MNhunterr

Looking at the Guide Gear® 30x36 inch XL Hang-on Tree Stand as well. The platform is incredibly big with a 1" seat cushion. Great price as well.

For a guy on a budget... what hang on stands do you recommend? Having 20 hang on stands? That's a lot of $$, I assume you get them somewhere cheap? Been looking into the Bone Collector Deluxe Hang-On Treestand at Wally World for roughly $90 but I am concerned about the rail and reviews show it is rather hard to get in and out of. Also been looking at the Ameristep Bone Collector Deluxe Hang On Tree Stand. The picture shows no rail on the front. Anyone ever try these?

Hi There, I have been doing a lot of research the last few weeks on pretty much every bow hunting topic there is (I am just starting this year.) I have learned so much but I am having a hard time choosing what kind of stand to buy. I will start with the basic information... I am a smaller guy and I am kind of worried about setting up a hang on stand by myself. I have never put a stand like that up before and after watching tutorials it seems like it would be a hassle for me. What suggestions do you more experienced bow hunters have for me to overcome some challenges I might face with a hang on stand. I have ruled out climbers as there aren't many trees I could use one on. I have looked into ladder stands but know that these generally aren't preferred for bowhunting as you can only get around 15' up. Does anyone bowhunt from a ladder stand? Would there be any way to buy ladder extentions to get an additional 5'? Any and all suggestions are welcome! Thanks in advance for the help.

I just got a cheap Wildgame Innovations 4MP Micro Digital Game Scouting Camera on sale at Fleet Farm for $79.

That's good to hear. So I just purchased my first trail cam. Just a simple $99 "Wildgame Innovations 4MP Micro Digital Game Scouting Camera" that I got on sale for $79. To go along with the camera I purchased a Trophy Rock Mineral Lick. Would it be alright for me to set this up on the edge of a corn field? And do you have any suggestions on the placement of the camera (how high to set it, how far away to place the mineral block from the tree, etc)?

So yesterday I went to scout out the land I posted a picture of the other day. I was about 50 yards from the corn and I jumped what looked to be an 8pt that already has some nice bone. Do you think this will affect his movement/activity in that field? I know its still early so it shouldn't affect it much. I also checked out the bean field and watched a few smaller bucks for a while. First time out scouting, think it went pretty well.

This is the 2nd buck I have ever shot. Came within 30 yards broadside, ran maybe 20 yards before falling on the four wheeler path out of the woods. He weighed just about 200lb. Could not have worked out any better. We estimate it at anywhere from 125-135.

I've ALWAYS floated down... You don't want to have to aim up at your target in my eyes.

Find what works best for you - Try both methods and judge by the results. I have found that floating works best for me.

Thanks for the input! This is what I'm thinking as far as stand placement.

Hi there, this will be my first year bowhunting and I need some help in determining stand placement. I took a picture of the land I will be hunting using Google Maps and outlined some features. Here are some details: The red triangle at the top of the picture is where I would be parking. The green box is the land I am able to hunt. Because of the wet spring we were only able to plant half of the field in corn, the other half is black dirt. We have fields that are not planted on the east and west sides of our land and a small soybean field to the southwest. The red star at the top right of the field indicates where we have a large box stand for rifle season. I outlined some major travel areas with red lines in the top left (tall grass where you can see the trails on google maps.) I have a perfect tree for bowhunting right next to our box stand, but I know that getting in and out of a stand in that area would be impossible without spooking the deer on a nightly basis. Would like suggestions on other stand placements. Let me know if you would like some more explanation on anything!

Between 3 of us, we got 4 opening weekend. I got an old, old 3pt with a declining rack. Niece got a nice 5pt, her mom got a big doe (still had her milk sack), and a fawn. The 2nd weekend we didn't see too much, I had my crosshairs on 2 different does, both at 20yds but elected to let them go. My big brother shot the biggest deer of his life, a giant 11pt Sunday night with 10min of light left. He is just thrilled. He was after a much, much, much bigger deer though. Saw a deer a few weeks back while bowhunting, said he has never seen a deer that big before, made his 11 look small. Said he literally almost passed out (Looked like one of the 170"+ you see on TV), didnt get a shot at him with a bow though.

