DEER HUNTING AND THE HUNTING SHACK, A MINNESOTA TRADITION

For some, deer hunting is that one thing that they never miss. They will miss family weddings, kids’ school functions and deer-hunting-widow sales at the local stores for that first weekend of deer hunting. Going to the shack for deer hunting has been a tradition.

The specific location of that tradition is different for everyone. You may have a tradition of staying at the “hunting shack” and that has been wonderful for the last 40 years. And perhaps that will be perfect for you and your group for the next 20 years. Great!

What is a hunting shack? Some “hunting shacks” are quite rustic. Often they are used just a couple times a year, are in the middle of the woods, don’t have running water, or even bathrooms. Some aren’t “shacks” at all. They are year-round homes, have comfortable beds, furnaces, running water, full bathrooms and kitchens. Maybe your deer hunting shack is a camper in the woods or perhaps it is staying at one of the hundreds of resorts unique to Minnesota. The idea and reality of the shack is different for all.

Keeping up traditions for deer hunting should be a priority. However, life has a way of changing our circumstances (e.g. aging bodies, changes in health or accessibility, work-related challenges, etc.) Perhaps now a more comfortable bed might be a higher priority than in past years? Running water and electricity for that CPAP machine (without the drone of a generator) might be nice. Perhaps your new job requires a few minutes of WIFI access to keep you connected while you escape to the woods. Consider continuing to cherish the opening of deer hunting, but perhaps with a few more comforts of home than your current “shack” offers. Think about reserving a cabin at one of our owner-operated resorts which are open during deer hunting.   You can keep your tradition and experience, but be more comfortable at the same time. Now is a great time to make those plans.

The MN DNR cites some interesting facts about deer and deer hunting: fachttps://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/deer/management/history.htmlts-6/)

►The adult female deer weighs about 145 lbs and the male about 170 lbs.
►The biggest white-tailed deer recorded in Minnesota was a 500-pound buck.
►70% of MN Firearms deer harvest typically occurs during the first three or four days of the season.
►There are nearly 500,000 fire-arm deer hunters in Minnesota.
►The average hunter spends five days in the field during MN firearms deer season.
►The largest typical whitetail buck taken in Minnesota had a Boone & Crockett score of 202 and was shot in 1918.
►Minnesota’s #1 non-typical whitetail buck had 43 points and was taken in 1974.

Click this link to get some detailed information from the Minnesota DNR about the sale of deer hunting licenses and the harvest from 2013 – 2018. You will see that people are still interested in deer hunting!

Click for MN Deer Harvest information.

Deer hunting is still a tradition in Minnesota. If you are wanting to spend it at a Minnesota resort, think about one of our member owner-operated resorts.

Happy Hunting!