Icc,
According to the reports I have read recently (I am from MN also), the hunter numbers are not down very much, a couple percent at most, and may not be down at all by opening morning (they were 6000 off last years total as of a week ago). I did see the reports you talk about a while ago, but it has changed. However, to hunt the corn, it is fairly easy in theory, a little harder in practice. Go into the wind as much as possible, crosswind is good. Walk perpendicular to the rows. Stick just your head into the next row, carefully look up and down the row, then slowly move into that row. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The hard part is the wind, if it is directly perpendicular to the rows, you end up dead ended on one end of the cornfield and have to walk with it back to start again. If it is crosswind, it works a little better but you are only hunting the upwind side. Problems occur when there isnt much wind as you will make too much noise. I wouldnt even try it if it is real quiet and dry out. Move slow and with luck you will see them bedded in a row. I would recommend only 1 person in a cornfield at a time for safety reasons. A little snow would help immensely.