Is it Worth the Trip to C. Wisconsin for Gun Season?
Hey guys,
I mentioned that I was thinking about hunting Devils Lake SP a few months ago on here. Well, My buddy didn't think he could get someone to watch his bar in Chicago while he was gone but turned out he could. Now, he's already planning with the wife for a babysitter so it looks like he really wants to get out deer hunting this year.
My uncle owns a condo by Devils Head Mountain (Merrimac) so I was thinking of heading up there and giving Devils Lake SP a shot. I just want to know if anyone thinks it is worth it or is there too much hunting pressure? Also, is the deer population so low that it isn't even worth the trip from Chicago? Lodging would be free so it would help with the $160 tag price. Were not looking for trophy bucks, just a deer or two, buck or doe. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Plus, if anyone thinks that anywhere would be better within a 30 min drive we wouldn't mind trying somewhere else as well.
Thanks guys, if we do get up there, we wouldn't mind sharing some drinks after the hunt, first couple rounds on us!
Brian
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There's a fine line between deer hunting and sitting there looking stupid.
If you can gut a deer and drink a beer, you're a friend of mine.
Hey Brian, I replied on your post earlier. I've only had a chance to hunt the private 40 above Devils Head twice this season (right across road from Devils Lake hunting areas), so it isn't a solid report, but on those two dates (one morning early Oct, and Tuesday evening) I didn't see any deer. There are tracks and trails around, and previous years I've gotten deer with my bow, so there are deer around. I was going to hit that tonight but the wind was all wrong. Odds are I will try on Monday night and I could report back. Not much to go on I'm sure, but hey, you and your buddy are going on a hunting trip. I'm headding to MN with my bro-in-law. I've hunted there before and don't expect much but a good weekend, a buck would be a bonus.
Thanks Handles, I didn't think we were going to make the trip but now it looks like we are. I actually arrowed a nice 10 pt here tonight and heading to Michigan for gun season Saturday but Devil's lake SP is the only chance he has to deer hunt this year so I thought we'd make the trip. Not sure If I'll just be a spectator or actually hunt since I don't know how much more venison I need if I get my deer in Michigan. Sounds like there are some deer roaming around there, but tough to see. If we do hunt, I plan on going in deep by parfreys glen and hope some of the lazy hunters only go a few hundred yards from the road.
If you have any ideas about the area let me know. Not looking for bucks, just hopefully to see some deer and get one or two. Good luck in MN, let me know if you get anything.
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There's a fine line between deer hunting and sitting there looking stupid.
If you can gut a deer and drink a beer, you're a friend of mine.
If you are going above Parfreys, then I think you should be in a good location, some guys will come in from devils den road, others from tower road and perhaps push things your direction. Good luck and let us know what happens good or bad.
Neilsville isn't too far where my girlfriend's brother is letting me hunt this year. He owns some land in Stratford and I've bowhunted there quite a bit. Seen a lot of deer. 2 weeks ago I seen two bucks fighting for the first time in like 5 years. It wasn't just the land I hunted, it was seeing them while driving around Marshfield, Wausau, Stevens Point, Rozellville (had to include that sweet little township). Granted, I'd rather hunt in West Central Wisconsin where I shot my buck this year, but there are deer in that neck of the woods of C. Wisconsin anyway.
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I didn't make it up there. I was really trying to but it was just too tough. I was in Michigan for the gun opener and I didn't have much luck up there. My father got a nice doe and the rest of the camp saw around 60 deer total but I passes on a bunch of fawns, spikes and forks. When I got back to Chicago, I checked my trail camera on a one acre spot I have about 20 minutes from downtown Chicago (Completely legal to Bowhunt) and had a nice 10 point on my cam. I decided to go after him rather than make the trip up there since I had him and 4 other bucks on the trail cam. Of course, I had a big 8 come in while I was climbing into my tree, I was mad about that. I did nail this guy 2 nights before I headed to Michigan with my bow. Ill tell the story when I have a little more time on here. Handles, How did you do? Any luck? I hope you go the big one. I will be up there this spring/summer for some Lake Wisconsin Walleye, that is for sure!
Here's the one that I skipped WI for. Still haven't seen him yet but Im hoping that will change!
__________________
There's a fine line between deer hunting and sitting there looking stupid.
If you can gut a deer and drink a beer, you're a friend of mine.
Congrats on the bow buck, and I'm guessing the big boy will stick in that area for next year. Personally I didn't pull the trigger. I'm kind of kicking myself for one situation with a really nice buck, but I only had a neck shot. Being so conditioned to a heart/lung shot with the bow I waited for him to take one more step forward, instead he bolted. In a couple weeks I'm going to put my camera on some corn in the 40 near Devils Head to see what's still over there. I'll share the pics if anything good shows up.
Is it Worth the Trip to C. Wisconsin for Gun Season?
