Nineteen yards! That’s where he now stood, a mere nineteen yards away. The countless hours of preparation and mental game planning were about to culminate in the ultimate moment we can all only hope to encounter as bow hunters. All that was needed now was for me to be able to execute the shot. But, before I get into that, let me tell you about what transpired before this moment as I don’t believe this moment was an accident.
The age-old issue with bow hunting in the big woods is finding a way to get those scattered bucks within bow range somehow. In the beautiful, vast, northwoods regions of Minnesota the lure of the wilderness is strong, but the sting of not seeing a deer during an all-day sit can leave a bow hunter with great frustration.
“The goal is access for all!” was how longtime, dedicated MDHA member Dana Klos of the Thief River Falls Chapter enthusiastically described the goal of the latest in a long string of important TRF Chapter’s projects.
Minnesota is a state rich in natural resources, but the greatest of our resources is our children. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association knows educating hunters is key to perpetuating Minnesota's hunting heritage. The best tool of wildlife and ecosystem education is instilling a greater appreciation for our natural resources in our children.
I remember those mild winters like it was yesterday. The entire winter was mild. Spring actually came in March. The resulting long growing season was exactly what northern whitetails needed. Just like the winter of 2024 is what the deer herd needs now.
Why? Because the deer seasons that follow exceptionally mild winters have been good to me and I look forward to this fall with anticipation. Mild winters have a dramatic impact on our deer herd just as severe winters do. But, the impact is positive! Short winters produce longer growing seasons in the North. Shorter winters drastically increase winter survival. Does come through in excellent physical condition, fat and healthy versus skinny and emaciated. As a result, does produce a high percentage of twin fawns and with early green-up, does also produce higher quantities of nutritious milk for two, and sometimes three, healthy fawns.
The first thought most people have when someone mentions Minnesota’s Camp Ripley is that it is a premier military training site for the Minnesota National Guard. However, for the avid whitetail deer enthusiast, Camp Ripley is thought to be home to one of the most coveted deer populations in the state. While both trains of thought are correct, the focus of this article is deer and the role MDHA has played in sharing this wonderful resource with our veterans and the general public.
460 Peterson Rd
Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
