Minnesota Deer Hunters Association

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Help Us Help Hunting
By Mark Wm. Johnson, MDHA Executive Director
Deer hunting is a passion
in Minnesota. If you ask deer
hunters what deer hunting
means to them one thing they
all will agree that deer hunting
is a tradition that runs deep,
so deep, in fact, that to some
it is even intertwined into their
identity. Unfortunately, little
by little, day-by-day, our deer
hunting tradition seems to be
dwindling and we seem to be
fighting for its very existence.
Nearly 40 years ago a
handful of rag tag deer hunters
in the Grand Rapids MN area
came together because of
their common concern for deer
survival due to harsh winters.
Their efforts eventually resulted
in the formation of a nonprofit
organization, the Minnesota
Deer Hunters Association.
The association they founded
included a very important
word that guides the identity
of the association even today.
That word is “Hunters” and
it was added with purpose
because without hunters we
would have no one advocating
for deer or advocating for deer
management and deer hunting
would not survive as part of
our ongoing traditions.
Today, the Minnesota Deer
Hunters Association (MDHA)
is a fellowship of deer hunters
who care enough to get
involved and are proud enough
of their hunting heritage to
speak up for the sport and the
critter they love so dearly. To
MDHA members it is about the
joy of hunting, but it is equally
about what our hunting legacy
will be for future generations.
This
Minnesota
Deer
Hunters Association special
issue of UPNORTH is meant to
share our pride and excitement
of our hunting (and fishing)
traditions. You will notice that
featured articles are about all
types of fall hunting and fishing
options. That is because our
outdoor legacy includes all
of our outdoor pursuits and
the key to a healthy legacy is
getting involved.
At MDHA, our motto is “We
live here, we hunt here and
our legacy is here.” We are “In
Minnesota, for Minnesota.”
Every dollar MDHA chapters
raise stays here in Minnesota
to benefit our wildlife and
our hunting heritage. But
our legacy is only as secure
as our individual and joint
involvement. We need your
help to be stronger and even
more effective in our mission.
Please join us. Help us help
hunting. Become an MDHA
member today. Fill out the
membership form on page ten
and help us help today’s and
tomorrow’s hunters. Together,
as members of this fellowship
of deer hunters, we most
certainly will make a difference
toward ensuring a positive
future for our hunting heritage
for generations to come.
was not created to increase
antlerless harvest rates, but
rather to make it simpler to
take one either-sex deer in the
area. Overall, 30 percent of
Minnesota’s 127 deer permit
areas are designated hunter
choice this year.
to
familiarize
themselves
with 2011 regulations before
the hunting season begins.
Hunters may access an online
version of the regulations at
www.mndnr.gov/regulations/
hunting. Deer hunters are also
encouraged to review new deer
hunting regulations, permit area
designations and boundary
changes. Additional information
about the 2011 deer season can
be found at www.mndnr.gov/
deer
Did you know that in
2010 alone, MDHA
Chapters spent over
$377,000 locally?
Opening Days & Regulation Changes
This year’s archery season
opens Saturday, September 17.
The general firearms season
opensSaturday,November5and
the muzzleloader season begins
Saturday, November 26. “We’re
looking forward to another good
season,” said Lou Cornicelli, big
game program coordinator for
the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources (DNR). “Deer
populations are at or near goals
throughout much of the state.”
Cornicelli said hunters would
discover several new regulations
for the upcoming deer season.
The changes, he said, reflect the
agency’s interest in regulation
simplification and the protection
of the state’s deer from Chronic
Wasting Disease (CWD).
Significant changes for
2011:
• A new CWD management
area, called Deer Area 602, has
been established in southeastern
Minnesota surrounding the area
where a CWD positive deer was
detected last fall. The new CWD
management area will feature
a 23-day firearm season.
Submission of samples for
CWD testing will be mandatory
for deer harvested in this area,
and there will be carcass import/
export restrictions. Detailed
information can be found in the
regulations book and on the
DNR website at www.mndnr.
gov/cwd.
• A new “hunter choice” deer
management designation has
been established that will allow
hunters in certain areas to take
one either-sex deer per year in
one of these areas. These areas
function like lottery areas, with
the difference being hunters
do not need to make a lottery
application or possess an either
sex permit to take an antlerless
deer. In hunter choice areas, the
license is automatically valid for
an either-sex deer.
• Bonus permits are not
allowed. If a deer is taken in one
hunter choice area, a hunter
cannot take another deer in
another hunter choice or lottery
deer area. The designation was
created because the majority
of deer permit areas are within
their established goal ranges,
and DNR managers believe one
either-sex deer without a lottery
would allow those areas to stay
within goal without going back
and forth between lottery and
managed areas. Hunter choice
OTHER CHANGES
Because deer herds are
largely within goals, there was
no early antlerless deer season
this year, and no youth-only
antlerless areas are available this
year. The DNR will continue to
monitor harvest and population
size, and may use these
designations in the future. Also,
the 16-foot height restriction
for permanent deer stands has
been eliminated.
Cornicelli urged hunters
Did you know that
MDHA’s Hides for
Habitat Program
collects an average
of 40,000 deer hides
annually?
Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Special 2011 Fall Hunting Issue
EDITOR:
Rod Dimich
CO-EDITOR/ADVERTISING EDITOR:
Nikolas Dimich
DESIGN & LAYOUT:
Cowduck Designs:
Brent Burich, Art Director
and Jason Green
CONTRIBUTORS:
Mark Wm. Johnson
Gary Peck
Jeff Skelly
Charlie Worrath
Mike Roux
Ed Schmidt
Joe Cannella
MN DNR
Jim Braaten
Jason Boser
Tom Neustrom
Rod Dimich
Steve Johnson
Cover Photo: Cris Binkman
Publisher: Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
Produced by: Jason Green, UpNorth Media Productions www.upnorthinc.com
All rights reserved. Use or reproduction of any
information contained in MDHA’s publications is
prohibited without permission.
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The Bear Memory I Won’t Forget
By Mark Wm. Johnson
“Oh Crap!” was the exact
thought that entered my mind and
nearly the physiological reaction
I was soon to experience.
Let me tell you without
bravado , even though I have
done my share of hunting, both
large game and small game, I
have never considered myself
an expert by any stretch. I
am, however, an experienced,
prepared hunter. I prepare, I
apply sound hunting principles
and knowledge and I consider
“what can happen,” whether it is
likely or not. After several years
of enjoyable and successful
black bear hunts, however, I was
about to experience something
that would test not only my
preparation but also my mental
agility.
My preference is to hunt
black bear with bow and arrow.
This particular year I was nestled
in my ladder stand leaning back
against a 10” diameter aspen
tree. My bait pile was only 14
yards to my left (east) and the
activity around it had been
exciting the several days prior.
Ruffed grouse, red squirrels,
deer, grey fox, fisher, raccoons
and innumerable migrating
songbirds had frequented. The
site was without seldom without
action of some type.
More than once the coyotes
had yodeled around me at day’s
end, hoping I would depart
before dark. Bears also were
visiting and feeding extensively,
but they either came after dark
or in midday, when I could not
be there. By the tracks and sign
they left, several different bear of
various sizes were frequenting
ranging from cubs to yearlings
to one big blackie boar. The trail
camera confirmed this.
My goal that year wasn’t
a trophy. I was after meat, so
anything larger than a black
lab was fine with me. Besides,
I was also planning a once-ina-lifetime MN Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness moose
hunt a couple weeks later.
Success with a bear had to
come tonight or be forfeited.
The wind was out of the
north and temps peaking only
in the mid 60’s. It seemed like a
good day to climb into the stand
early. By 4 p.m. I had refreshed
the bait and was comfortable.
Lulled by the sound of the local
high school band practicing just
a couple miles away, I settled
back and closed my eyes, until
my paleo instinct kicked in.
