We returned to the Gunflint Trail this week from vacationing in Iowa, and were greeted with a beautiful sunny day. The wonderfully warm trend this season has allowed me to accomplish a lot more than I am accustomed to—which means more time for hunting deer.
The last couple of deer seasons have been disappointing enough for me to focus on hunting closer to the shore. Anyone who travels Highway 61 at dusk can confirm an impressive population of deer, and if there is one thing fishing has taught me, it is that you have to be in the right place to be successful. The only deer I know of being shot on the Trail last season were in the Gunflint Lake area and there is a little too much pressure there for me.
I spent some time honing my skills while playing Buck Hunter in a bowling alley last week. I did not shatter any records but managed to drop a few big bucks, so I think I am ready. This week will consist of sighting my rifle and scouting the new grounds for any signs of life. It is exciting to think that I stand a chance at actually seeing a deer this season. Trophy hunting does not interest me, yet, I just want to put some venison in the freezer and experience some time in the woods before the frozen water season.
The longer I live in Minnesota the more recognizable subtle differences in my native land of Iowa become apparent. Besides the obvious contrast in landscaping and length of seasons, there are pros and cons (for me) to residing in either state. The frigid temperatures of northern Minnesota are hard to handle but the deep woods and numerous lakes teeming with fish make it hard to imagine living anywhere else.
I feel that if it were not for my friends and family I might not ever visit Iowa, but truthfully there are a lot of great things to do in the heartland. Iowa countryside is beautiful in the fall with golden cornfields being harvested and rolls of hay lining the fence lines to be stored for winter. Pheasants and turkeys feeding scour the harvested fields while deer bed in the tall grass. Mallard ducks gather and swim in farm ponds and marshes while geese migrate overhead in “V” formation. Despite the smell of a nearby hog farm, it is almost perfect.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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