Last deer season myself and two buddies went to Big Falls, MN for the last weekend of the rifle season in MN. When we got there we set up camp and started hunting the next day, but we didn't see any deer. We hunted forthe last 4 days of the season and didn't see a single deer. Kinda depressing for a few guys who usually shoot deer every year, sometimes more than one.

Anyhow my question is... How do you know where to hunt up there?

I'm from SW Minnesota where we have fields and cricks bottoms... its fairly flat and we push deer with walkers... during bow season we bowhunt like everyone else i assume... either posting or still hunting...although not many still hunt anymore...

We realized we weren't in the best area in that part of the state, but we were still extremely suprised not to see any deer. what we learned was to hunt the clearings, but it seems like there has to be a better way to do it. we were mostly in poplar forests, with lots of underbrush... what we think is good back home.

Is it better to hunt the big pine woods or the poplars? or should we be shooting for the breaks or mixes of both?

we plan on trying to make it an annual trip, and we know there is lots to learn, but we won't be going this year on account i'm in Kuwait. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thank you much!