Weekend 1

I know this is supposed to be mainly a bowhunting blog but it is rifle hunting season here in Minnesota and for two weeks out of the year the rutting whitetails are at a major disadvantage. Well, I thought so anyway!

Postives/Negatives?
Rifle hunting is not like bowhunting in positive and negatives ways. I feel that rifle hunting is too easy especially because it falls during rut here in Minnesota, when bucks are going crazy chasing after hot does. Another thing about rifle hunting that I feel is negative is that you can sit in one stand the whole season and just wait for the deer to show up and they usually do. I feel this is a negative because I would rather have the challenge of bowhunting in which you have to change stands frequently and scout throughout the season because the deer are smarter. There are also positives. It is nice for the people who are older and do not have the ability to chase around deer in the backcountry anymore, they can drive their 4-wheeler out to there warm, heated stand and still have the enjoyment of nature and the outdoors and get a chance to see and shoot deer! It also nice to start the young children out rifle hunting. Its easier and because it is easier, you have a good chance of shooting a deer and that gives the child a better chance to enjoy hunting and to continue it throughout his/her life. My father started me out rifle hunting and when I turned 18 he introduced me to something that I'm now in love with in bowhunting. Another advantage to include to this list would be scent control. Yeah, I always took showers before going out to rifle hunt and kept my clothes hung out on the clothes line in the fresh air but not like I do when bowhunting. The rut helps this in Minnesota. Deer are so crazy during this time that they forget to use their senses. But, how can this be? These are deer we are talking about! They have some of the best senses of any animal right? Right, but not during rut. You probably will not need to pick up any scent protection spray before you head out to the stand during rifle season, which makes it a little easier.

Getting Ready
Its pretty easy to get ready for rifle season. Hang your clothes on the clothes line a couple weeks before the season opens and sight your rifle in or check if it is still sighted in from last year. Thats about it. Obviously, you are going to need warm clothes and the correct gear but getting ready for rifle season is nothing like getting ready for bowhunting. Rifle season is a two to three week thing and bowhunting is a year around thing. I spend time shooting my bow every week, year round and not to mention I do plenty of physical activity to stay in shape and get ready for the long season. A lot of the time when bowhunting I move to a different stand everyday to stay unpredictable to the deer and try to be as quiet at I can on my trip to the stand each day. During rifle season you can drive your 4-wheeler right out to your stand and the deer will not even care because they are worried about more important things, if you know what I mean!

Weekend 1
My weekend didn't really go as planned. I woke up very early each morning to get out to the stand well before the morning light. I like to get out there early so that I can get settled into my stand and also in case I kick a deer up on my way to my stand, it gives the deer time to come back to it's bedding area in time for the sun to shine. The first morning set the tone for how my weekend went. Wakeup early, see no deer, and go in for brunch. Go back out to the stand at 2:00, see no deer and go back in at dark. It was pretty discouraging. I didn't let it get to me mentally though, I will keep my hopes high and be back at it this weekend.