Instead of seeing or hearing,
I sensed something. Slowly I
turned my head to the left and
after a minute or two of silence I
knew this was it. Like a black fog
shadow silently moving through
the dark underbrush a year and a
half old male blackie approached
ever so cautiously. After several
minutes of circling and warily
scenting over his shoulder, the
young bear finally saddled up to
the bait pile and started licking
up the calf feed and BBQ sauce.
It was broadside, but slightly
quartering
a w a y .
It
was
exactly the
size of bear
I wanted
(small and
tasty), in
the right
position,
and taking
one today
would mean I could concentrate
on the moose hunt only a couple
weeks out.
While his head was down,
I drew and held. He looked
up, looked around, and again
licked the feed. The arrow flew
exactly where it was supposed
to and, as anticipated, there was
a scramble of fur as the bear
tried to figure out from which
direction the sting had come.
Then, however, the last thing I
had expected became a reality.
After the scramble of fur, the
young boar set a course to the
NE, but abruptly turned east
and disappeared from my view
behind and beneath my ladder
stand. For a moment everything
stopped and silence flooded in,
but a few seconds later a small
scraping sound came to my
ears. Leaning over my stand’s
left armrest, I saw nothing below
except leaves on the forest
floor.
The scraping sound still
continued and grew louder and
closer. “Oh CRAP! I think he
is climbing up my tree!” Time
seemed to stand still, but my
heart played the beat of a 2-cycle
blender and my thoughts did the
“Watusi” with “stay calm, you
have thought about this, you
know what to do. Don’t jump to
the escape tree yet, just move
back. It’s just a small bear; don’t
jump! It’s just a small bear…
where the hell is it!”
Although every bear ever
seen is “huge,” in reality a 1
½ year old male black bear
is only about 80-150 lbs. live
weight. This one was average
and plump, but when the claws
extending from those black
hairy paws show around both
sides of the tree and that shiny
black muzzle and nose poke
out less than two feet from your
face, they can have an amazing
effect on the human bowels. No,
I did not scream, nor did I cry.
There wasn’t time or I very well
could have done both. As time
stood still, I envisioned pulling
my knife, but then I realized
my knife that day was merely
a “Leatherman” and that was
zippered into my backpack at
my feet. Feeling the safety rail at
my back, I envisioned jumping to
the escape tree a few feet away,
but my muscles were frozen.
Drawing another arrow was out
of the question since how can
one draw in those confines; if I
stuck out my arm to draw the
bow I would have bumped the
bear.
Then something happened
and I don’t know which of us
was more afraid. With a nasal
huff and flying snot the bear
literally shot up the tree another
eight feet, stopped, and looked
down at me. Now I was very
perplexed because I had never
in my wildest thoughts imagined
this scenario. So, while my
brain’s wheels spun in neutral,
the situation unraveled by itself.
The scraping started again.
This time I could see the source
was the bear’s claws on the
aspen bark. Trouble was the
bear was now coming back
down! Again, all I could think
was “OH CRAP!” again! And
then, “Get out of the way!”
One hundred to 150 pounds of
bear might seem small, but it
seems really big when it climbs
inches past you in your tree;
and when it is falling it looks like
a huge furry loveseat dropping
toward your head. All I could do
was lean back and watch as the
bear fell toward me, hit the left
arm rail on my stand and, luckily,
continued to the ground and
settled against the base of my
tree, dead.
It is amazing how efficiently
and quickly an arrow and
broadhead can dispatch a bear,
but it is even more interesting
how long that time seems when
only inches separate you from
all the action. I had hoped for
a small bear and a good shot.
I had also hoped for a quick
dispatch and a short retrieve. I
was fortunate enough to get all
four plus a memory I definitely
will never forget.
Did you know that
each deer hide
donated to MDHA’s
Hides for Habitat
Program garners
around $30 in “on
the ground” wildlife
habitat projects.
Interested in a Guided Bear Hunt? Here are Some Helpful Hints…
By Gary Peck, Bear River Guide Service
*Monday ~ Wing day, full order of wings $5 all day long
*Tuesday ~ Meat Raffle, starts at 6p
*Thursday ~ $5 burger baskets from 4p- close
*Sunday ~ Brunch buffet 8a-2p
1122 NW 4th Street • Grand Rapids, MN 55744 | 218-999-5550
If you are interested in a
guided bear hunt, here are a few
things you should do and not
do. The first thing you should
do is listen to your guide. You
have hired a guide because he
is an expert on the local terrain
and the bears that inhabit it. He
wants you to harvest a bear as
badly as you do. Remember,
if you have an enjoyable and
successful hunt, you will want
to come back and maybe bring
a friend along.
Another thing is to please
not bring along your “secret”
bear bait. Bear guides have
been baiting bear for years
and they know what works and
what doesn’t. They have also
been baiting for several weeks
before their clients show up in
camp and have seen what the
bear want and don’t want. Also
keep in mind that a sudden new
scent at the bait might spook a
bear.
If you are unhappy about
your stand location and
arrangement, please talk to
your guide. Do not complain to
other hunters in camp. A good
guide will help you in anyway he
can. He will also realize that not
every stand is what the hunter
expected. A good
guide also realizes
that a happy hunter is
a repeat client.
Another thing
to consider is to not
brag around camp
about how great of a
bear hunter you are or
how super of a shot
you are. Bragging can
make you look like a fool/jerk
if you do miss, so try to stay
humble. Humble people are so
much more fun at camp and
are much more easily cheered
for.
Also, and this is a Cardinal
Rule, never, never, never, try
to retrieve your bear alone!
After your shot, call your guide
immediately! He will come and
track your bear, and if you have
made a killing shot, he will find
your bear, field dress it and haul
it back to camp.
Tracking a bear after dark
is not only difficult it can also
be dangerous. Let your guide
make the call on whether to
track after dark or resume
in the morning. If the bear is
mortally wounded it will not go
far. Your guide wants to recover
your bear as soon as possible
so he can get it so he can get
it skinned out and in the locker
before the meat spoils.
Last, but not least, have
fun. Enjoy camp and create
some memories that will last a
lifetime! Good luck and good
hunting…
Editor’s note: Gary Peck has
been a certified and licensed
bear outfitter for 25 years. He
may be reached at 218.246.2226
or at: [email protected]
4
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Jim and Michele Leqve are
not your typical married hunting
couple by any stretch of the
imagination.
With nearly 50
years of combined deer hunting
experience, they have devoted
their outdoor lives to their single
greatest passion – bowhunting.
stand on a moment’s notice.
Being able to move to another
stand location is critical.”
Early in the bow season both
Jim and Michele tend to only
hunt the afternoons near the
deer’s food sources. They also
choose stands that take into
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SINCE 1959
See us for all your hunting needs!
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[email protected]
Or Stop by one of our seven locations:
1400 S. Pokegama ave.
gRaND RaPIDS • 326-2926
HoURS: moN. - FRI. 7:30 - 8:30
Sat. 7:30 - 7:00; SUN. 9:00 - 5:00
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Teamwork Earns This Couple Bowhunting Success
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5
This Rochester, Minnesota
couple is on a quest to
experience it all when it comes
to bowhunting opportunities.
In fact, while hunting out of
Nunavut, Canada, back during
the spring of ’06 Michele
achieved
notoriety
when
she became the first female
archer ever to shoot a polar
bear. Both Jim and Michele’s
hunting travels have taken them
throughout the United States,
Canada, Mexico, and South
Africa.
Yet, it was deer hunting in
Minnesota that first brought this
couple together and continues
to be the glue helping keep their
partnership strong. Recently,
I caught up with this dynamic
bowhunting team to garner a
few tips on what they believe
is important for all Minnesota
bowhunters to consider if
success in the deer woods is
the goal this fall.
When asked what they felt
were the three biggest mistakes
bowhunters make when hunting
deer, Michele was quick to point
out: bad stand placement, poor
shot selection and failing to put
in enough time to allow success
to occur.
STAND PLACEMENT
Be smart and be flexible. If
after observing deer movements
a hunters sees one particular
stand is not going to work for
the hunt, the only option is to
move.
Michele states, “We
have literally had to climb out
of our stand and run to another
consideration that during this
time of the year the predominant
wind direction is usually out of
the south/southwest.
