’12 Deer Hunt….The deer hunting season is one of memories made, whether successful in a harvest or not, being with the people in your life is the most important part of the hunt Read More of the Story…
MN Walleye Opener & In-Fisherman….The time of year has finally arrived in Minnesota….the 2012 Walleye opener weekend is knocking at the door of anglers all over the United States. A great weekend to spend on a lake or river with family, friends and children. Read More of the Story…
New Ways with Walleyes….Perhaps no other place in the country offers more to the walleye fisherman than right here in Central Minnesota. Our glacier-styled lakes and the winding Mississippi River make the perfect walleye habitat. Read More of the Story…
2010 MN Deer Harvest…The time of year has come and gone for most, some still enjoying it though, the 2010 MN Deer Firearm season. The weather was incredible here in MN on that opening weekend. Some would say too warm for deer movement. The strategy for some was to get out into the woods, fields & groves and stir the deer up in order to have some success. The MN DNR is reporting a increase in deer harvested this year in comparisonto last years totals. That’s great for the Rag community of deer hunters in MN. Read More of the Story…
2010 MN Deer Hunting Opener…The boyz here at Davis J. Hennes, the parent company of the Rod and Rifle Rag, would like to extend a handshake to all Deer Hunters in MN this weekend. The handshake represents friendship, conducting a safe hunt, enjoying the outdoors and wishes for a successful harvest. The time in the stand, posting on a drive, or any other time you may have on your hands this weekend are ones of reflection and thought. This time of year always open that conversation Read More of the Story…
Grouse or Not…Great Fall DayWhat a beautiful month of October it has been in Minnesota, just perfect. Cool mornings leading into warm sunny afternoons. Some would say its dry, it has been, but I can also remember a wet summer and in particular a date in July when we received two inches of rain in two hours. Either way, moisture is on its way sometime soon. Meanwhile every hunter is loving life with this weather lately.
Today I got out into the great American wilderness and did some grouse hunting. Now that great American wilderness, near Pillager, MN which is a beautiful place, has civilization somewhat close. The day was another beauty. Temperature was approximately 45-50 degrees with abundant sunshine and a little breeze from the N-NW. I didn’t get the early morning hunt, which I would have preferred, because of some morning obligations. The time was around 11AM when I was geared up and out on the logging road in search of the Ruffed Grouse. This particular logging road is no stranger to me, since I’ve been hunting in that particular area for over 20 years. Yet, it always is a changing landscape. The surrounds are oh so familiar, but with some minor tweeks that lead you to ponder why does that look a little different. The walk was at a slow pace, stopping every so often for a couple minutes to listen in and scan for movement. This leads to a slight off the road scamper every once in awhile also. Since I do not have a hunting dog, this method is one I find effective.
Shortly into the walk I come across some remains of bone, not human I think. Some creature/animal must have gotten a little hungry and pounced on another for a tasty meal, such is the way of the wilderness. The relaxing smell of Fall is settling in, the leaves rustling of leaves in a slight breeze and utter peacefulness. One of many reasons we fellow hunters love the outdoors. As my eyes are surveying the woods, I spot a dark round object in a tipped over pine tree. My eyes dial in on it. The object is a porcupine climbing up the tree, ever so slow and almost gracefully. That captured my attention for awhile. The hunt continued, until I came across some more remains of bone. A trend is starting to develop I thought, no worries because thats where it ends. No more were spotted the rest of the hunt.
There were a few periodical stops for some photo opportunities of the Rod and Rifle Rag in the outdoors, the background was just to tempting to do it. By this time my shooting stick was itching to get some lead out. Since I hadn’t came across a grouse to shot at yet, I just threw some out in the woods for pleasure. The shooting stick reloaded and fired fine, had some issues last season and had it into the gunsmith. That made me happy since I’m planning a Pheasant hunting trip at the end of the month and don’t want to have to take into a gunsmith this time of year in fear of not getting it back in time for that trip. Time went by without any worries, spent hunting and gathering thoughts. The grouse were not there for me today, but a great fall day was and I utilized it.
Prez. @ Davis J. Hennes, LLC
Size of a Dog…..While hunting in a MN state forest with Crusty (my brother), my father & mother and youngest brother, Rob, we would go to the campground in the state forest after each day of hunting to see how many deer were hanging. At times there were nice bucks and other times just does. It was also a way for us to show everyone what we got too.
Well, about 7-8 yrs ago we saw a very impressive 10pt buck hanging. So we stopped there and started talking to a kid (13 – 14yrs old) as he was the only person at this campsite. After asking “who got this buck? at what time?” etc… this kid told us the guy that shot it was in town, and he said “I got one too!” As we all turned our heads to look at his deer hanging from the tree, all we saw was a deer the size of a German Shepard! I mean honestly, how could anyone even see that small of a deer, yet alone shoot it?? The only thing anyone said was “yep.”
We just killed this kids dream hunt in a matter of 5 seconds.
All we could do after that was say “Well, good luck tomorrow.” We got back in the truck and realized what we had done. Poor kid must have thought that those hunters are real (use your imagination).
To this day we feel bad for that kid , but it was funny at the time when he said “I got one too” and our response was priceless.
P.S. Never saw that kid again….
