To the right and behind me is thick popular stands of tree. Also the the right the ridge that I hunt really drops off probably about a 25 ft elevation difference from top to bottom and it is steep. Since I put my stand up in this location I have shot a deer every year going on 4 years now. They will walk around and between the sloughs along side the ridge past me and then drop down into the thick trees.

[Canuck]

Eric: I hunt big woods in Manitoba. There are a couple of trails through the area that runs about 35 miles by 25 miles.

As mentioned it depends on the time of year that I hunt as to where I set up. In Sept I like the oaks but by Oct/Nov when muzzle and rifle come along they usually are not very productive. I try and hunt does and if you find where the does are hanging around you will find the bucks. Have U checked out a bar on a Saturday nite, ha ha. Usually the bucks are not interested in food at this time of the year but rather are on the move to find a hot doe. When it is real cold I find it the best because then the does have to get up and feed during the day and that causes the bucks to follow them.

I know alot of people sugguest you go out in the spring and check the rubs and sheds so you don't scare them, (so what the season is over)where the sheds are is where they winter and that doesn't always mean that is where they will be in rifle season. I would strongly sugguest right after your season get out there and learn your bush. I mean your bush because what I find is very few guys will venture out into the deep bush and you will have it to yourself. Learn your runs and I am sure they will keep to these runs year after year and they often use the same scrape lines. I try and find some of the thickest scrub that I can find with a couple of runs meeting and I have a little book that indicates which stand is good for what wind direct.

Patience is one of your biggest things in the deep bush. Find a spot and give it a real chance, spend the full day because once you have been there for 2 hrs you are 2 hrs closer to that buck wandering by. I will hunt a stand for 2 days straight as long as the wind is OK. I find once you flood the area with your scent the wise old bucks get to know something is up and shy away from that area.

I know of very few trophy bucks that have been shot in an open field or for that matter any clearing unless they were hot on the heels of a hot doe. If I find a clearing in the deep bush (I have 3) I have found the edeges of the clearings the bucks will use these areas to pass through and you can get some real good stands because this really causes them to funnel down.