Then
after the first part of October
they begin to shift their focus so
stand placement is near water
and the natural food sources
located in heavy timber. The
key is not to waste time in one
stand location when you need
to be somewhere else during
that time of the year.
Once the rut gets into full
swing during the final weeks of
October and through November,
Jim and Michele concentrate
their efforts on stands placed
near doe bedding areas for
morning hunts and then in the
afternoons focus more on food
plots or where the does are
likely to move toward feeding
areas.
SCOUTING
For serious bowhunters there
really is no off-season. There
may be several months during
the year when the Leqves do
not carry their bows into the
woods, but deer hunting is
constantly in their thoughts.
During the late winter and
early spring months, Jim and
Michele spend any spare
moment looking for sheds. In
fact, the picture of Jim showing
his 2003 Minnesota buck
includes
him
holding
onto
the shed from
that very deer
found the year
before. Think
of shed antlers
sort of like a
deer’s calling
card,
letting
you know they
still exist in a
certain hunting
area.
More recently,
the
Leqve’s
have
also
started using
scouting cameras during the
period May through December.
They feel these units are great
tools for the bowhunter that,
if used properly, can add
significantly to the information
you need to discover about the
characteristics of a particular
deer woods.
HUNTING THE RUT
The rut is the big transition
time in the Minnesota deer
woods. Where the emphasis
previously was on feeding
areas, now the attention must
shift to account for the breeding
season.
Jim says, “During
the rut we hunt mainly [deer]
bedding areas where we will sit
all day. Sometimes we will hunt
near field edges—wherever we
find the does hanging out.”
Both Jim and Michele
never leave home without their
grunt tubes.
They’ve been
successful calling deer in during
every month of the bowhunting
season using them. Michele
adds, “Sometimes we find that
some light antler rattling during
the rut along with the grunt
tubes also works quite nicely.”
The key is to use the calls as
a hunting tool and not to over
use them if nothing seems to
be moving.
Another rut-time tool in
which the Leqve’s often employ
to their bowhunting advantage
are the various scent drippers
available. In fact, Jim states
they have some great video
footage of deer interacting with
the drippers they have placed.
WEATHER AND MOON
In general the Leqve’s feel
the colder the weather gets
during the late season the
more the deer seem to move.
Michele points out that with the
right clothing and gear a hunter
can handle it. Even though the
weather may be miserably cold,
the deer seem to move earlier
to get to their food sources.
Yet, when it comes to
weather the number one factor
is probably the wind.
Deer
don’t like a lot of wind so their
movement patterns can be
largely dictated by the force and
direction of the wind. Keeping
that in mind, the Leqves
purposely place stand locations
that likely provide opportunities
even for those windy, nasty
days when they want to be
afield but the conditions are
less than favorable.
Rain is another subject
completely.
Most often Jim
and Michele hunt in close
proximity to one another so
Jim can video Michele’s hunt.
Videotaping the hunt has
become another way he can
continue to guide and mentor
his wife as they share the
excitement of the bowhunting
experience. Problem is rain
and cameras generally do not
make for a good combination.
A light rain they can deal with,
but during heavy downpours
they often opt for a better day
afield.
Both Jim and Michele agree
the moon definitely has an
effect on deer movement, but
they do not plan their hunts
around a particular moon
phase like some hunters.
Michele points out they are on
the deer stand so much in the
fall they actually hunt through
all the moon phases so it really
doesn’t matter.
PRACTICE
Jim is quick to point out to
new archers that their level of
accomplishment will only be
obtained by the amount of effort
they put into it. As Pro Staffers
for Mathews Solocam Bows,
both Jim and Michele spend
a great deal of time teaching
others about the fascinating
experience of bowhunting,
especially to children.
On average they hone their
skills by practicing about two
times per week during the
summer months. Their feeling
is the modern bows are so easy
to shoot and finely tuned there
really is no need to over do it.
In fact, Michele adds, “We think
you can OVER practice which
can lead to bad habits. Plus,
by over doing it your muscles
get tired and this can result in
problems with your [shooting]
form.
Allow time between
sessions for your muscles to
recuperate.”
Jim suggests it’s important
to remember, shooting is 90%
mental.
During the hunting
season the couple generally
shoots a few arrows to loosen
up from time to time.
When that moment of truth
finally occurs and the deer is
standing broadside 20 yards
out, the Leqve’s suggest
concentrating on the spot
where the hunter wants to hit.
Once committed to taking the
shot, forget about the antlers,
stay calm, focus on making
a good, clean shot, and then
above all…don’t forget to
believe in yourself.
Having confidence in one’s
bowhunting abilities is what
often separates the successful
hunters
from
everyone
else. Practice, patience, and
persistence have each been
key ingredients in the recipe
for the Leqve’s continued deer
hunting success.
To learn more about the
Leqve’s and their passion for
bowhunting, visit their website at:
www.BowsRUsOutdoors.com
Did you know that
MDHA chapters
and MDHA’s State
Habitat Committee
created $11.3 million
in wildlife habitat
projects since 1998?
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7
Hunting the Majestic Ruffed Grouse
By Jeff “Cubby” Skelly
Northern Minnesota is home
to what I consider the “king”
of the upland birds…the ruffed
grouse, sometimes called a
“partridge.” Minnesota ranks
among the top three states
in total ruffed grouse harvest,
regularly
alternating
with
Michigan and Wisconsin for the
number one spot.
I have been guiding grouse
and woodcock hunters every
fall for the past twenty years
and can remember many, many
days afield when we had 40 to
50 flushes in a day! Yes, indeed,
the “king” does live right here in
the heart of Itasca County.
Ruffed grouse are an “edgy”
bird, both in temperament and
habitat. They are extremely
skittish and tend to explode
very quickly into the vibrant fall
colors when alarmed. They are
also “edgy” in that they tend
to frequent “edges” of dense
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habitat, like five-year-old aspen
or even young and closely
grouped balsam fir.
Your senses have to be finely
tuned and you have to be fully
alert and ready to swing when
these exploding balls of feathers
rocket in a whirring fury from the
colorful leaf layer ground into
the dizzying array of branches
and limbs.
In my opinion,
there is no other
experience in field
or forest or water
that quite matches
hunting ruffed grouse
in the cool and quiet
and color of a crisp,
but not cold, fall day in
northern Minnesota.
Starting in the middle
of September and
running until the end
of the year, there are
ample opportunities
to get out and get
after the grouse.
Even though there is only one
season for grouse, however, it
really can be broken into three
seasons: the early green-leafy
season, the middle color to no
leaf season, and the December
cold and sometimes white
season. Most who hunt old “pat”
do so in the first two and for
good reason, the last part of the
season is most often cold and
the birds are pretty much locked
in heavy cover like swamps and
deep thickets.
But, that is only the last
part, the tiniest part. From
mid-September to the end of
October, there are grouse and
woodcock opportunities that
are out of this world. In midSeptember the leaves are still
pretty much green and the trees
are still full, but there is that
splash of color that highlights
the green. Hunting grouse then
is mostly logging road oriented,
as the forests are quite heavy
with foliage then. Many of these
roads are white clover filled,
most remnants of the early
logging days when logs were
hauled by sleighs and teams of
horses. The “road apples” the
horses left, which were filled
with the hay and alfalfa and
clover they ate, implanted the
clover
Ruffed grouse can be found
in oak, maple, and other wood
types, but in Minnesota they
mightily prefer aspen, also
called “popple.” The highest
densities of birds will be found in
areas that have been previously
logged off or “clear-cut.” Young
aspen, 10 to 15 years old, with
silver dollar sized trunks are
particularly important for grouse.
They not only provide great
food, but because they are so
dense, they provide protection
from predatory aviators such as
owls and goshawks. Protected
from predators, grouse will hang
out there spring, summer, and
fall eating succulent forbs and
insects.
Like I said, grouse are birds
of the edge and I am here to
tell you that is absolutely true!
