Sad indeed. Always recieved great service with top notch bait there. Nice to have bait available at 6:00 AM instead of waiting until 8:00 for other places to open. Will definitely be missed.

Anyone want to wager that the results will show global warming and exotic species as the only causes? Fits both the government and native agenda nicely for a mere $200K in taxpayer money.

Not a fan of crossbows in the archery season myself, but state agencies want the deer shot off any way they can get it done. Probably see it in more states where it isn’t approved soon.

Just looked at an old photo of the dam on a nice Saturday in early April 1981. Six boats can be seen in the photo from just above the Y to the dam.

Nice buck! Good work guys.

My ideal season as follows.

Antler point restrictions statewide except kids under 14.

Archery: First Saturday in October to Dec. 31

Muzzeloader: First Saturday in December (9 days – two weekends)

Gun: (using 2016 dates)

*Zone must be selected at time license is purchased.

Zone 1A: 11-5 to 11-20 (16 days, no changes)

Zone 2A: 11-12 to 11-20

Zone 3A: 11-19 to 11-23(buck hunting only)

Zone 3B: 11-25 to 12-3

Zone 4: 11-19 to 11-23

**one deer either sex per hunter/year for all seasons.
**No cross tagging/ party hunting.

Don’t worry there are plenty of Minnesota guys who think if they see a doe they need thinning. Thus there are no deer around in most places in the state. They are big wheels and will pay whatever the state charges to harvest the almighty skinhead and come up with excuses to justify it

I respectfully disagree with Grouse. I hunt in southern MN and there are no wolves or bears here. The winters are not a factor. Some habitat has been removed but fortunately it hasn’t been as bad in my area. The population is still as low as I have seen it in thirty years of hunting the same farms.

I believe the DNR played a big part in the population decline. Hunters put trust in the DNR to set anterless bag limits that would not decimate the herd. In my area hunters have started coming into the area in great numbers due to the liberal bag limits to take does “to fill the freezer”. Access is sometimes difficult and in one instance I watched four hunters set up stands on a property line of a 6 acre homestead 200 feet from the owners home. They sat in those stands religiously for the entire bow, gun, and muzzleloader season.

Not pointing fingers at anyone in particular or political party but in my opinion the DNR is being directed to reduce the herd by politicians. I feel the only recourse we as hunters have is to lay off does for a while in most areas unless you are certain the herd can support the harvest. I know in some areas there may be situations where the herd needs to be reduced but from my viewpoint they are fairly limited.

Hunting is much more fun when you see deer even if you don’t shoot them.

Thanks Randy, most places in MN especially do not need any more does shot!