BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

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Tadmdad
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BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Tadmdad » Mon Dec 20, 2010 7:57 am

This is our groups 12th season in the BWCAW MN

I'll post some pictures and a short description of the hunt.
This has become a yearly tradition for our group, although
many of us hunt different states and properties, we look forward to this time every year.

If anyone has questions or thoughts, I'll help if I can.

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This years group

This year we hunted as 2 seperate groups of three. Three guys hunting out of camp, and 3 guys on a portage hunt. I have a old
motor home that becomes camp, we call it "deer camp central".

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Portage hunt, will be 5 days, 2 travel days and 3 hunting/camping days on the lake. Although not many deer in this area, we never see another hunter, and the few shots heard are off in the distance, solitude, one on one hunting.

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pack out day1

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Those whiskey jacks are curious animals, no fear, and always hungry.

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Day 2 hunt picture

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Last day buddy loading deer

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Leaving campsite

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Pack out


Was a good year for our group ending up 6 for 6. The hunting
has been difficult the last couple of years, after the winters
of 2007 and 2008 the deer numbers have been rebuilding. We've been covering alot of country to find decent animals.


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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby publiclandhunter » Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:09 am

I like it! When is their season? Looks like you are able to get into some decnt roads to get the "bus" back there. Not too shabby for hunting camp and roughing it.

I am a die hard wilderness hunter, but can't be validated until I hit the northern Minn wilderness. I once read about a fellow from Minnesota by the name of Noble Carlson who hunts the north country of Minnesota and tracks - much like the Benoits. Evidently, he is legendary in that part of Minnesota.....ever heard of him?

PLH
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby dan » Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:22 am

Awesome hunt and camp... Looks like a blast! I hunt up in Superior forest for bear in the fall and see a nice buck every now and then. Its an awesome area. How far are you from there?
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Tadmdad » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:30 am

publiclandhunter wrote:I like it! When is their season? Looks like you are able to get into some decnt roads to get the "bus" back there. Not too shabby for hunting camp and roughing it.

I am a die hard wilderness hunter, but can't be validated until I hit the northern Minn wilderness. I once read about a fellow from Minnesota by the name of Noble Carlson who hunts the north country of Minnesota and tracks - much like the Benoits. Evidently, he is legendary in that part of Minnesota.....ever heard of him?

PLH


The MN season starts the first Saturday in November(date varies). Depending on the area we hunt, roads can vary from pretty good too atv trails, usually have to cut some brush or deadfalls once in awhile. Our days of roughing it are long gone, it's nice to have the luxuries of home in the bush.
Grilling T-Bones and some crown around the campfire,it's all good. Other than when we do a portage hunt, that's a little more roughing it, but it was good weather for it this year.

I have a buddy that hunts up in MN, and I think he hunts with
Noble Carlson, they did a portage hunt last year together, if
it's the same guy, I'll have to ask him. Is he a outdoor writer? I now the guys he hunts with are writer for some publication, but not sure which one.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Tadmdad » Mon Dec 20, 2010 9:42 am

dan wrote:Awesome hunt and camp... Looks like a blast! I hunt up in Superior forest for bear in the fall and see a nice buck every now and then. Its an awesome area. How far are you from there?


Thanks Dan.....we do have alot of good times together, and once in awhile we even kill something, but no matter.

Yes, most of the time we setup camp in in the National forest,
no roads in the BWCA, and would't be able to setup a camp like we do. Then we usually pack or portage back in from there, makes some long days, but the solitude is well worth it.

It certainly took some time to learn the area, we ate some tag
sandwichs for a few years, but the learning process is part of the fun. I agree it's a great area, never hunted bear in that area, but sure is quite a few that do. And I understand they take some good animals out of there, I'll have to try it one of these days, but have a few other hunts on the "bucketlist",and not all the time I would like.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Spysar » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:24 am

Cool stuff.
A buck will see you three times, and hear you twice, but he's only gonna smell you once.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Dor » Mon Dec 20, 2010 1:27 pm

Beuatiful Area! Love it up there. True Wilderness.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Schultzy » Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:08 pm

Nothing prettier In Mn then the BWCA. Awesome thread here!! Well done guys!!
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby bowhunter15 » Mon Dec 20, 2010 2:58 pm

Looks a lot like some of the land we fished in Ontario. Sounds like a blast, I would love to hunt the wilderness one of these years.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Tadmdad » Mon Dec 20, 2010 5:36 pm

Thanks guys, I posted this per earlier request on another
thread here.

I really enjoy this hunt every year, some years are better
than others, but I've learned to appreciate the unpredictability of the hunt. It's food for the soul.

As I read my OP, noticed I posted the wrong caption in the 3rd picture, listed as Pack out day 1, was actually coming back after the hunt. Should've been Pack out day 5
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby headgear » Wed Dec 22, 2010 2:45 am

Cool hunt and pics Tad.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Wrinkleneck » Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:22 am

Thanks for posting!! Looks like a great camp and great fun ;)
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby magicman54494 » Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:35 am

I hunt near the BW but not in it. The area I hunt has really gone down hill. Deer numbers and mature buck numbers are way down. Tons of wolves. I might do a hunt somewhere else this year. I'm not one to bash the wolves but this area could use a little thinning out. I don't think there is enought food to support the current population. It could be a long time before this area gets good for deer hunting again.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby Tadmdad » Wed Dec 22, 2010 12:48 pm

I agree with you Magic

The last couple of years it's been a tough hunt for us in the
BWCA and Ontario. The deer seem to have been in pockets, and
alot of country has very few deer at all. It's made us cover
a bunch more country trying to locate those pockets.

In MN the wolf population is very high, I agree, wish they would start a season to kill a few, like they do in Ontario.
Also the winters in 2007/2008 was hard for the deer, I hear
they figured the 2 winter losses were around 75%. But on the
brighter side, we did see quite a few young animals this year,
and seems like the numbers are on the rebound, so if we have
a couple good winters it should be good hunting.

But I have to admit, I sure enjoy hunting the northern woods,
the solitude, very few hunters, and miles of country to hunt.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
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Re: BWCAW MN, wilderness hunting

Unread postby headgear » Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:43 am

I hunt the same NE MN turf, I am seeing the same thing you gusy are. A lot more wolves then normal and low deer number. I also think they are rebounding a little but not much. It might be a couple years yet.


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