When I am hunting grouse I try
to steer my dog along some
kind of edge. Whether it is a
logging road, swamp edge,
or where a five-year-old cut
meets a mature patch that had
been previously clear-cut, this is
where you will find your greatest
number of birds.
Ruffed grouse
hunting is a great
way to introduce
young hunters to
hunting; in fact,
many veteran
hunters
recall
fondly how their
first hunt and
harvest was a
grouse! This is a
particularly good
time to take a youngster as the
population is on the upswing
and they could be nearing the
peak of their ten-year cycle.
There are many two methods
of ethically hunting ruffed grouse:
walking with a dog or walking
without a dog. You might think
that the four-wheeler or vehicles
is a third, and it might legally be
(with some restrictions), but it is
not the best way to get kids into
hunting. Kids need to have boots
on the ground and eyes on the
edges. They need to have their
senses keen. The only sounds
should be the crunch of leaves
and the wind and the burst of
grouse wings, not the whine of
a wheeler.
The ducks in this situation
are accustomed to being there
because of food or shelter or
both and they will come back
as long as no one has disturbed
them. Once disturbed, however,
they probably won’t be back the
next day. Then it’s time to scout
again.
Keep in mind, as in baseball
pitching, location is the key. If
you are where they want to be,
you usually do not need to call
these ducks or even have a big
spread of decoys. As we said,
they will come back to where
they have been hanging out.
Another way we hunt is to
get right in the rice. Find a clump
of taller reeds and an opening in
the rice. Again we don’t use a
lot of decoys, maybe a dozen or
so. Throw them out randomly in
and on the edge of the opening
so the passing ducks can see
them.
We do try to call more in this
situation. The reason for this is
to get the ducks looking. Once
they have looked, the next
big challenge is concealment.
You do not want the ducks
to see you at all. If you have
anything standing out the ducks
will flare before you can get
them in range. If they do flare
consistently, reevaluate your
situation. It might be something
as simple as a shiny thermos.
When hunting the rice you
will usually need a canoe. A trick
we use to steady the canoe
Whether you are here to
“get after grouse,” or here to
fish or duck hunt or scout deer
country, remember the “king” of
all upland birds reigns here. All
hail the “king.”
Have a great fall. And
remember, if you can, not only
take kids fishing, but also take
kids grouse hunting. They will
never forget that walk in grouse
country. They will also never
forget who took them…
Jeff “Cubby” Skelly is a
professional grouse/woodcock
guide as well as a professional
fishing guide. He may be reached
at: [email protected]
Duck Hunting Itasca County Style
By Jason Boser and Charlie Worrath (MN Fishing Pros)
Itasca County is not only
located in the Mississippi
Flyway, it is home to many lakes
and rivers that not only feature
an abundance of both local
puddle and diving ducks, but
hardy migrants.
The area is dotted with a
thousand lakes and almost
as many potholes and beaver
dams loaded with incredible
wild rice beds and underwater
duck buffets of wild celery and
fresh water shrimp.
From early season teal and
wood ducks and mallards and
ringnecks to the hardy late
divers who ride the north wind
with the snowflakes, this is the
place ducks and duck hunters
want to be.
Put all this together and
the result is some mighty
excellent hunting duck hunting
opportunities. The early key, of
course, is the wild rice, which is
the main food for the ducks in
this area.
When hunting ducks there
are two important elements to
remember: find where they rest
and where they eat. If you set
up there, they will come. The
key to good hunting is finding
the ducks and wild rice always
seems to be part of the plan.
Once you have found the
ducks, there are a couple
different ways to hunt them.
Going back to the first element,
finding out where the ducks are
resting, is a good place to start.
One method is simply a
matter of driving around and
finding where the ducks are
during the day. This is what
goose and duck guides in the
Dakotas do as their clients are
hunting or after they are done.
Be sure to bring a good set
of binoculars, sometimes the
ducks will be hard to spot.
When you do find a bunch
of ducks (make sure they are
not someone’s decoys), it is
as simple as going out in the
morning before sunrise and
throwing out a dozen decoys.
Continued on Page 9
8
9
It’s a Fall Fantasy
By Tom Neustrom
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There isn’t a more pleasurable
time of year here up north than
when seasonal changes bring
fall to our little footstool of the
world. When I stand on my deck
and smell the first oak and ash
fire in a neighbor’s stove I know
the time of year that is like no
other has arrived. When I feel
the frosty mornings and hear
the sounds of south migrating
geese, I know there is no finer
place on earth to live than
northern Minnesota.
All of these subtle changes
also signal that fall fishing has
begun; walleyes are putting on
the feedbag before winter sets in.
The only other time this happens
is after the spring spawning ritual
when the walleyes are in such
an aggressive nature they will
strike at most baits presented.
Thinking back a couple
decades, I remember there
was hardly a soul fishing after
the Labor Day weekend. Now,
however, there are countless
anglers enjoying some of the
best angling opportunities of
the season. Although it is not
as celebrated in comparison
to walleye fishing, crappies are
a close second as a species
of choice in the fall. With a little
patience and knowledge of
their locations, these black and
silver beauties that slice and
dice the water can supply some
incredibly memorable days on
the water.
We’ll talk about crappies and
their locations in a little bit, but
for now let’s focus on walleyes
as fishing these golden marble
eyes in the fall can be something
to behold. As August turns
to September cooler nights
trigger a phenomenon in the
walleye world that can’t really
be described or explained.
Nature has a way of telling
fish and wildlife it is time to
prepare for the winter ahead,
so they feed heavily before
the cold weather period sets
in. This is the trigger so many
of us walleye fisherman wait
for. When the water surface
temperatures begin to drop four
to eight degrees, things start to
happen.
Being a professional guide
for over thirty years has taught
me to pay attention to these
subtle changes and adjust
locations and presentations
to fit the situations. On many
of the larger sand lakes like
Winnibigoshish, Leech, and
Bowstring there is a turn of
events that is predictable year
after year. With few exceptions,
the walleyes will move shallow
for food and many times I
can observe terns, loons, and
seagulls along shoreline areas
feeding heavily on small young
of the year perch and shiners.
This usually starts to occur in
late August all the way through
the middle of October. The
walleyes and northern pike are
right there with the birds to grab
a meal.
A jig/minnow presentation
is the best for this shallow
water phenomenon. I’ve been
guiding my clients to successful
walleye fishing during these
types of situations for many
years, however, I would never
challenge you or anyone else
that this is the only way to catch
walleyes in the fall. I do I feel,
though, that this is the most
productive. Northland Tackle Co.
of Bemidji, MN, has given me
the opportunity to test jigs and
color combinations for several
years and this has helped in the
overall design of jigs that are
my “go to’s.” The last couple
seasons, when the walleyes
are shallow, the “parrot” or
“watermelon” colored jigs have
been exceptionally lethal. With a
chub or shiner they have done a
fantastic job. I like the one-eighth
ounce “Gum Ball” or “Fireball”
in both these colors and would
highly recommend either for
these shallow situations.
Remember, this is jig fishing
and you need to impart the
action by implementing and
repeating a sort of “pop, pop
drag” rod action. As the water
cools into the forties you may
have to slow this presentation
down, but this method works
for me and I know it will work
for you. Make sure to stay in
the 7-11 foot depths, as they
are best in most circumstances.
Use you electronics to observe
bait and any other changes in
the bottom that may hold fish.
There are times on certain
bodies of water there are
situations that make walleyes
go deep. Very clear lakes such
as Pokegama, Cass and Pike
Bay, Walker Bay on Leech,
Trout Lake, and Deer Lake, just
Duck Hunting Itasca County Style
when we are in the rice or reeds
is to bring a couple 8-10 ft poles.
Stick them in the muck as far as
you can and tie bungee straps
around the poles. This steadies
the canoe right up. There is
nothing worse than a fall bath
while duck hunting.
Late season hunting can be
a little trickier. The mean reason
is, of course, the weather. As the
temps drop and the little water
freezes, it is time to head for the
deeper lakes and rivers.
Look to the larger waters like
Big Winnie or Bowstring, etc.
