Ice-free BWCAW deer opener?

[eidsvolling]

If you ever had an ambition to tag a B-Dub deer, this might very well be the year to do it:

 

[spur60]

that would be an interesting hunt. Don't think I've ever seen a single buck on the canoe trips and few motorized trips I've taken into the BWCA. I like my MN deer corn and bean fed though so I stick to what I know in western MN.

 

[eidsvolling]

that would be an interesting hunt. Don't think I've ever seen a single buck on the canoe trips and few motorized trips I've taken into the BWCA. I like my MN deer corn and bean fed though so I stick to what I know in western MN.

I saw a huge buck track near Isabella Lake on an unsuccessful bear hunt a few years back. The eastern BWCAW is almost empty of deer, but the western part has some potential.

 

[wind gypsy]

Sounds fun and likely unsuccessful!

 

[eidsvolling]

Sounds fun and likely unsuccessful!

Still beats the hell out of sitting next to a beanfield, IMO. ;-)

 

[wind gypsy]

Still beats the hell out of sitting next to a beanfield, IMO. ;-)

There is a lot of truth to that. I have a 40 in central MN that i put a lot of work into and enjoy that aspect but I think i enjoy hunting it less than walking around the northwoods with magnitudes fewer deer sightings.

 

[rayporter]

did ya ever shoot one sitting on the couch?

 

[eidsvolling]

Things are getting a bit more “interesting” for those contemplating this. Pretty good chance now of getting ice-bound:

“
Friday
A slight chance of rain and snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
A slight chance of snow after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night
A chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Sunday
A chance of flurries. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Northwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.”

NWS forecast for Ely, MN

 

[Silveroddo]

Theres still deer up there?

 

[eidsvolling]

There are people who very occasionally come out with a monster buck. I saw tracks from one over 200 pounds a few years back, but you have a better chance of bagging a sasquatch.

More to the point: we had a very hard freeze the night before the November 8 opener. Plenty o’ice to battle this weekend, and anybody who went might not be heard from until spring.

 

[wind gypsy]

Voyageurs wolf project study recently reported a 31% decline in wolf #'s from 2 years ago because of lack of deer to sustain them.. 20% pup survival rates. So they are starving to death and likely a fair bit of wolf vs wolf mortality but hunting them is cruel!

Wolf population plunges around Voyageurs National Park — the result of harsh winters and fewer deer

The number of grey wolves around the national park in far northern Minnesota has dropped more than 30 percent in the past couple years. Researchers say it’s part of the natural ebb and flow of the iconic predator’s population.

www.mprnews.org