SE MN APR Restrictions

[spyder357]

If you hunt the hill country in se mn, what do you think of the APR restrictions so far specifically in regards to public land. I wasn't real fond of them at first but I am see many many more spike to 6 point bucks and a few biggins on the public land compared to 4-5 years ago. I have to admit I've come around to supporting them after seeing what a difference its made for the areas I hunt. Thoughts?

[Jeff G]

I hunt in SE MN, I love the APR there. We have seen a huge increase in mature deer. Each year we take a few big bucks now, or at least get a chance at one. I like the rule that kids can take any buck they want. I wish WI would implant this state wide. I think it really gives the 1.5-2.5 year old buck a chance to show there potential.

[BassBoysLLP]

I'm a big fan of it. The area has the potential to kick out some monsters. The timing of the gun season will always hold MN back but this definitely helps matters. Rather than hunting the spillover from adjacent private the public now has a greater potential to kick out good bucks.

I hope to be sitting in those hills this fall.

[ Post made via Android ]

[kenn1320]

I dont hunt MN but we have aprs in parts of Mi and had them in MO when i hunted there. Im all for them. I read all the time about "I was against them, but now Im for them". Why the change of heart? Sadly aprs were shot down in parts of Mi, even with their success in other areas. If some of those that were against could have seen the light as some others do, we could of had more apr areas.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[dubbs]

I love the APR's in SE MN. I shot this buck on public last year.

[TallTines]

I think it's working would help if the gun season was pushed back.




[ Post made via iPhone ]

[willsk85]

I wish MN would implement this state-wide. Spyder357, I think your initial outlook is what a lot of hunters feel. But, like you, if they would start to see the results of what it can produce, everyone would be on board after 3-5 seasons.

I've always said, MN could be one of the best states to hunt whitetails. We don't just have one type of habitat like Iowa and most of Wisconsin. We have big north woods, prairie farmland, and hardwoods/hill country. Keep licenses limited for a few years like they are and implement a state-wide antler point restriction and this state would climb right back into being a top 5 whitetail producing state. Just my two cents.

[MN Legacy]

Well I never hunted in SE Minnesota, but I would like to hunt there because of the hills and bluffs it would be a nice change of pace instead of flat land all the time. I wish MN would implement those restrictions state wide so the rest of the state could hunt deer like that.

[Lockdown]

Aside from APR in the SE, Minnesota does not manage their bucks. I can shoot 15 bucks this year if I have friends with tags. We manage does.

The thing I don't understand is the people who say APR won't work in lower density areas. "It will put too much pressure on the does."

My way of thinking is decrease doe tags. Protect bucks AND does. Idk... makes sense to me.

[vwj]

Double drop buck, I actually know the hunter, good friend of mine.
Apr is helping a lot, I do see improvement since it started.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[AC Rider]

I'm a big fan of it. The area has the potential to kick out some monsters. The timing of the gun season will always hold MN back but this definitely helps matters.
[ Post made via Android ]

Spot on

This will be my third year in SE MN so I have limited experience but compared to central or northern MN it's night and day difference. I love it.
Gun season sucks!

[AC Rider]

I wish MN would implement this state-wide. Spyder357, I think your initial outlook is what a lot of hunters feel. But, like you, if they would start to see the results of what it can produce, everyone would be on board after 3-5 seasons.

I've always said, MN could be one of the best states to hunt whitetails. We don't just have one type of habitat like Iowa and most of Wisconsin. We have big north woods, prairie farmland, and hardwoods/hill country. Keep licenses limited for a few years like they are and implement a state-wide antler point restriction and this state would climb right back into being a top 5 whitetail producing state. Just my two cents.

Again, SPOT ON!!!

[Lockdown]

I wish MN would implement this state-wide. Spyder357, I think your initial outlook is what a lot of hunters feel. But, like you, if they would start to see the results of what it can produce, everyone would be on board after 3-5 seasons.

I've always said, MN could be one of the best states to hunt whitetails. We don't just have one type of habitat like Iowa and most of Wisconsin. We have big north woods, prairie farmland, and hardwoods/hill country. Keep licenses limited for a few years like they are and implement a state-wide antler point restriction and this state would climb right back into being a top 5 whitetail producing state. Just my two cents.

Again, SPOT ON!!!

I agree... a modest amount of proper management would do wonders for this state.

[SEmnBowHunter]

I agree with a number of things that a couple guys already touched on. APR has defiantly increased the number of mature bucks we are seeing in SE MN. I have hunted in that part of the state for over 10 years and the age class of bucks seems to be getting older in the area i hunt. I truly think that those couple counties in the corner especially houston and winona have the ability to be as good as the top counties in the country. Every bow hunter in MN knows that our gun season is the only thing from pushing us over the edge.