Also consider the river systems
that are going in and out of these
bodies of water.
Since most of the later ducks
that come through are mostly
divers, more decoys will help.
But, again, find out where the
ducks are. We like to use several
to mention a few, are bodies of
water where the walleyes will
occupy structures 25 to 40 feet
of water and can be difficult to
fish, especially on windy days.
Vertical jigging is most often the
best presentation. Some real
trophies are taken in the fall on
deep structures.
When fall water temperatures
hit the mid sixties and then mid
fifties, crappies set up shop in
deeper areas than in the
spring and summer. For
the most part, they will
feed from the bottom up
to sometimes 5-10 feet
from the bottom, in overall
depths of 20-30 feet.
These locations will hold
crappies throughout the
fall and most of the winter.
Crappies are extremely
nomadic at this time of the
season so you should use
your electronics to pinpoint
their exact location and
then try to vertically jig
them or fish them with
a small jig and a slip
bobber. Using your electronics
and electric trolling motor in
conjunction makes staying on
the crappies a lot easier. My
Humminbird 998C SI (Side
Imaging) has been awesome
for locating fish all season and
it really shines in situations
where the crappies and other
species are suspended. I like
Northland Tackle’s sixteenth
ounce “Thumper” jig for this
type of vertical fishing. The
“Thumper” has a tiny spinner
on the bottom of the jig that
seems to trigger more crappies
into biting. Coupled with a small
minnow or “Slurpie” twister type
tail, catching crappies can be a
lot less difficult than you think.
The “Fall Fantasy” is a
“short window.” But, when you
experience it you will realize
what a great time of year this
is. You will also fully understand
why northern Minnesota is one
of the finest places on this earth
to live. Enjoying walleye and
crappie fishing in this colorful
kaleidoscope only adds to
the magnitude of the “Fall
Fantasy.”
Tom Neustrom has been a
professional guide for over thirty
years. He is nationally known
and was a 2009 inductee into
the United States Fishing Hall of
Fame. He may be reached at:
www.mnfishingconnections.com
Did you know that
about 800 youth (ages
11-16) attend MDHA
Forkhorn Camps
each summer?
Continued from Page 7
decoy spreads for these chunky
denizens of the North. One is a
“J” has a
“pocket”for
the ducks
to
swing
into and a
straight line
that
juts
out into the
lake as a
“string” for
them to follow. Another good
set up is a “figure eight” running
parallel to the blind with two
groups to the left right and a
“pocket” in the middle.
It doesn’t matter, though,
however you choose to hunt
ducks. Like we said, Itasca
County is great duck country
and you definitely will have lots
of opportunities here. From rice
beds, rivers, beaver flowages,
big lakes to little lakes, the area
has it all.
Enjoy this fall’s duck hunting
sunrises and sunsets. And,
remember, if you can, take
someone along who has never
duck hunted, especially a kid.
The sights and sounds of ducks
over decoys is a thrill everyone
should experience.
Jason Boser & Charlie Worrath
are professional fishing guides
who can be reached at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Did you know that
MDHA supports and
defends your hunting
legacy?
10
Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
We live here, we hunt here, our legacy is here!
Everybody Wants the Big Buck
By Mike Roux
There is no doubt that the
days of the meat hunter have
come and gone. Oh, I am
sure there are still many deer
hunters who get as much
satisfaction in harvesting a doe
as they do in a nice buck. In
fact, from a herd management
standpoint, taking the doe is
more important than taking a
young buck. I can remember
my Dad saying, many years
ago, “If I kill a big buck it’s
because he’s the first deer I
get a shot at.”
In Minnesota for Minnesota
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11
Expires 12.31.11
But harvesting female deer
no longer classifies one as a
deer hunter. Unfortunately,
the size of the rack is what
now
measures
a
deer
hunter’s worth to his peers. I
still remember when any deer
you drug into camp made
you a hero. I still remember
when getting a “Doe Tag”
was cause for celebration.
Nowadays “Antlerless Only”
permits are passed out like
candy at Halloween.
In today’s hunt for big,
wide, heavy beamed antlers,
deer hunting has taken on a
new look. This is not a bad
thing. Deer herds continue
to grow from coast to coast.
Herd management has taken
a huge leap forward in many
states. This all combines to
give more hunters a crack at
the buck of a lifetime each
season.
However, the big bucks
did not get big by accident.
Hunting them is still a
supreme challenge. A three
to five year-old whitetail buck
has survived the pressure of
several hunting seasons. He
probably knows us better
than we know him. He has
learned how to avoid us.
We seldom see him, but we
frequently see where he has
been. Proving to us that he
has the upper hand
come November.
These larger,
older bucks seldom
attain their size and
age through luck.
They have reacted
instinctively to our
presence in their
habitat,
whether
was are casual
visitors or while
hunting. That having
been said, getting a
chance to harvest
one of these brutes
has more to do
with us doing our
homework, than to
luck. “Getting lucky”
is usually the culmination of
extensive scouting, effort and
time.
One thing a consistent
buck hunter knows and
practices is not to “mess up”
his best spot before the best
time. Over hunting and over
pressuring bucks before the
rut is a big “no-no.” Once a
buck identifies your presence,
either by sight or by smell,
he will instinctively shy away
from that area. That is why I
save my best spots for the
rut, bowhunting secondary
areas early in the archery
season. I suggest having
several stands placed for prerut hunting. This is a good
idea for bowhunters who also
hunt the same property during
firearms season.
Try to hunt regularly
traveled
trails
between
bedding and feeding areas.
Rut sign will usually show-up
in these areas first. Try to avoid
pressuring the bucks in these
“secure” areas. Save these
spots for when the deer’s
instinct turns them away from
feeding and toward breeding.
He is much more vulnerable
during the rut, but his senses
are still razor-sharp. Wait until
he is overwhelmed with the
rut before moving into his
bedroom.
Another good tip is to hunt
the bucks where they are, not
where they were. Learn to use
buck sign to your advantage.
Sign made during
the night is valuable
information.
It
probably indicates
that you won’t see
the buck there
during the day.
Daytime sightings
are the most positive
hunting
signs
there are. Bucks
that are seen on a
hardwood ridge at
noon means noon
is when you should
hunt there. If a buck
enters a wheat field
at dusk, backtrack
his trail and pick
him off an hour before dark
as he heads for the field.
Did you know . . .
Your best deer hunting
tool is your brain. You cannot
outrun these animals. You
cannot out hide them. They
can hear better, small better
and see better than your can.
You must, therefore, out-think
them to harvest big bucks
consistently.
Buck sign comes in many
various forms. Droppings,
tracks, scrapes and rubs all
tip-off good deer hunters to a
buck’s favorite spots. But the
ability to accurately interpret
these signs is almost a lost art.
We have become shooters,
snipers if you will, rather than
hunters. Knowing how the
sign relates to the buck that
made it is very important.
Reading tree rubs is the
biggest,
most
common
mistake made by deer
hunters. The rubs serve as
both visual and olfactory
territorial markers for deer.
If you have ever taken the
time to notice, most rubs
are made on trees with light
colored wood. This is so other
deer can easily see them. The
buck does not make them to
help us find a good place from
which to ambush him. As the
buck makes these rubs with
his antlers, he also deposits
scent from glands on his
forehead on the trees. This
scent is how bucks identify
each other’s territory. During
the pre-rut sparing matches,
each buck gets a snootful
of the others forehead gland
scent. That way one buck
knows who he is trespassing
on by smelling the rubs.
Bucks will return to rub
lines to freshen them just like
scrapes. The old tale
of not hunting around
tree rubs is wrong,
especially just before
the peak of the rut. A
high concentration of
rubs is a prime spot
to hammer that buck.
Scrapes are
also often misread.
There are different
types of scrapes
and much of what
we used to believe
about them is not
necessarily accurate.
First, the size of the
scrape does not
indicate the size of
the buck nor does it allow us
to determine if it is a primary
scrape. Usually a primary
scrape has an overhanging
branch and the ground is
severely disturbed under this
licking limb. Scrapes made
by “hot” bucks near their
breeding territory show lots of
destruction to the limbs and
other saplings and vegetation
in the area.
