MN Deer Hunting Question

So was paging through magazines etc the other day and got to thinking…..will MN ever be a “hot spot” for deer hunters across the country??? We know MN can produce world class deer but would someone “like myself….broke college student” pay to come here and either public land hunt or hunt with an outfitter. ( Last year I hunted two other states other than MN and had opportunities to hunt two others but opted out ) My current opinion is no so i thought I would ask. Just looking for opinions and thoughts. In my opinion I do not see it happening for several reasons. First is the hunting heritage that MN has. I think that more people grew up hunting with deep traditional roots in MN than in other states. Second would be population of residents, which is rather twofold. IMO with more people in the state its a numbers game and more people will probably hunt. Second it is harder for an outfitter to lease up land to manage or for someone to knock on doors and find that there are already people hunting. On the same note there are to many parcels of land that have divided. A 160 acres in some states is considered nothing but divide that in MN and it seems every landowner seems to think they are due there deer so if it walks by, better shoot it before it crosses the fence 400 yards to the next person. These are just some thoughts I was having. Not trying to get political here or anything but to answer my own question “NO I do not see MN becoming a big buck destination point”

I agree with what you said but would also add that Mn has their gun season ( where the majority of people hunt) during prime rut typically. You put all those together and it would be tough for me to ever consider the state of Mn a hot spot. Yes we produce many many large bucks but still I wouldnt consider it being a “hot spot” in the near future….Jay

Agreed, also with the increased population of hunters in MN, QDM in MN is light years behind many trophy states. Land parcel size only plays an effect when QDM is not practiced. Illinois is great example of that. Many small parcels but close coordination between neighbors.

It’s a vicious cycle; “if I don’t shoot the deer, the neighbors will”! The funny thing with this statement is the neighbors say the exact same thing. It takes communication between neighbors to get an older age class of bucks.

The the thing that would help is a statewide APR. Even after 1 year, the amount of bigger bucks running around would be amazing.

Added to what RVRAT said with the gun hunting season during prime rut, and it’s the perfect recipe for keeping mature buck #’s down.

Until anything changes, I’ll just continue to work hard in the off season to put the odds in my favor come opener.

Charles, to answer your question. “No” MN won’t ever be a hot spot. There are too many variables against QDM for monster bucks to make it happen.
JMHO

If poeple would just stop shooting unmature bucks we could get some where fast! The genetics are here. BUT before anything can change our state needs to veiw the deer as a resource rather than a pest! Over all there has been a huge over harvest in the state IMO since the mid 2000’s. Im giulty of taking more than one deer a season but at the same time no other hunters harvested deer off the farms I hunted in 2011. The only thing that Minnesota lacks is age structure in our bucks. It was not that long ago that we were in the top 5 states for over all B&C enrtys. There are alot of HUGE deer in this state, but also alot of basicly unhuntable private lands or unaccessable public lands. I think that a TON of bucks are never scored or entered into the books becuase hunters simply dont really care about trophy hunting.If theres was bigger emphasis on trophy hunting that things could change, there never will be IMO. Its pretty hard to get somthing going when the neighbors dont cre what they shoot and the state will give them 30 tags between the 6 of them

In the last two years MN has taken some steps to improve the deer heard in SE MN but we still have a long way to to IMO. 2012 will be the last year for the trial period for APR (antler-point restrictions) in SE MN.

A brief review of antler-point restrictions 2010

I have seen an improvement in the age of bucks in my area because of APR and I hope it stays in place. If you agree with APR be sure to contact your legislators and ask them to vote to make APR a perminate law in 2013. The other good thing SE MN did was to only allow each hunter to tag one buck, you can still party hunt for does, but each hunter can only shoot one buck period. Like was mentioned in an earlier post the best way to improve the buck age in MN would be to move the gun season out of the peak rut time but unfortunately IMO I do not think you will ever see that happen in MN.

The point restriction makes no sense to me when a 2.5 yr would fall into a legal deer more times than not. I for one hope MN doesn’t become a state where people come from states around. I do however wish more people would allow deer to get older than .5 and 1.5 yrs old but it’s just like beating a dead horse. It’s already costly and hard to find hunting areas unless you have a deep pocket! Just my 2cents.

Unfortunately MN has seen the glory days of being the best big buck state. In my opinion there are to many factors for the state to get back to the top. The Legislature, DNR, and other organizations like the MNDHA wont let it happen with their views of how to run things. They are more concerened about gun hunters, and until that changes it wont get better. Having the gun season during the rut is definetly a factor. Party hunting is another, how many times have you herd someone complain there is no big bucks around after he bragged about shooting 4 bucks? Dont get me wrong I like to gun hunt, but I dont shoot a buck just so I can brag about it. I also dont have a problem with some one shooting more than one buck, but just dont shoot a bunch of young ones.

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I also dont have a problem with some one shooting more than one buck, but just dont shoot a bunch of young ones.

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What’s the difference? Shooting multiple bucks is still shooting multiple bucks. Age of them is a mute point.

IMO, one can take all of the APR, EAB, QDM programs…throw them all away and truly what is needed in MN is a gun hunt that is well outside of the rut. WI, IA, ILL, KS….what do they all have? Late season gun hunting season. Of which many of those states are 2 buck states who also have legal party hunting. So again what does that tell you? Gun season outside of the rut does and will work. MN hunters, as a majority, DO NOT want to give up their rut hunting. Until that happens, MN will remain as it always has been for deer hunting.

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Party hunting is another, how many times have you herd someone complain there is no big bucks around after he bragged about shooting 4 bucks?

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There is a new law in place for SE MN no party hunting for bucks each hunter can only take one buck. You can still party hunt for does. It is not a cure all but it is a step in the right direction.

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IMO, one can take all of the APR, EAB, QDM programs…throw them all away and truly what is needed in MN is a gun hunt that is well outside of the rut. WI, IA, ILL, KS….what do they all have? Late season gun hunting season. Of which many of those states are 2 buck states who also have legal party hunting. So again what does that tell you? Gun season outside of the rut does and will work. MN hunters, as a majority, DO NOT want to give up their rut hunting. Until that happens, MN will remain as it always has been for deer hunting.

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I could not agree more I would love to see the MN gun season moved out of the prime time rut unfortunately I do not think you will ever see that happen, but I hope I am wrong.

I dont have a problem with some one shooting multiple bucks in a season because it has proven to work in other big buck states. I have a problem with some one shooting multiple little bucks.

They already come here and steal our fish… No it will not become a “Hotspot” for others to come here, but in my opinion, is my own hotspot already There needs to be a balance, where the meat hunter can shoot what he wants (meat) and the trophy hunter can pass what he wants (little bucks) what I don’t ever want to see is a system where all that matters is horns

I tend to think the APR are only pizzing people off. Feels too much like the “MAN holding me down”. We have never done good trying to force our beliefs on others, but if we can slowly change their attitude, we are all better off.

I think we should allow people to do it on their own by means of a buck tag draw. You get an antler less tag, and you draw for a buck tag. Also have a no cross tagging rule (unenforceable, but keeps honest people honest) and I would bet people would start to wait for a nicer buck if they can only tag one every couple years.

IMHO, MN can be a major big buck state. It will take some time and effort, but there are some HUGE bucks taken every year proving the genetics are here.

I believe that many of the people that are happier shooting a 110 lb spike over a 140 lb doe will start to see the light with APR. It is forcing them a little but it should be eye opening at the same time as to what is possible. APR is not ideal for the bucks in our state but hopefully it will be a nice transition step for most into a true understanding of QDM. Either way, our great state of MN has plenty of room for improvement !