Check out the picture of the buck taken this last weekend during Mn gun opener. Truly amazing that something like this can happen, and to such a great animal. Heres the story: http://www.startribune.com/sports/outdoors/107006263.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUgOahccyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

Hey guys, just recently I posted a thread in the Bow Hunting section about general bow hunting tips (As I am new to bow hunting this year). I was wondering what types of clothing to look for for a begginer. This includes tops, bottoms, shoes... And whatever else you might think I will need. Season starts mid September here... So the weather would be quite warm, goes until december where it is unbearable at times haha.

You guys really have a lot of advice. Thank you tons. Mallard and others, thanks so much on the information. I think the hardest thing about getting started basically by myself is fidning/setting up a place to hunt. Rifle hunting is a totally different ballgame because you can be 100+ yards away and still be able to take the animal. This is going to be an amazing year, I can already tell. I was thinking of asking my girlfriends dads neighbor, I scouted that last fall and the deer have cow trails going through certain sections of the land.

Wow thanks for all of the tips guys. I'm trying to get a few of my buddies into it as well. I actually got my bow as a present from my dad. He got it from a pawn shop for about 350 with everything equipped. I replaced the release, heads, and sight. I have gift cards to my local archery shop as well as Scheeles store so I can get a block and get some tips from them. What do you guys think I should do as in finding land I can hunt? Just ask local farmers and such? Keep the feedback coming, really appreciate it guys.

Hey guys, last year I got myself a bow and basically all of my accessories that are included with a bow. New sight, heads, release, etc. I wasn't able to get out and even shoot my bow at all last year. I was wondering if I could get some tips from you guys, I don't want to take a target out into the yard and start blasting away- More than likely lose my arrows. What do you suggest? Also, my step dad and big brother both have areas of land I could hunt, but they live a long ways away. It's hard to travel 45+ minutes to hunt after school or work. I have to usually work on the weekends so that could be difficult as well. How do I go about getting something set up for around my house, ask farm/land owners near me to scout the land and ask for permission to set up a stand? I have no idea how to go about setting up a stand either. Any help would really help, if you want to help extensively just send me a private message or something. I really want to learn while I'm generally young so I can advance for the rest of my life. -Sorry for the long read... I'm a novice.

Probably one of the best lakes to fish basically any species of fish. You have to love MN outdoors.

Man, just goes to show how patient pays off. You don't hear of too many bucks like that coming out of MN. Amazing story, amazing buck.

Here in Minnesota we have had bone chilling weather almost all winter. This week isn't to bad, the low only got to -10 at the lowest, excluding the wind chill. A few weeks back we had it so bad... -20 and -30 with wind chills going to -40. Can't wait for spring.

I had a little bird land on the barrel of my rifle and then onto my arm today. Was quite neat.

Well.... Didn't get a shot at any deer today. My brother missed a giant 8 pointer... What a beautiful day to hunt though.

Well boys and girls.... The season is less than 24 hours away!! Need to get everything ready tonight for a great weekend of hunting and spending time with the family!

Well boys, only 3 days until Rifle season starts here in MN!!! All Minnesotans and others are welcome to share their experiences/kills/stories!! I just went and got a new scope and over/unders on my good ole' 30-30. The weather is shaping up to be very warm all weekend, not good for me because there is more than likely going to be a S/SW wind making it terrible for our stand locactions. My big brother has seen a big 8 and 9 on our property in the last 2 weeks while bow hunting. The rut has finally kicked in, deer every where in central MN. The amount of corn that is still left standing and it is going to be impossible for some of us to hunt with it still standing. Luckily for me, the farmer got the corn out of the field from our property and there isn't too much around us, making the deer come to us for food. Share, share, share!!

The top one looks like he is breathing hard, maybe the rut is kicking in and he is chasing does already?