request

[Moving2thecountry]

Two hunters, both engineers, 40 something, looking to find a hunting party to join.  As it is, we are both novice deer hunters (I got one last year, but that was beginners luck, I think).  We are planning to go to a state forest and do our best to scout an area on Friday, but I am not sure we'll have good luck.  We both spent some time at the range sighting in, so we're good on that account.  We are willing to travel anywhere in the state.

Worth a try.

Otherwise, any tips?  (E.g., if we stumble on a bedding area, how far back on a trail should we set up?  At what time of the morning should we set up our stand?  How do you get a stand through dense forest, anyway?)

[Cody Gruchow]

id go 50 yards from the trail. if your hunting state land go as far back in the land as possible. because some deer hunters are lazy and are not willing to put in the extra work. if you dont feel comfortable going to far then i say get to your spot a hour early maybe a hour and a half early, because you will get the general rush of idiots about 30 minutes before sunrise. as for getting your stand through thick cover you just have to finesse it

[StevenHuston]

i would let you hunt with me but i just hunt public land for gun season

[beeker]

surf the DNR website they have lots of maps and what not of public land.. if you can swing into the dnr building in st paul off of lafayette.. they'll have tons of paper maps to review. or pick a county and go to their website you'll be able to find some tax forfeited land that is all public and a little less known.  good rule of thumb is the farther north you go the fewer people there will be. depending on the rules and regs.. put your stand out the night before use a bike cable to lock it up. mark your trail with those reflector pins to find your way.  or wait until 10-11 and drive around to a few places and see who's there. set up for the evening and go back there on sunday. 

[Randy Kaar]

McAndrew or Solana state forests are gonna be good this year. Not many trees in McAndew to hang a stand. but ground hunting should be good on the east side of 35.

randy

[Moving2thecountry]

McAndrew or Solana state forests are gonna be good this year. Not many trees in McAndew to hang a stand. but ground hunting should be good on the east side of 35.

randy

Randy, where is McAndrew?

[Randy Kaar]

It is in willow river, About 20 miles north pf hinkely right off 35.

randy

[BiggA]

I have family with land near General Andrews in willow river. Never deer hunted there but I would guess it would be pretty crowded not to far from the cities and right off 35.

[22lex]

If you have any place to stay around the Mille Lacs Area, PM me and I can certainly point you in the right direction for some state/or county owned land.

I personally don't hunt up there (except for bear), but there is a ton of land, and even more sign of deer. Definately have to check the regs for what you can/can't shoot though, as I am not sure in that area.

I don't think you can get an extra tag up there either (bonus) because it was a lottery area.

You'd also have to hoof it quite a ways in to get set up, but that's the fun of it right!

 

[Outdoors Junkie]

Saw this on craigslist today.

We have 28 acres of hunting land in northern minnesota.
$400 for the whole 3 week season, you can't beat that. There is state land bordering our land on the
east side that you can follow for miles. Stands are up and shooting lanes are cut. We don't hunt there
because we bought another piece of land and built a cabin on it and now hunt there. Any questions
call 320-266-8072
please leave a message if i don't answer