It might be a good idea to
travel to a scrape stand after
first light. This gives you a
better chance to get in and
get set without spooking the
buck with clumsy noise or
flashlights. Also, be sure to
hunt hot scrapes after a rain
or snow. Bucks will likely
freshen their hot spots after
bad weather.
The best way to take a
good buck every season is
to decrease the luck factor
by increasing the knowledge
factor. If you put in the time
and make the effort, you can
keep your favorite taxidermist
busy every winter.
. . . last year MDHA chapters raised just over $600,000 through Hides for Habitat and local banquets to spend on local projects? MDHA funds are all spent locally in Minnesota!
. . . each MDHA chapter chooses what/where to spend its money?
. . . Minnesota hunters spend over $480 million each year?
. . . 597,000 people hunt in Minnesota each year?
12
Alternative Hunter’s Housing
Hunting Tips from the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
By Ed Schmidt, Co-editor/Columnist MDHA’s Whitetales Magazine
By Rod Dimich & Joe Cannella
While cruising through the
2011 NSSF SHOT SHOW
(Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor
Trades) last January, it was
evident that outdoor housing
was a prominent product.
Tents, tree stands, fish houses,
ground and tree blinds, were
featured as though they were
a premonition of trends to
come.
Finding a place to hunt
in Minnesota is really not a
problem due to of the availability
of public, state, federal, and
county lands. Private lands, on
the other hand, are becoming
more difficult to access and
purchase. As a result, alternative
housing is a great option for a
quality deer-hunting shack,
without having to worry about
real estate taxes. Tent camps
always whetted my pioneering
free spirit. New fabrics, tent
designs, heating options, and
accessories make tent camps
a viable option for initiating a
new deer camp.
Montana Canvas Company,
for example, has a wide variety
of tent options and sizes that
meet the needs of an outpost
whitetail camp; it even features
a unique 3’x5’ outhouse/
shower facility. Their wall tents
or cabin tents have a history
and legacy for providing shelter
to trappers, pioneers, miners
and hunters. The features
that make the cabin tent so
user friendly are their frame
and floor systems. Setup time
is drastically reduced due
to the lightweight hardened
aluminum framework that
allows a modem-age pioneer
to set up camp alone. The tent
fabric is available in 10 ounce
to 12 ounce Retlite and made
from lightweight polyester
that provides wind and water
protection. Retlite is a soft
pliable material that is easily
cleaned, resistant to tears and
destructive
ultraviolet
rays. Montana Canvas’s
model selection includes
not only the wall tent but
also a tipi, spike tent, or
center pole type. Sizes
vary with cabin style
from an 8’ x 10’ wall tent
to the 18’ x 24’ Denali
all with a ceiling height that
allows plenty of stretching
room. Space age high
temperature silicone rubberceiling grommets allows for
metal chimneys and ventilation
for heating or cooking with a
wood stove. As an option, each
is expandable using the porch
addition or even a cook tent.
Tent camps are an exciting
and practical and alternative
way to affordable deer camp
housing.
GROUND BLINDS
Did you ever sit on a ridge
overlooking a vast clear-cut
or hay field wondering if your
silhouette stood out like a sore
thumb against the sky behind
you? Ground blinds are readily
available to cover you in
comfort. With the introduction
of camouflaged cloth materials
found in Mossy Oak, Trebark®,
RealTree®,
Advantage
Camouflage®, and RealTree®,
X-tra Snow, a blind can be
obtained to blend into almost
any hunting environment,
be it ducks, geese, deer or
just observing tweety birds.
Ground blinds are light in
weight and easy to put up.
Some are as simple as flicking
a pair of light weight spring
steel frames or inserting a set
of shock-corded aluminum
poles into preset nylon
grommets in a few minutes it
pops up a tent-like structure
- complete with access door
and gun port windows. Some
of these alternate housing
designs have been engineered
to accommodate slug gun or
rifle hunter, while other models
allow for more internal room
necessary for the bow hunter.
These lightweight units provide
a natural hiding place for the
camera hunter and are an
absolute necessity to obtain
that once in a lifetime photo.
BBK, Buddy Bucket Kit@,
a Texas company that builds
several ground blind kits,
provide a safe, small and
affordable means of concealing
hunters while protecting them
from the elements. BBK® has
introduced a combo lean-to
model which can be elevated
to 5’ or 10’ with an optional
steel ladder kit. BBK® must be
commended for constructing a
light weight (15#) double wide
hunting blind to accommodate
wheelchair bound hunters.
This packable model is also
an excellent choice for a bow
hunter or taking that young
novice hunter with you. It is
easily packed into an ordinary
backpack (provided) and has
many affordable accessories
to make your hunt functional.
Permanent
deer
stands
on public lands are under
scrutiny or even banned by
certain groups. Even though
the old deer stands are part
of our hunting tradition, they
must be checked annually for
safety and functionality. With
many more people utilizing
the woods for varied outdoor
recreation other than hunting,
permanent deer stands to
them are an eye-sore and
aesthetically out of character
for the natural environment.
To the died-in-the-wool deer
hunter, “Ol’ Pine Knot” may
be a thing of beauty, but that
stand only can be cherished in
the eye of the beholder.
Alternative
housing
is
readily available to replace that
namesake tree stand. Metal
stair cased boxes and
cylinders allow the deer hunt
to rise above the earth by 12’
to 15’ while being concealed in
camouflaged blind or roofed by
pop-up umbrella. The Wright
Stand (Tower, Minnesota) is
probably the most unique
portable stand on the market
even though its heavy weight
is somewhat a deterrent for
most hunters, its functionality
is most impressive. The original
Wright Stand was designed for
physically challenged hunters.
Basically, the Wright Stand
had a well-engineered elevator
operated by an electric motor
pumping
hydraulic
fluids
into extending cylinder while
pulling the platform cable,
taking the hunter to heights up
to 14 feet.
As an outdoorsman, these
alternative housing units from
the wall tent to ground blind,
to the elevated tree stand, are
safe, economical and effective
tools for hunting the whitetail
deer. Research the units that fit
your needs, taste, and hunting
style. You will find no shortage
of equipment in the outdoors
market place to make your
outdoor experience more
comfortable.
Editor’s
note:
To
further
research products mentioned
in this article you may check the
following websites:
landmsupply.com,
montanacanvas.com,
wrightstands.com,
bbkhs.com,
gandermountain.com
cabelas.com
Did you know that
MDHA Chapters
have around 1,000
volunteers statewide?
Are you one?
PRACTICING WITH
BROADHEADS
To be accurate with your
broadheads, you need to
practice with them. Buy an
extra set (same weight, style
& brand) to use for practicing
from both groundlevel and
elevated shooting. Once in the
deer stand, shooting one of
your practice arrows at a predistanced spot on the ground
will improve confidence and
accuracy.
TREE STAND SAFETY
In Minnesota, a large
percentage of deer hunting
related injuries result from falling
out of tree stands. Wearing a
safety vest or harness can help
prevent falls. Using a rope to
haul up gear can also help as
can using an equipment hook
for hanging your pack, bow, etc.
Tree stands should be examined
every year for safety. The more
prepared you are, the safer you
will remain.
MOCK SCRAPES
Since scrape activity slows,
but never really stops completely,
it is never too early or too late to
make mock scrapes in the deer
woods. In and out of the rut,
deer still use and seek scrapes
to leave their mark. Simply
working the ground up under
an over-hanging branch will get
the momentum started. In early
season, top off the fresh soil
with a urine-based scent, closer
to the rut, bring out the doein-estrous scents. It has never
been easier with the advent of
drip bottles that.
TRACKING WOUNDED GAME
Tracking a deer is something
most hunters really don’t want to
do, but sometimes have to do.
Here are three tips to help you
put venison on the table. First,
buy a handheld GPS. Punch in
your stand and then punch in
each spot where blood is found.
