In Minnesota’s vast public land regions of the north, the prospect of connecting on a chocolate-horned bruiser buck can feel a tad daunting. The seemingly endless rugged landscape of interwoven aspen, balsam, beaver ponds, clearcuts, alders, and swampland make it difficult to even know where to begin. The northern regions of Minnesota hold fewer deer per square mile than the agriculture country so it goes without saying that it takes great effort and mettle to find success as a hunter. For many of us, this magical landscape, where wolves roam like shadows and ghosts of whipsaw loggers beckons us each fall with the visions of that dark-horned buck. Although this region intimidates many, there are ways to tip the odds in your favor this fall. One overlooked area that doesn’t get the attention it deserves is the ash swale.
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