MN Moose apps

(photo by D. Spina on Hwy 1, Lake County, MN on July 21, 2009)

Hey folks, it's seriously time to consider entering the Minnesota moose hunt lottery!  How much longer will we even have the option???  There are only 105 licenses, down from 213 last year.

Here is a video of a MN moose hunt in 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY0IsiuncjA
That scenery makes me miss living up north, especially driving the logging roads!

You have a few days left, until May 6th to apply. 

Here is the MN DNR moose information.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/moose/index.html

This is spring?

We are getting snow!  Again.  Minnesota has a cruel way of fighting global warming. 

Our son finished his turkey hunting this week.  They heard birds, saw birds, but just didn't get a shot.  There was plenty of other wildlife to entertain them, including a wolf with a pup.  They had a deer get really close to their blind, which had about an inch of antler growth.

This was our boy's second year, and no turkey.  What do they say?  Third times the charm? I guess we'll count on next year. 

Turkey calls

Turkey hunting on the brain???

We've got a few items for you last minute planners.  We've got our blinds all set up.  The boys spotted a strutting tom a few nights ago. 

We can order several different turkey mounts, in case you shoot a real dandy!   Good luck & stay safe.

1st 3D of 2011

THE FIRST 3D SHOOT OF 2011 WAS THIS PAST WEEKEND.  IT WAS WINDY & CHILLY.  THE LEAGUE SHOOTERS ENJOYED THIS SHOOT FOR FREE AS A PERK OF THEIR LEAGUE COMPLETION. 

LOOK CAREFULLY AT THIS PHOTO.  THE SHOT WAS TITLED "BUCKS ONLY".  I'D SAY THIS GUY BROKE THE LAW. 

CHECK OUT THIS PICTURE OF A FEW ARROW HOLES IN THE TENT.  THERE ARE A FEW GUYS OUT THERE THAT REALLY THINK THEY'RE FUNNY(OR SKILLFUL)

SOME SHOTS WERE CHALLENGING, INCLUDING KNEELING & NARROW SHOT OPENINGS.  I WON'T MENTION WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ARROWS HIT TREES. LETS JUST SAY THERE WAS A MILDLY DEVASTATED SHOOTER IN OUR GROUP.

THE LEAGUE SHOOTERS ENJOYED A POT LUCK ON SATURDAY.  THERE WAS TONS OF GREAT FOOD AND FOLKS REALLY ATE UP!

THERE WERE TROPHIES TO HAND OUT, KEY CHAINS WITH SHOOTER AVERAGES & SOME PRIZES.  THE GRAND PRIZE WAS A RIPCORD REST THAT WENT TO SOMEONE THAT PRACTICALLY LIVES AT THE RANGE.

WE HAD SOME HAPPY WINNERS THIS YEAR IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES.

WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR PARTICIPANTS.  CONGRATS TO ALL OUR WINNERS.



PLAN AHEAD

NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO WASH HUNTING CLOTHES WITH SCENT FREE DETERGENT & UV ELIMINATOR!  ALL OUR GEAR HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE LAUNDRY ROOM FLOOR IN A MEGA PILE ALL WINTER!  WITH THE WEATHER STARTING TO TURN NICE, IT'S IDEAL FOR HANGING CLOTHES OUT ON THE LAUNDRY LINE TO DRY NATURALLY.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR POCKETS! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND!

WE ALWAYS STORE OUR CLOTHES IN LARGE TOTES TO KEEP SCENTS OUT.  THEN CLOSER TO FALL WE'LL TROW IN A FEW BALSAM BOUGHS, ESPECIALLY FOR WHEN WE'RE UP AT CAMP & THERE IS A LOT OF CAMPFIRE SMELLS ON US.

MSAA Indoor shoot

The MSAA indoor shoot is over.  It was in Redwood Falls this year.  There were a lot more young shooters & they all did such a great job!

It was so fun to see all those orange shirts on the shooting line!

We had a few new adult shoots come this year.  And out of the seasoned attendees, we had a winner!  Congrats to Randy for 1st place in his flight!  He shot his personal best, which makes it all even more rewarding!

WHAT DID WE FIND?

WOODTICKS.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD *FINALLY* SCORE SOME ANTLERS(OR AT LEAST ONE!), BUT ONLY FOUND WOODTICKS.  LOTS OF LITTLE ONES. 

WE DID FIND THREE OTHER THINGS.
*POOP
*RUBS
*SCRAPES
IN THAT ORDER TOO.

 MAN, I'D LOVE TO HUNT HERE. DO YOU SEE THE OLD STAND IN THE BACKGROUND?

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE SWANS ARE BACK!

TOP TEN

TOP 10 HUNTING EQUIPMENT UNDER $10:

1. PULL ROPE

2. PIN ON COMPASS

3. HAT CLIP LIGHT

4. SCENT FREE GUM

5.TRACKING RIBBON

7. HEAD NET

8. BUTT OUT TOOL

9. REFLECTIVE TACKS

10. LONG FIELD DRESSING GLOVES



TRACKING DEER

 BUCKMANAGER.COM

DEER ARE SMART.  EVEN WHEN WOUNDED AND FLEEING.  THE MOST DIFFICULT TRACKING MY HUSBAND & I EVER DID WAS A DOE IN HINCKLEY.  SHE BLED GOOD AND MANAGED TO STUMP US BY DOUBLING BACK ON HER OWN BLOOD TRAIL.  MAYBE IT WAS JUST CONFUSION AND PANIC, BUT MAYBE NOT! 

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, A DEER WILL MAKE A BIG CIRCLE AND END UP BACK BY WHERE IT STARTED.  IF THEY LIVE THAT LONG! 

THE LAST BASIC TIP ON TRACKING; INJURED DEER CRAVE WATER.  WE ONCE FOUND A DOE BY OUR POND.  SHE WAS DEAD, WITH AN ARROW IN HER.  IF YOU'RE TOTALLY STUMPED ON A TRACK, LOST BLOOD & HAVE NOTHING TO TRACK.  CHECK NEARBY WATER SOURCES.  IT'S WORTH A SHOT.

ALL CHEWED UP

LOOKING FOR SHEDS EARLY TO MID WINTER IS WISE.  YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE DEER HAVE WALKED & BEDDED.  BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN SCORE SOME ANTLERS *BEFORE* THEY GET CHEWED UP!

THE BIG SHED WASN'T FOUND UNTIL MAY 20TH.  THE LITTLE ONE, WAS ON A SOUTH SLOPE WHERE THE RODENTS EASILY FOUND IT. THAT WAS IN MARCH.  THEY BLEACH OUT TOO, UNLESS THEIR UNDER SOME TREES. 

THE SNOW IS MELTING (AGAIN), SO NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OUT AND SEARCH BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!