Ripley Hunt!

[Misky]

Well this is my first time applying for the Ripley hunt and I was suppose to hunt with my BUDDIES but they all backed out, leaving me as a group leader with NO group. Will this affect my chances of getting drawn? Any incite on the hunt, if I am lucky enough to get drawn, will be greatly appreciated. Good luck to all this season!

[mnnate]

get ready to see as many or more people come past you than deer! Otherwise its a good time. Tons of deer.

[bowtechman87]

I would say your chances are pretty good. Last year my brother in law filled his group and never called me to see if i wanted to go with in his group. Thank god he didn't because i applied by myself and i was drawn to go and his group wasn't! I ended up getting two doe's last year in Ripley. Good luck with getting drawn!

[The General]

I signed up this year for the first time.  Going with a group of 4.  Should be a good time if we get drawn.

[Big E]

I've done the Ripley hunt for 3 yrs now and I've loved it every time. We always see deer including big bucks. We got 2 does last year out of our group. I was releasing on a doe and a hunter walked down the trail. I was frustrated but not mad. It's the name of the game out there. Here is some tips I've learned

1. Always wear a piece of orange. Not only for safety but so that people can see you and most will try to avoid where you're sitting.

2. Bring a flashlight so you can shine it at people before it's light out so they don't set up next to you.

3. Extra hunting clothes! Always seems to rain.

4. Try to sit all day if you can. In my experience no matter where you sit you will see a deer eventually. Even if someone walks right by you. Deer are always moving there.

5. Don't worry about driving way up to the north to try to get away from everyone....hunters are also everywhere.

6. Get on a hit deer as soon as you can. Some hunters out there are pricks and might try to say they shot it...hasn't happend to us but some friends it did.

7. Don't waste time driving around to scout. Get on stand!

8. Everyone has a rattle bag, grunter and bleat out there.

9. Don't go 40mph in a 30mph zone they have MP's there that are friendly but they cut into hunting time.

10. If you get a deer or not make sure you check out the weigh in station. You'll see what you just sat in a stand all day for.

11. GPS if you have one or make sure someone does. There is a lot of roads and they all look the same

12. Try not to set up near the dud zones. You can't go in them after your wounded deer no matter what and wounded deer seem to know that.

I know it doesn't sound like that great of a hunt with all the other hunters around but trust me if you can understand that they are out there for the same reasons you are and not get upset it is fun. During prime time there is normally nobody moving around unless they're tracking a deer. When someone walks by don't worry about it deer are being kicked all over the place and hopefully will get kicked by you. I apply every year because it really is a GREAT opportunity to shoot a big buck. I've seen some giants in there. Always some good stories too. We've seen grouse, turkey and bear in there. Even got to see how fast a guy can get his pants down when the urge to take a crap hits him suddenly. Hillarious! (rule 13 take a good look around before taking a crap.....chances are someone is sitting high in a tree trying not to laugh.) Most of all just have fun and don't take it too serious it's suppose to be fun.

5.

[bowtechman87]

Well put Big E!!!

[The General]

Thanks for the tips.........now I just have to get drawn.

[Misky]

Thanks Big-E great advice!

[Big E]

Any time.
 A few more things I forgot to mention is have your slip that you need to have everyone sign and fill out that is in your vehicle ready when entering the hunting area each day. You just need to hand it to the MP at the gate. Some guys forget this and end up holding up the line or have to pull over to find it.
 Bring your lunch and some extra clothes in the vehicle with you. Having to head back to the campsite in the middle of the day is a hassel and cuts in on hunting. With only 2 days to hunt you'll want to be hunting as much as possible. We always have way too much food. We end up taking the most of it back home. Just don't realize how much hunting we do. Try to bring stuff you don't have to cook. We always bring stuff for sandwiches and keep it in a cooler in the truck.
 Bottles of water is a must. After dragging a deer or sitting in the sun sweating pop just doesn't cut it.
 If a deer comes by you that is hit putting another arrow in it for the guy is something that will actually help you out too. A quicker recovery for that hunter gets him out of the woods faster instead of him having to keep tracking it. Just remember it's his deer. Our rule of thumb is the first hunter to hit the deer it's his deer. Bad shot or not. That's just us.
 