Second, get some fluorescent
flagging tape to tie on at each
blood site (be sure to come
back and pick up the ribbon).
Finally, for night tracking, bring
along two Coleman lanterns.
Leave one at last blood and look
for more with the other. Blood
shines in Coleman light and the
woods are a little less scary.
DEER CALLS
Deer calls can be very
effective when used at the right
time. During the rut, a low toned
grunt call can act as a challenge
to dominant bucks while a higher
toned grunt or bleat may attract
a buck or invite other does to
come closer. Fawn bleats can
be effective in attracting does
and other fawns that may then
be followed by bucks. The key
is practice your calling so you
know what message you intend
to send and how to accomplish
it. Another key is to watch and
listen to deer when you are
out. Let them teach you their
language.
LOW RECOIL AMMO
If you are not sure whether
or not you want to invest in a
smaller caliber deer hunting rifle
for your youngster, then check
out Federal’s new Low Recoil
ammunition available in .270,
.308 and even 30-06. With this
new Low Recoil ammunition,
your youngster could use one
of your present deer rifles with
greatly reduced recoil. Lowered
recoil means they will flinch
less, shoot better and probably
result in killing more game more
humanely. Federal’s Low Recoil
loads are a natural for beginning
hunters (young and old) to
shoot. Pick up a few boxes of
Low Recoil ammunition, and
then take your beginning hunter
to the range.
“DON’T CHEAT YOUR FEET”
A seasoned cold weather
hunter will tell you “Don’t skimp
on your boots!” Cold feet often
lead to hunters leaving their
stands and cutting their chances
of bagging a deer. Even a good
pair of boots can still result
in cold feet if you neglect to
remove and dry your liners
every day. Starting your hunt
with moist liners guarantees
your feet will get cold no matter
what how many degrees below
zero the boot rating states. So
dry your liners at the end of
each day. Better yet, purchase
an extra pair of liners for a mid
day switch.
HEATERS CAN BE YOUR
“BEST ‘BUDDY’”
Like the old timers used to
say, “Life is pretty simple, eat
13
when you are hungry, stay cool
when it is hot, and be warm
when it is cold.” The last part
is a vital element of firearm and
muzzleloader deer hunting.
When the winds of November
bring the heavy cold and
December welcomes winter, a
deer hunter’s best “buddy” (pun
intended) can be a propane
heater. Whether used with a
1, 5, 10, or 20 pound tank, Mr.
Heater and Buddy heaters will
make your day afield warm
and memorable. There will be
no more missed shots due to
a shivering body and frozen
fingers. Hunting should be about
enjoyment, not endurance.
Did you know that
MDHA chapters
sponsor youngsters
to MDHA Forkhorn
Summer Camps every
year to the tune of
about $150,000?
RECYCLE
Hides for Habitat
We live here, we hunt here, our legacy is here.
In Minnesota
for
Minnesota
Join MDHA today - www.mndeerhunters.com
Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
14
The Camp Cook…A Deer Shack Institution
Muzzleloading…Put the “Hunt” Back In “Hunting”
By Rod Dimich
By Joe Cannella
Dining at a fancy restaurant,
complete
with
plush
atmosphere and VIP treatment,
is usually an undeniable delight.
Sometimes, however, there
is great satisfaction at just
stopping at a fast food burger
place. And when mood strikes
you nothing hits the spot like a
late-night pizza. For sure, these
all have their place, but until
you’ve dined at a deer shack,
you simply haven’t taken a
trip into the finest of culinary
experiences.
Steaks
not
done
to
customers’ satisfaction are
sometimes sent back to the
chef at many eating places,
but seldom is the time when
a deer shack participant
voices anything but sublime
satisfaction at the deer shack
cuisine. It’s the mixture of fresh
air, good companionship and
a worry free environment that
does it.
And the chief architect
of this praiseworthy palate
adventure is that venerable
veteran of the cast iron, the
camp cook. Nowhere is any
person of responsibility held
in more esteem than the camp
cook is at the deer shack. He’s
the king of the kitchen, the
monarch of the menu. His
spatula is his scepter and we,
the orange-clad hunters who
form his dominion, wait on his
announcement, “Soup’s on!”
He’s the first human form we
see after the haranguing alarm
has shaken us from a blissful
bunk rest. He’s the author of
the famous deer shack early
morning mantra, “Daylight
in the swamp!” “He is solely
responsible for transforming
the darkness of a predawn
deer shack to a glowing vista
similar
to a sparkling star in an
ebony sky. Only he can create
the memorable aroma of
percolating coffee and maple
burning in a wood cook stove.
And only he can look sunrise
fresh when you know for sure
he was the last one to bed,
checking the fire and making
sure the gas lamps were shut
off tightly.
He is usually wearing a
worn red union suit and his
favorite deer-hunting hat. The
smile on his face is a poster for
the togetherness of the deer
shack. The sound of sizzling
bacon in the old frying pan is
like singing birds foretelling
the coming dawn. His chatter
Recipe submitted by Steve Johnson, Roseau River Chapter
Submit recipes to:
THE STILL HUNT…
Everything begins with the
still-hunt. This hunting method
will take you away from trails
and from simply walking to
an established stand site. You
must be willing to go where
the sign takes you and use the
wind to steer your hunt. If your
territory includes the big woods
a compass is mandatory. Know
your surrounding barriers. What
is to the north, east, south and
west, where are the roads,
power lines, and waterways?
All of these can lead you back
Whitetales Editors
460 Peterson Road
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Mary’s South of the Border Moose
Submitted by Mary G./Mark J.
INGREDIENTS:
This recipe is designed to feed 12 to 15 people.
2 lb moose roast
Picante sauce
Sour cream
Guacamole
Sliced jalapeño or banana peppers
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped green onions
4 med. baking potatoes
Tobassco (for topping if desired)
INGREDIENTS:
A clean 10 gallon cream can with lid, sturdy fire grate to support
can or bricks
Full box of tin foil
5 pounds of red potatoes (smaller size for eating)
2 pounds rutabagas (quartered)
2 pounds of onions (diced into chunks)
2 large heads of cabbage (peeled apart)
Corn on the cob (if in season) (break in half)
2 pounds of carrots (smaller size is better)
Brats (15 to 20) (we prefer the Johnsonville brand)
Ring Bologna (2 or 3 rings) (may substitute venison
processed brats, polish, and ring bologna)
11/2 to 2 gallons of water
With the wind in my face,
I slowly made my way up the
snow-covered hillside. When
I reached the peak, I peered
over. Not more than forty yards
away a horizontal form caught
my eye… a bedded deer! I
shouldered my Hawken, but
just before that trigger pulling
moment… a wolf stood up. If I
had had a wolf tag in my pocket
I quite possibly could have been
the first hunter to kill a wolf with
a patched round ball in over
a 150 years. Oh well, maybe
someday.
We want your recipes!
COOKING WILD GAME
CREAM CAN STEW
happens during the deerhunting day, that day has
been successful because of
the camp cook’s breakfast.
As each hunter steps into the
predawn black, heading to that
favorite stand, the memory of
that breakfast, complete with
companionship and a decor of
hunting clothes, lingers with
childlike magic.
Where else can we begin
on top of the day, awake with
the important elements of
happiness: laughter, hope and
deer strategy? The deer camp
is the only place.
Put him in a tent, a camper,
a house, label him relative or
friend, it makes no difference.
We still call him, either by name
or otherwise, the “camp cook,”
and in deer country the one
who wears the apron rules…
is constant, even the only
audible responses come in
the form of grunts, yawns
and early morning garble. He
has an easy gait as he glides
and scuffles his down booties
across the worn linoleum floor,
stopping to do a little jig next
to the bunk of the last sleeping
bag inhabitant.
