MN Archer's Journal

[mn_archer]

2003 - quick update

It's been so long since I've been in here that my username was deleted

I'm looking forward to reading the journals of the other hunters.

Sept 16: Saw a big 9pt with a nice 8pt.

Oct - Shot a bunch of MN Woodducks, and Ruffed Grouse
Oct - Shot a slug of SD pheasants
Oct - Shot a doe @ 8 yards with my bow in MN

Nov 9th - Shot the big 9pt passed on the 8pt. -- on opening day of gun season (-18 degrees) Peak Rut.

Last day of the season (Nov 17th?) shot another buck.

I saw a ton of deer this fall while hunting. I lost count. At least 75-100 deer. Also, while I was pheasant hunting in SD, I jumped 3 of the biggest whitetail bucks I have ever seen in my life -- all in the same weekend. I can't describe what that was like, other than I'm sure glad to get opportunities to hunt.

[mn_archer]

2004 - Spring Fishing and deer scouting

2 weekends of walleye fishing on the Rainy River...

http://www.clementsonresort.com

I have a cabin near there. Anyway... 1 weekend the fishing was great.

There are some photos posted on birddog's site

http://www.northstaroutdoors.com/gal...p;category_id=

http://www.northstaroutdoors.com/gal...p;category_id=


http://www.northstaroutdoors.com/gal...p;category_id=


http://www.northstaroutdoors.com/gal...p;category_id=


I also snuck into the wind last weekend and "hunted" a doe and fawn... and really startled them with the shutter (I got pretty close).

Lots of good times... Cribbage and Rummy 500... Pizza and fish and venison...

[mn_archer]

It's been a couple of years since I posted on the forum. What have I been up to? Gigantic halibut in Alaska. Big walleyes on the Rainy River. Some sturgeon. I slammed a couple decent bucks in 2003 and 2004. I passed up on a nice buck last fall in Ontario. I guess I should have shot it. I've shot a handful of other deer - some with my gun and some with my bow. I filled a doe tag on Saturday... first time in a ground blind - it worked perfect. The wind wasn't perfect but the blind made it so I could still draw and shoot even though they were acting a little nervous.

I'm still totally hooked on November and December pheasant hunting in South Dakota. That's my favorite of all.

I got to hunt grouse with my dad last weekend. My earliest memory was with my dad grouse hunting at about age 3 or 4. It was just like those days. He still has an old beat up truck. We still rode around on the same old trails and then hiked to find the birds. We did well even in the rain. We were up a couple hours before daylight because we're both kind of intense that way (yeah, even grouse hunting!) My 11 year old nephew was with and had a blast too.

Every year now is a blessing because my dad had 4 bypasses 2 years ago and he's now at 100% healthy. But it could have gone the other way (heart attack). But it didn't. God is good. Dad became a believer recently so we have a lot of cool things to talk about.

Life's not easy but on the other hand some days I wonder how much better it could get!

Tonight I bought a limited edition Beretta 12ga A303 Ducks Unlimited12ga. never fired. #64 of ?? It's a 1986 model. I wonder where I can find out more information about it.

[mn_archer]

My Dad and I caught up with a couple nice ones this fall in MN.

http://static.flickr.com/103/2916864...297131.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/111/2916836...125345.jpg?v=0

We also caught up with some deer in canada. Had a great time.

[mn_archer]

I got rid of my NAP "Quick Tune" rest and switched to a "Trophy Taker" drop away. I also moved my peep higher to where it should be. I am working on getting my sights right and getting used to this new anchor point. I also got rid of my ball bearing type release and got a caliper to use with a string loop. Arrgh. It will take a little work to figure out the new anchor point. I'm shooting tight groups but my muscles are getting tired quicker. I think I'll be ready to hunt.

[mn_archer]

If you want to see the people at the archery shop smile, bring an 8 y/o girl in to get fitted for a bow.

[mn_archer]

I'm proud of the fact that this year I finally paid off my NRA Life Membership. I did the Easy Pay for Life option which is 100 per year. Paid $25 quarterly. It's about $700.

I don't know how else to try to protect my guns (and yours too). They're the ones lobbying for gun owners. They're the ones reading every law proposed. They're the ones that catch bad verbiage or cases where someone is trying to pass a gun law on the shirt-tails of some other law.

I encourage you to think about becoming an NRA member if you are not already.

It's a satisfying feeling knowing that for the price of 1 gun you can help protect the rest of your guns (and your dad's, your mom's, your grandparent's, your children's, your friend's).

[Tom2008]

Hey what part of Minnesota do you hunt? I hunt Carlton County near Kettle River. Its nice to see another Minnesotan with a journal. I wish you the best of luck this season.