What a year for archers at Camp Ripley this season: They bagged 507 deer, the third-highest total ever and just nine short of the record harvest in 2008.
Near-record number of deer taken by bow hunters at Camp Ripley
By DOUG SMITH, Star Tribune
November 3, 2010 at 4:30AM
And they shot 28 bucks that weighed more than 200 pounds; usually, no more than 15 of those trophies are harvested. Sixty-three percent of deer taken were antlerless.
The second two-day hunt was held last weekend, and 2,162 hunters arrowed 220 deer.
Scopes on muzzleloaders? Should Minnesota hunters be allowed to use scopes during muzzleloader deer season? Legislators debated a bill last session that would have allowed scopes, but they eventually left the DNR's ban intact.
But the issue likely will come up again, especially now that Wisconsin has OK'd scopes during its muzzleloader-only season Nov. 29-Dec. 8. The push for the change started last year when the Wisconsin Conservation Congress voted in favor of the idea, and DNR Secretary Matt Frank signed the change putting it into effect this year. In Minnesota, officials said allowing scopes on muzzleloaders likely would increase the muzzleloader deer harvest, which would require adjustments to other deer hunting regulations.
Venison donation Hunters can donate deer to food shelves at no or very reduced cost under the state's venison donation program. Thirty-six processors have signed up this year to participate in the program. They are paid $70 to process donated deer. Funding comes from surcharges on antlerless permits and nonresident hunting licenses and from hunter donations.
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DOUG SMITH, Star Tribune
None of the boat’s occupants, two adults and two juveniles, were wearing life jackets, officials said.
