There’s a phrase I hear just about every year up at our Northwoods deer camp in the fall. At some point in the season, I hear my dad say “It ain’t easy up here,” as he stares into the campfire with an empty meat-pole behind him. He’s right, in the sprawling Northwoods of northern Minnesota, the deer numbers are sparse, and the cover is vast. But, despite the disadvantage, our deer camp is nestled in the remote aspen and balsam forests of northeastern Minnesota and a crackling campfire keeps our spirits up each evening as we await the morning hunt.

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It was a cold Wyoming morning with a light wind and a foot of snow on the ground. Clearing a pine-covered ridge, overlooking a steep-sided canyon, I spooked a herd of white-tailed deer that fled up the canyon floor, climbing out and halting on the far side a good 500 to 600 yards away. 

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When I was making my first yesteryear solo ventures into the deer woods, compared to today, my pack was, well, okay…it didn't exist. As I would leave the communal campfire before dawn, wishing everyone good luck, my deer hunting mentor, “Old Man Weasel,” would stop me in my tracks and ask, “Got yer knife and a length of rope? How about a piece a wire for tagging? Don't want to be cutting your boot lace.” All that stuff, plus some extra ammo rounds, maybe a liverwurst sandwich, plus a compass pinned to my jacket, had to be crossed off my mental lest before I headed to my stand. 

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Beavers can be a royal pain. They flood roads and trails impacting access to your hunting lands. They can also destroy valuable timber and if you own the timber and were counting on a pay out, it really bites.

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ARGO Xtreme Terrain Vehicles (XTVs) have established a reputation as rugged, reliable, and remarkably versatile all-terrain “Go Anywhere” machines. Designed to conquer challenging landscapes and unpredictable environments, ARGO XTVs are the ultimate companion for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals alike. Whether you're navigating dense forests during a hunting expedition, accessing remote fishing spots, or tackling demanding utility tasks, these vehicles deliver unmatched performance, reliability, and excitement.

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I’ve always marveled at how just about anywhere in Minnesota where I’ve run trail cameras, I can usually get pictures of a big buck at some point throughout the fall season. Whether it’s a vast aspen clear cut in Itasca County, a willow swamp in Ottertail County, or the suburbs of Stillwater, Minnesota in a thick subdivision woodlot, I’ve gotten pictures of giant bruiser bucks. How lucky we are to have these noble beasts roaming our woodlands and living among us?

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