New to the North

[QuackSmakker]

Hey All,

   Moved from the middle of Iowa to Roseau County this year.  On top of that, this is my second year deer hunting.  I went once last year with a friend during muzzy season, and shot out of a ground blind.  As if that wasn't enough I just started shooting a bow in March. 

   As far as shooting the bow goes, I'm not worried.  It helps when the place you work has an archery range.  If I can't shoot, I don't hunt.

   I'm not from Iowa originally.  I grew up in Chicago and moved out there to go to school.  As fate would have it that's where I met my fiance who got a job in Northern Minnesota.  What concerns me is that it took several years to figure out the local public land and make enough friends to hunt with that could give me some good general guidance, and now I'm back at square one.

   Anybody got any advice for a first time bowhunter?

Thanks

[kenhuntin]

You are in for a cold winter.You need to leave your car running when you are at the bar or it wont start some nights. The hunting groups up there are pretty tight. Just be a good neighbor and friendly.  The Chippewa forest has alot of room but don't step on toes up in there. The deer population should come back soon from killing off so many because of the bovine tuberculosis scare. Deer hunting is like a religion up in that country. If you go out in the big woods make sure you have a compass and something to sit down and start afire with. you do not want to be running through the woods at night looking for a way back. Some people are never found. Like a grouse hunter three years ago.

[QuackSmakker]

I appreciate the advice.  I'm going to be hunting North of the TB area, so hopefully that won't hurt me as much.  I can't believe how many deer I've tracked in the urban areas around here, let alone in the rural ones.

Being a bit of a survivalist I completely agree with your advice about the compass, and fire starting materials.  I have a basic pack that I use for all hunting (basic survival, first-aid and a few tools) and I have packs that I use for specific game (waterfowl, upland, deer and small game).

A coworker up here insists I take a GPS unit with me even though I assured him I wouldn't be without a compass.  I won't look a gift horse in the mouth though.

It amazes me sometimes how unprepared some people are for hunting.  If they've got a firearm and ammo (and maybe some blaze) they think they are ready to go.  I can think of quite a few hunts where people say things like, "I wish I had brought another pair of socks," or any other needed item (gloves, hats, layers, etc...).  The one that perplexes me the most is when someone doesn't bring some sort of sharp edge into the woods. 

Anyways, before this turns into a rant, thanks again for the advice.  I'm looking forward to the cold weather (especially with my build and temperature preference, 6'5 300lbs, built like a grizzly), and even more towards surprising the locals.

Regards
QuackSmakker

[Jdrummer]

First off welcome ! If you are having trouble finding out where all the public land is there is a map at kwick trip that has the public land maps but i am not completely shure if its just a certain county or the whole state? It would be worth a look at. Just like ken said just be friendly and you will be fine "oop nort"   
 

[QuackSmakker]

Yeah, people think I talk funny up here.  Apparently Chicagoan is a dialect.  Mix that up with some Iowa slang and you've got interesting bird at the party.

Anywho, Minnesota has sportsman's atlases right?  One North side of the state and one South?

Oof-ta I gotta go.  Ta twoy boot is aflowt andat ain't a good deal...ya'll.

Thanks again

-QuackSmakker

[Jdrummer]

Gees ........

[QuackSmakker]

That's not even the worst of it, you should live up here.

People keep telling me the mosquitos are huge up here and that I'm going to experience a winter like no other.  I tell you what, walk down by the Chicago River when it's 10 below and there's a 40-50 degree wind coming off the water.  It feels like the wind is trying to rip your face off.  Plus I like the cold, I killed my first deer on the coldest day of the year in Iowa last year, during a blizzard, on a hill (both ways?).

Okay, that's my rant for the day, sorry.  Had to get it out.

Hunting season is coming 

[kenhuntin]

Sounds like ya should do well up der in Roso den. sum times on frydie de town is relly slahmen. Have you met Cronk yet?

[QuackSmakker]

Not that I know of, but that's not surprising.  Not a lot of places to meet people out here.  When people want something to do, they just go outside.  Theres a lot of dat dare outside ups here ya know.

[Swany]

I have actually hunted up in Roseau County a couple of times. My brother lives in Roseau so I get up there somewhat regular. There is also some very good state land West towards Karlsted as well that is filled with Oak trees that draw in deer in the early bow season.
Like Kenhuntin said, there is a ton of national forest area up there, along with state land, and that is what I have hunted. You do NEED to have a compass at the bare minimum. A GPS would be even better.
I would recommend a hunting buddy that might know the area as well. Some of the backwood swamps up there are treacherous.