Saturday?s opener, nothing huge caught on the cam

[Kenk]

My cam has only been in position the 3 days, but at least confirms there are deer in the area. I would really prefer a 175 ish lbs doe due to their tastiness at 2 - 3 years, and will  likely pass on the ones pictured given the opportunity?but that remains to be seen : ) I was able to accuracy test Underwood Lehigh 150gr Xtreme Hunter, as well as UW?s 200gr XTP today, and the Hunter won out hands down (at least for me) If an opportunity presents itself beyond 25 - 30 yards, the Mossy Ulti-Mag Slugster will be close at hand 😀

The pick with the circle is the grove of trees my blind is in, and can?t be seen from the road, last season someone swiped my fancy new blind, and will be jiggered if that happens again

[Ramjet]

This unusually warm weather does not help. But next week the best times for the rut 7,8,9,10 of November in NE Wisconsin get those nocturnal bucks moving during the day outside their areas cruising for a willing girl friend. Good luck

[Kenk]

Thanks, it?s kind of like fishing in a way, I never plan on getting one, but is a nice bonus if I do 😀

[Kenk]

We?ve been having a lot of rain and wind for the MN firearm deer season so far, and has been slow for many. Our deer numbers are up this year, but the number taken so far are down. The wind and rain is expected to let up late Friday, so I?m hoping they will be on the move Saturday and Sunday (the last two days) foraging for food, as well as mature bucks looking for does

[Kenk]

Well no whitetail this season. I had an opportunity for a very large buck but seemed like a potentially unethical shot at aprx 125 yards with the slug gun and iron sights. I?m sure many would have tried, but just didn?t feel good about it.

[John A.]

You did the right thing Kenk.  I respect you more that you followed your gut feeling rather than risk it and missing, or even worse, wounding one.

My youngest son passed on a doe with a young deer with it last year.  It wasn't a fawn, and even too big to be nursing, but even if he had taken the larger doe, would've probably been a death sentence for both since the young deer hadn't went through its' first winter and not known what to do or where to go to make it through to spring.

[Rooster41]

I did get a spike buck on Tuesday after opener. I thought it was a doe. HE was with two other does. I didnt see the spikes when I was looking at them with the binoculars. First shot was with a 12 gauge and he dropped.  Gave him a half hour or so and when I got to about 25 yards from him, he tried to stand up. I then gave him a second shot with the Smith and Wesson M&P10 and the 200 grain Federal Fusion. He was no longer trying to get up. I still have a bonus anterless tag. I may save it and go out with the muzzle loader. Or I may get the 3B license (Minnesota) and go next Monday.

[Kenk]

I need to look into this 3B, I don?t really know anything about it or what?s involved
Thanks

[Kenk]

Hey Rooster, It?s interesting you mentioned getting the spike. 5 or 6 years ago I had a similar experience, the good news was, I could take either sex that year, and that the deer was amazing, our girls though it was roast beef 😂😂😂

[Rooster41]

Kenk it is any of the 300 permit areas. They used to be down into the SE corner of the state and then cut across the south metro. But with CWD they changed most of those to 600 series of zones for CWD management.  Where I am hunting, Area 338, is part of the 5 county metro area in Scott County where it borders Le Sueur and Sibley Counties which are different zones. This area of 338 I hunt is the East side of the Minnesota River Valley. There is a large amount of State and Federal public land open to hunting. Runs from Highway 19 near Henderson North to Belle Plaine. It is a 2 deer limit, no doe permit required.

Yesterday I purchased a Savage 220. If I can get out today or tomorrow to get it sighted in, I may get the 3B license. Or I will wait for muzzleloader since that is ready to go.

If I would have seen the spikes, I probably would have let it pass along with the two does he was with. For a doe we would have been a good size for this area. Ive seen some big bucks in this area and someone gets at least one every year out of this area.

But I just remembered, you are also in MN. Nevermind...this place sucks. No deer here.. Better off staying home.  HAHA IF you were to venture down to Henderson I would suggest a GPS, or a mobile app like ONX Hunt or Basemaps. Personally I use basemaps.

But for now, my dog is bugging me to go pheasant hunting. He is sneaking up on 14 years old real quick. He probably doesnt have that many hunts left in him so I better take him out.

[Kenk]

Same with our 90 lbs yellow lab at 11, these big dogs don?t live terribly long, which is really unfortunate, she?s a super neat dog