Big bucks in northern Mn?

[ironranger]

I hunt and live up north on the iron range and north and have seen some huge bucks taken, not to mention the ones I'm seeing on the trail cam.  Everything I see on tv and read in articles sort of give us a bad name for big bucks up here and I don't know why. Sure it's not the corn belt of Iowa or Kansas but man, there are some monsters up here. Anyone else hunt up here? Why do we have such a bad rap. Maybe it's just a nice little secret?

[Outdoors Junkie]

I love to hunt in northern MN.  I am hunting a little more west from da range.  I hunt by upper red lake.  It is more challenging then the corn fields down south.    We have harvested many big bruisers over the years. 

Welcome to MNO ironranger!  We are very glad you found your way here!   

[Cody Gruchow]

i know they get bug up there. and i like that its kept quiet. do you want to attract alot of out of state hunters then have to be in a drawning to just deer hunt in your own state? i know i dont. welcome to MNO

[Ryan]

I also hunt up there and there are some big deer.  My zone also has more does than you could ever want to shoot in your life.

[ironranger]

I mostly hunt zone 178, this year we also have the two day rifle doe hunt Oct. 11, 12. That makes 7 legal deer we can take this year! I don't think I have enough room in my freezer.

[HUNTER2]

I used to hunt by Thief River falls for many years. We hunted the farm land and the wildlife area there. It is Agassiz wild life area. We used to have a group of about 35 that would meet there every year. We shot a lot of deer. My step dad got me going up there. I have a bruiser on the wall from there. I see you can shoot as many as you want there now with the TB up there. Now where I bought some land you are only allowed 1 deer. One of these years I will try Elk hunting and maybe hunt a different state.

[Ryan]

I mostly hunt zone 178, this year we also have the two day rifle doe hunt Oct. 11, 12. That makes 7 legal deer we can take this year! I don't think I have enough room in my freezer.

Same zone as I hunt in.  I think I am going to skip the early doe hunt this year.  It would probably be hard not to shoot a deer if you really wanted to.  I don't think I have enough room to keep all the meat we get during the regular season.

[ironranger]

   Wow, small world. I did buy one of the early doe tags just to have it with me while I'm grouse hunting that weekend. I'll carry a few slugs with me and it could get interesting. I take it you will be bow hunting this weekend? Let me know how you do and good luck!

[Ryan]

I don't bow hunt yet.  It is too long of a drive for me to go hunting up there every weekend anyway.

[HUNTER2]

I don't think it is leagle to hunt grouse and deer at the same time. You might want to check the regs!

[HD]

Nope, if your deer hunting, you can't carry any bird loads.
Or any smaller caliber firearms that aren't legal for deer.
And if your bird hunting, you can't carry slugs.

Hunter

[guythathunts]

You can keep the slugs in the truck. Also, If you are walking with friends in a area that you a likly to jump a deer, they could be bird hunting you could be deer hunting. You may want to check the regs, but I bet that would not be a problem. I think the law is there so 1) you Dont shoot a deer with Bird shoot and 2) so you don't fire slugs at a 45% angle. Good luck!

[black-ice]

I hunt about 40 miles south of da range (alborn) I have a nice 9 point on cam and a freak not sure on the points maybe a 8

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[Big_D]

A few years back I was hunting between Virginia and Ely and shot a 13 year old 8 pointer that DRESSED out at 272...

Yeah, they can be had up there....

[Cody Gruchow]

wow that must of been one ugly deer 13 years old

[Big_D]

Actually he is beautiful...had him mounted and in my family room....lot's of grey on his face

DNR figured at one point he was a 18 pointer and was coming down

[Viking]

Actually he is beautiful...had him mounted and in my family room....lot's of grey on his face

DNR figured at one point he was a 18 pointer and was coming down

Big_D - Let's see some pictures.  I don't think I've ever seen one that old.

[cookie]

We hunt up here in waskish,Upper red lake area as well. When people ask about the deer hunting I say if you like hunting its a great area if you like shooting you might want to try another area? I still have not gotten any deer hunters in our cabin? We have taken two deer in the last three years over 220lbs so there are some big deer ,but theres some big woods up here. Our friend Ole is kinda of a loner and he loves hunting up here. A couple of years ago I showed him where I saw a 11 pointer that I did not get a shot at with my bow. I had been chasing that deer for three years. He put the puzzle together and harvested that deer 4 days later. My partner the greek harvested a beatiful 10 pointer this year green scored 146 with his bow. Anyone wants to start a new tradition and stay in a cabin during deer hunting I have the place just no hunters? Ole took a nine pointer this year with his gun. I missed a small buck with the bow but I'm not a trophy hunter as any deer with a bow is a trophy with me. I had my chance and seem to get one good chance a year.

[jigglestick]

there is still time cookie!

[trophy time]

Wish I could see a buck, havn't seen one all year.