I am starting to plan a BWCA bowhunt for deer for the fall of 2013. I plan on making a scouting trip the spring of 2013. I have never been to the BWCA and was wondering if anybody could help me out with a little information. Is there one area that may have a larger deer density over another? How far in would I have to go to get away from any other bowhunters? I am thinking the last week of October, any pros or cons for that week? Any information is greatly apreciated. Thanks!

Much of the deer population in the BWCA and surrounding area has to do with how severe the previous winter was, but overall it has less deer density than in other parts of the state. (A good thing for moose). From statistics gathered by the MN DNR it looks like the deer population was greater in the western part of the BWCA covered in zone 118 where 0.68 deer were harvested per sq. mile. In zone 117 only 0.03 deer were harvested per sq. mile. The total harvest for zone 118 was 1053 deer, 28 of which were taken by archery; and the total harvest for zone 117 was 40 deer, only 1 of which was taken by archery. I didn’t see how many people were hunting in those areas by archery, and I don’t hear of many that do, but for firearm hunters the number of people per sq. mile is the lowest in the state for zone 117 and amongst the lowest for 118.

Here is the MN DNR web page for deer hunting information.

Well, you must like a challenge!

I can't help much with where the deer concentrations are, but I would say that going as close to the rut as possible should be a good plan.

As for getting away from bowhunters, you'll have the place to yourself in that regard.

I go into the bwca several times a year, I am also a bow/gun hunter the last place I would attempt to bow hunt is in the bwca, the deer numbers are low and the forage is slim because of this the deer have to travel vast distances daily. In more of an ag area or desidious forest a deer may only travel a mile each day and the chances of running into one are good in the bdub they may have to travel ten times that or more on a regular basis. If you seriously want to bowhunt using a canoe I would go with the kettle, snake or st. croix river areas.

Areas in the BW that have had a fairly recent forest fire will have a lot of low growth, bushes and new trees. This attracts deer and moose. Stuart Ostoff, the editor of the BW Journal, bow and gun hunts out the Echo Trail towards the Stuart River and Moose River. He had an article or two about deer hunting in the BW last year and the year before.

Saw this cow with a deer head on Shell ep 14 couple yrs ago.

JB

Starman-
I don't hunt, but I've often thought how canoe hunting deer would probably work well on any of those rivers. The deer are plentiful and sneaking up on them is pretty easy if the wind is right. I'm surprised more people don't do it.

I don't hunt, but I've often thought how canoe hunting deer would probably work well on any of those rivers. The deer are plentiful and sneaking up on them is pretty easy if the wind is right. I'm surprised more people don't do it.



I am not up on the hunting regs in Minnesota, but I know that in my state, and most others I know about, you cannot hunt deer from any type of boat.

I use canoes here to hunt, but only to get deeper into public land, then set up a climber stand or blind.

Saw this fellow on the Horse River September 2006. He wasn't shy. I got within 5 yards of him.

You probably be one of only a couple of bow hunters. Was up to the edge of the BWCA and was surprised to see more deer sign than last few years-numbers still low. A edge of a burn or if you do a hunt on the outside they are really attracted to new cuttings.

Boundary Waters deer are pretty much where you find them, although as mentioned earlier the Western side population is probably better than the Eastern parts. I've hunted deer in the BWCA since 1989 and still find it difficult to find them sometimes. The best advice I can give is don't spend too much time trying to find the "shangrila" of spots because there is no such thing...everywhere is a feeding area and everywhere is a bedding area. A better approach is to try and pinpoint bottle necks or pinch points that will funnel deer activity. Find a good funnel and most of all be patient! You have to realize you can go a LONG time without ever seeing a deer, but if you have faith in your spot you could be rewarded with a brute of a buck. Another thing about BWCA deer is they are much more active during daylight hours compared to other parts of the state due to little outside pressure and disturbances...so midday can be as good as morning or evening.

As for other bowhunters I wouldn't even give that a second thought unless you are hunting near Ely where there is quite a few college students that work the area...but otherwise plan on having the place all to yourself. Rifle season is a different matter and you could expect to see more people in areas that otherwise are void of people.

Hope some of this helps.
Dave

quote lundojam: "Starman-
I don't hunt, but I've often thought how canoe hunting deer would probably work well on any of those rivers. The deer are plentiful and sneaking up on them is pretty easy if the wind is right. I'm surprised more people don't do it."

Sneaking up on them in a canoe is easy. Standing up in that canoe and shooting a bow, now that would be hard!

JD

did you go to bwca to scout? if so, id like to hear about it. my last post was 8/30 or 8/31. thanks dan from muskegon

Little Indian Sioux River, south of the Echo Trail, as was mentioned above.

never hunted the BW but from many trips up the gunflint trail we had less sightings the farther up the gunflint we went. and as someone else stated the severity of the previous winters is a big factor.

quote shock: "never hunted the BW but from many trips up the gunflint trail we had less sightings the farther up the gunflint we went. and as someone else stated the severity of the previous winters is a big factor. "

Use to hunt the west side of Burnside in the BWCA many years ago,that was pretty good. I think the best BWCA hunting now would be the west side of the BWCA like off the Echo and mentioned above.

We saw a ton of deer last year in the Trout/Pine/Pine Creek area. Seems like every bend in the creek had a couple of deer eating grass along the bank.