[Go Big Red!]

My wife's cousin just complete more training @ Ripley and she said the deer are " crazy up there" as she put it.  She was driving a fuel tanker at 4 AM and almost smoked 3 of them.  Good Luck!!!

[bowtechman87]

You should be finding out soon if you are going or not. I just got the letter in the mail, i'm going! Also NEW FOR 2009: An entrance fee of $10 per vehicle will be collected by the military at the railroad gate to offset traffic management, security, range patrol, and road maintence costs associated with the hunt. Also if you are there before posted arrival time you will be charged a $30 entrance fee.
So don't show up too early!

[JohnWester]

You should be finding out soon if you are going or not. I just got the letter in the mail, i'm going! Also NEW FOR 2009: An entrance fee of $10 per vehicle will be collected by the military at the railroad gate to offset traffic management, security, range patrol, and road maintence costs associated with the hunt. Also if you are there before posted arrival time you will be charged a $30 entrance fee.
So don't show up too early!

hmm... beer money

[bowtechman87]

HAHAHAHA!  yeah....that sounds right!

[Big E]

Everyone I know including our party got in! It's going to be a fun time this yr!

[stevejedlenski]

i was just out there fishing last weekend. saw a few does but nothing like in the past. i have hunted the youth hunt before but never the regular season. i hear its a zoo and my dad refuses to apply because of the problems. there is plenty of deer though just wish people would behave i guess. hopefully i will be getting a letter soon saying im in. maybe that big one will happen to walk by haha. ive seen some HUGE deer out there.

[Misky]

I got in!
 

[bowtechman87]

I got in!
 

GOOD FOR YOU!!! You'll have fun out there.

[Joe]

The great Camp Ripley fiasco. I used to go with my brother, dad, and uncle years ago, but we stopped going when we started seeing more hunters than deer.

[The General]

I and my 2 hunting partners are in for the second weekend.

[stevejedlenski]

im in as well. for the oct 15-16th hunt. havent seen many deer out there as in the past but thinking they are staying in the woods more. im pretty pumped because i have a new climber and am ready to stick a nice fat doe for the freezer!   

[trophy time]

I got drawn for the 31-1 weekend hunt.  I have gone quite a few times now and still have not found the perfect spot. 

[Misky]

Anybody hunt this weekend?

[stevejedlenski]

i did. i missed a yearling doe. she came in quick and my bottom cam hit my knee when i shot but i didnt hunt real hard, the weather was pretty crappy and i didnt have all my ducks in a row so my hunt was pretty worthless. i did however get one very muddy truck out of the deal though, that was a fun one to clean.

one guy did alright though, he shot a 32 pointer on thursday. ill put up a pic when photobucket is working

[Big E]

I missed a doe. Thought it was at 40 yards....nope 55 yards. We seen some giant bucks.

[jkcmj]

Here is the story out of the Saint Cloud paper on the big 32 point ripley deer killed this year.

Scott Okonek of South Haven harvested this 32-point, 192-pound buck at Camp Ripley. It was arguably one of the most impressive deer taken during the annual archery hunt. (Courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources)

[Jdrummer]

32pointer:One word "WOW"

[tmjhamann]

i'll second that!

[MNBucKKiller]

Any word on what he green scored???

[proangler16]

I just read in the Star Trib this morning that it green scored 228, might be the new MN-State Non-Typical record, of course the official score will be done in 6-months after the drying period.

 

All I can say is WOW, what a beast of a Buck, hard to ever top that one huh?

[Jdrummer]

We should all thank our lucky stars that he is not in the mno deer contest!