LET'S SEE EVERYONE'S PUBLIC LAND KILLS THIS YEAR.

[Tadmdad]

New to this site. Was to late to join the buck contest.So will post here.Did 4 out of state, DIY public land hunts this year.
CO Elk hunt,SD Pheasant hunt, N.W. Ontario whitetail, BWCAW
MN lake portage hunt.

N.W. Ontario, 5 day hunt, spot hunting lakes by boat Crown land (public) Last morning, rattled in 3 diferent bucks,
shot 2 of them (party hunting)



NWO last day 8pt



NWO last day 10pt



Load up after morning hunt

BWCAW lake portage hunt, 5 day hunt by boat (2 travel days, 3
days hunt/camping on lake)



2nd day 10pt



Pack out after the hunt

Was a good year for our group deer hunting, 4 guys in NWO,
6 guys in MN, we ended up 9 for 10 on mature bucks, all on
public land DIY hunt. Who knows what next year might bring.

[dan]

Welcome to the BEAST Tad.. Looks like you had a great year!

[Tadmdad]

Thanks for the welcome, Dan.....seems like you had a great year also!

[Dewey]

Hey Tad, looks like a great hunt up in Ontario. I would love to try that sometime and skip gun hunting here in Wisconsin. Looks like my kind of hunting. What are the season dates up there for the gun season?

[Tadmdad]

Hey Tad, looks like a great hunt up in Ontario. I would love to try that sometime and skip gun hunting here in Wisconsin. Looks like my kind of hunting. What are the season dates up there for the gun season?

Hey Dewey, it has been a good hunt for our group, this was
our 10th year in NWO. You have to check the Ontario MNR website
for dates, each unit has different openers. And there is only
so many units that allow N/R hunters without a guide, and many
regulations from gun registration,passport,camping restriction,
etc. It takes quite alot of homework to know your hunting the
right way.
We usually go late October/early November, which usually is
still pre-rut in the area we hunt, then we travel to Northern
MN for the opener, usually first weekend in November (date varies).
I live in SW MI, and really don't deer hunt around here any longer, run bird dogs instead. Hunting NWO provides some challenges when you first start out, but it's part of the process. But this is the time to start planning next years hunts, willing to help if you need more info. Already starting the planning stages for next year, to many thoughts and not enough time, my "bucketlist" is way to long.

[Dor]

Way to get it done the right way....The Beast Way!
Welcome Tad, you'll fit in well.

[Arrowbender]

Nice work Tad.
Are those pretty average bucks for the BWCA.
I did a bear hunt up there many years ago, didn't see much deer sign where we were at. Lots of moose though.

[Dor]

THose are nice bucks for BWCA. No ag up that way. Just browse.

[wmihunter]

DOR-what does he score? That is a brute!

[Zap]

Congrad's to all on their public land success.

I have a P/L doe so far........and high hope's.

[Tadmdad]

Thanks Dor... Both NWO and BWCA are tough hunts.
Almost like a out west hunt, both mentally and physically
challenging. And your right, no ag up that way, just browse.
Hunting the big woods is certainly a different hunt than
ag land, takes some time to learn, but that's the fun.
Not many deer up that way, but didn't see another hunter
other than our group, but the solitude is part of the payoff.

[Tadmdad]

Thanks Arrowbender.
Yes, I'd say 120-130ish is average for our group over the years.
Some years are better, but after the winters of 07' and 08' the numbers are on the rebound, the last couple of years, you had to cover some ground to find something decent.
It's funny about the moose, we usually see a couple every year.
But if you see alot of moose sign in a area, it usually isn't very good deer hunting,
they don't coexist very well. I think it's the brainworm thing, as the moose leave or die, the deer fill in the void.

[onebuck]

Mine from this year, first and only buck on Public. Very satisfying, caught him in a funnel during the rut. I didn't get this deer weighed but after seeing some of the other deer taken this year I am guestimating him at 200-ish lbs. Huge body, not so much for horns but still a respectable buck. No ag for miles.

Still hoping to catch one outside the bedding area in early season one of these years. Also took a doe early season, same chunk of land. Sorry, no pics of the doe unless you want to see a freezer full of deer meat

[onebuck]

Tad, I'd love to pick your brain about the Boundary waters sometime. I am starting to dream of a rut bowhunt up there, might be a few years away though. Welcome to HB, I think you'll fit right in here. Congrats on those bucks too!

[Tadmdad]

Sure, no problem onebuck

Congrats on the fine buck you got there!

I'm guessing that's the start of your journey. My grandfather
use to always say "the longest journey always starts with
the first step", no more true words have been spoken. Enjoy the
journey, just makes the destination that much sweeter. I'll
help if I can.