MN Rifle Opener at the Stenger Ranch 2010

Well as if I need anything extra to get me excited to spend time at Deer camp with my family up on our Ranch in Northern MN. However, this year’s Opener was extra special for a few reasons, but in particular my Dad was able to join us for another Opener and even sat out in the stand a few times. It was told to us that this year would be my Dad’s last year joining us up there. The man that started this tradition and gave us this place to create so many great memories. Joining us this year at Deer Camp was my Mom & Dad, my brother Rich, my brother Ron, his wife Jackie and their daughter Sierra.
Opening morning was a lil slow for our group as we only saw one deer out of 3 stands as Ron’s family sat together in the Stump (3 Person stand). Not wanting to sit in the stand all day I wanted to get back to camp to spend some time with my Dad and family After a awesome late breakfast, my Dad and Mom left camp in the new “Put Put” and headed to their new shooting house. My dad hunted until 3 pm, didn’t see a deer but had a great time out in his new shooting house. The rest of us got ready and headed out for the evening hunt.

I chose a tripod stand on the South end of the property for a few reasons but no one had hunted that end all year long and is located adjacent to some real thick nasty bedding areas. It started off slow but once the sun hit the horizon I could her deer movement behind me in the thicket as they rose out of their beds. Then I heard movement in the thick wood sin front of me and knew it was only a matter of time before they came out in the clearing in front of me. With about 15 minutes left a doe and her fawn pop out on the edge down towards the road. Just then I could hear some traffic coming and did traffic come as I watched about a dozen cars from both ways. Not only did the cars and trucks not allow me to shoot, but they also spooked the deer across my shooting lane and into the thick stuff on the other side. A little frustrated at my missed opportunity I looked back around to the other side and at my phone to see the time. With still 10 minutes left, I looked back up in the lane the deer just vacated and 150 yards out stood a lone doe. I raised my Winchester Model 70 and quickly settled the cross hairs on her vitals and squeezed off a round and watched her drop in her tracks. Normally a pretty easy drag became a tough one due to the record high water up there as the ditches were plum full and I had to cross it. My brothers met me at my truck as we loaded the deer up in the truck and headed back to camp. My Dad came out of the camper with a smile and wanted to see the deer.

The next morning was pretty slow for me as I went back to the stand that produced the night before, but just after sunrise one of the coolest things happened to me in the woods that morning. It started off with a single lone Wolf with a deep, deep howl on the adjacent property. After about 25 seconds of his howl the other wolves, coyotes and a dog joined in. It was pretty cool but the lone Wolf sent chills through me. My brother said my little niece wanted nothing to do with sitting in the stand and wanted back to camp ASAP. That morning my brother Rich tagged a doe to end the morning and passé don a decent 4×4. We again were back at camp talking about the hunt, the wolves and ate some breakfast. After breakfast I went out and sat with my Dad for a few hours before heading home mid afternoon on Sunday. We did not see anything or say much at all, but it sure was good to share some time with Dad in his new stand and sometimes just sitting back and enjoying his company is all I need. That was perhaps a sit that I just may remember for a long, long time???

Well that is a quick recap of the Opening Weekend Rifle Hunt up on our Ranch in Northern MN. The action is never very action packed up there and not many deer are seen, but that is hunting the big woods of Northern MN. It is different from other properties I hunt, but keeps you humble. Each year it has been getting better and better and I have gone from not catching any bucks on cams, too catching small ones . Now this year I have caught a few different decent bucks on trail camera, but no true shooters for me. Which is OK, because that is not the reason why I spend a lot of my time up there prepping plots, hunting and hunting the best two weekends of the year. The record rainfall in Aitkin County this Summer and Fall did not help our food plots as all 3 of them are underwater and not much grew from the excessive water, so hopefully it dries out before planting season next Summer. This coming weekend my brothers, my Dad and Mom are headed back up this weekend and I can’t wait to spend some more time in Deer Camp with my Dad!

I will report back next week. Until then I hope everyone is having a good gun season !