The camp cook is the main
catalyst of the deer country
day. It would be nice to think
that when the first glow of light
comes from the deer shack and
the solitary figure of the camp
cook looms over the wood
stove, that wary old mossy,
king of the swamp, might stop
in his sojourn to tangled cover
and salute his counter-part,
the sovereign of the shack, the
camp cook…
Moreover, no matter what
DIRECTIONS:
Place roast in crock pot and cover with Picante sauce (hot or medium per your taste). Cook 3-4 hours
until done then slice meat while still in sauce. Place hot baked potato on plate, slice open, cover with
meat & sauce, top with sour cream, guacamole, shredded cheddar, chopped green onions and peppers.
Side dress with green salad and tomato slices. Serve with Cervezza. Serves 4. (This recipe works great
with virtually any red meat including venison, bison and beef.)
DIRECTIONS:
• Get fire started to build up a nice bed of coals.
• Roll up tin foil chunks into loose baseball size and place on the bottom of a 10 gallon cream can. Try to get a solid layer or two.
This will prevent anything from burning on the bottom of the can.
• Place washed whole potatoes next above the tin foil.
• Place a layer of cabbage on top of potatoes.
• Place corn on the cob pieces on the next layer over the cabbage.
• Place another layer of cabbage to help keep things separated.
• Add onions, rutabagas, and carrots.
• One more layer of cabbage. Place the brats and ring bologna on top.
• Add 11/2 to 2 gallons of water.
• Place on fire with a low flame length.
• Make sure lid is not on tight. Steam needs to escape.
• Once water starts to boil, keep fire going to boil and cook for approximately one and a half hours.
• You can add salt and pepper and other spices but go light. The flavor comes from the juices off the meat percolating
throughout the rest of the vegetables.
When done, have some large bowls or pans handy, dump out as much water as possible and then pour the contents into
the large bowls or pans.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Cream Can Cookers include:
(Left to right) Chris Kobberdahl, Forestry Technician in Brainerd, Member of Cuyuna Range Whitetails Chapter,
Steve Johnson, Forestry Tech, Wannaska, President of Roseau River Chapter, Bruce (Buck) Nelson, Retired Alaska
Smokejumper, Author of “Hunting Big Whitetails” as well as Videos “Alone Across Alaska” and “Alaska Hunting Adventure” and Life Member of Rum River Chapter, Ray Johnson,
Retired Auto Parts Manager, Steve Johnson’s Dad
What I am saying is to put
the “hunt” back in “hunting,”
this season. Hit the ground after
deer. It is warmer than getting
pounded by that northwest
Arctic wind while waiting for
deer to come. Perhaps you were
confined to that stand because
of a crowded woods during
the regular firearms season
and now are eager to see
some countryside. The crowds
are gone as less than 60,000
muzzleloader licenses were sold
in 2010, compared to ½ million
regular firearms hunters.
The public lands will be
less crowded and private land
opportunities may increase via
permission from landowners
who do not muzzleloader hunt.
Chances are even your regular
hunting camp is not as busy as
the firearms season. When the
camp was full, moving around
might have got you in hot water
with your camp mates because
you might have disturbed their
hunt. Now, however, most
stands are empty, but the deer
are still around.
It is worth mentioning that
putting your boots on the ground
hunting a muzzleloader requires
you to bring out the hunter in
yourself. You will not be sitting
in a heated box stand. Expect a
challenge. If you are up for that
challenge, here are some tips
that have helped me tag some
late season venison.
to familiar ground. To know
they exist in relation to your
starting point study maps and
air photos. You can use a GPS,
but don’t rely on one because
batteries die out and even in the
winter some tree canopies can
block the signal.
Still, bring the GPS, as they
are a fun, useful tool. Begin by
marking your starting waypoint.
If you want to know where you
have been at the end of the day
choose the trailer feature. Along
your way, record potential stand
sites for bow season as you
may come across, rub lines and
bedding areas. At the end of
the hunt you can head directly
back to your starting point using
your GPS (always carry spare
batteries).
Due to the potential
remoteness and severe weather
on a winter muzzleloader stillhunt a basic survival kit is
mandatory. Fire making tools
including quick starters (such
as Vaseline on cotton balls)
may save your life. Pack the
essentials but make the kit
small enough so you will not be
tempted to leave it in the truck.
By muzzleloader season
winter has usually taken hold,
however you will be surprised
that even in zero degree weather
it is much warmer on the ground
when you moved slowly as
compared to sitting still in a
stand for hours at a time. Dress
light but carry layers. A warm hat
that can be taken off is a great
body temperature regulator. You
do not want to sweat. Start off
cool and stay cool during your
hunt. . You will be more alert. An
uncomfortable hunter becomes
sloppy and distracted. Stillhunting requires the alertness
level of a predator.
Begin your hunt by heading
to areas you know deer are using
because of past experience or
you can see the sign. Remember,
still-hunting is not the same as
tracking. Tracking is focused on
one animal whereas still-hunting
is more like hunting the area with
the greatest potential to hold
deer right now. I am not saying
ignore a fresh set of tracks; if the
opportunity arises, go for it.
Areas to check may include
known day-bedding areas,
especially south facing slopes
on cold sunny days, midmorning and late afternoon
feeding areas such as recent
clearcuts with winter browse
and any woods near standing
agriculture crops. On windy days
find thermal cover (conifers and
cedar swamps) the deer will use
to block the wind and receive
protection.
BE THE PREDATOR… Becoming the predator starts
with how you move in the
woods. When walking, stop
every few feet and remain still;
stand longer than you walked.
This is the definition of stillhunting: being still more than
moving.
Step over objects to avoid
unnatural noise. Plan your stops
and route by looking forward
for one or more of the following
features: cover to use to break
up your silhouette, shade for
hiding, clear visibility and a
place to lean since you will be
there for a bit.
Before proceeding, listen and
investigate every noise until you
identify the source. Binoculars
are a great tool to improve your
sight. Don’t look for deer, look
for ears, legs and tails. Look for
abnormalities in the landscape
like horizontal shapes in a forest
of vertical trees. This horizontal
line may materialize into a deer’s
back.
At some point, check the
wind direction, a piece of thread
tied to your gun barrel or tossing
a handful of powder snow
will work. Knowing the wind
direction is crucial.
In an ideal world you will have
some sound muffling powdered
snow. If this happens, cherish
it because you will be able to
move like a ghost through the
woods.
But,
back to reality
as more than
likely conditions
will be less
than ideal with
squeaky snow
or no snow at
all, just crunchy
leaves.
But,
don’t panic, you
can still hunt. All
critters make
noise moving,
simply sound
like one of
them. This goes
back to taking
a few steps
and stopping
as discussed
previously. In dry leaves don’t
be afraid to shuffle your feet to
sound like a squirrel or perhaps
a turkey. In fact, if there are
turkeys in your area talk like
one, especially if you jump a
15
deer. A few clucks while kicking
leaves will sound just like a
feeding turkey and if a deer
didn’t smell you,
it may choose to
investigate what
frightened it.
S o m e t i m e s
you will come
to areas void
of sign. Move
through them
briskly,
but
carefully
until
you find sign
again.
Then
get back into
predator mode.
THE SHOT…
Finally, when
the opportunity
to shoot arises,
move slowly into position. You
worked hard to get to this point
so don’t rush. After the shot, if
the deer does not drop, take a
compass bearing on where the
deer was standing. Sit back for
a bit in case it is just out of sight
but perhaps still alive.
THE AFTERMATH…
After watching the wolf trot
away, I continued to hunt the ½
mile ridge, reaching the end and
painstakingly creeping through
the dense alders separating the
high ground to the base of the
next ridge. As I approached the
top of the first knoll I noticed
two deer beds tucked under
balsams. I made three calculated
steps and a tail flickered, giving
up the gray forms obscured by
the hazel brush. A scant 20 yards
away, the deer were unsure of
the cause of their alarm and did
the characteristic high stepping
of alarmed deer… right into a
clear shot opportunity. I found
the chest of the doe and smoke
filled the air.
When you recover your deer
pat yourself on the back, you
have just met the challenge. You
have just put the “hunt” back
into “hunting!”
Did you know that
MDHA’s Hides for
Habitat program
monies raised from
the collection and
sale of hides and tails
are dedicated for use
on youth education
and habitat?
16