Other than a handful of hunters with a case of buck fever, the Trail has been pretty quiet. The trail boasts a pretty good population of deer and this year I hope to bag a good size doe. Unlike fishing, I am not a trophy hunter. I love venison and typically a doe tastes better than a buck.
Last year we had two does and the meat was second to none. I butchered the straps and roasts then meticulously prepared all of the scraps for ground meat.
Being from Iowa, I do not have any experience with rifles. In Iowa you are only allowed to use a shotgun and that is all I own. I have asked many people what their favorite deer rifle is and much like fishing, I got many different answers. I like the looks of a 30/30 lever and I am told they make a pretty good brush gun. The majority of hunters I spoke with seem to prefer a 30.06 or .270 but I do not see a new rifle being in the budget for this season. I will try the old 12 gauge slug. It is like a knuckle ball of lead with very little range, but I like the challenge.
As a fishing guide I am given deer sticks and jerky from my customers all summer long. My favorite sticks yet have come from my uncle in the Twin Cities. He has his venison processed into maple-flavored sticks that are downright yummy.
Granted, you typically get what you pay for and he pays around $4/lb for the maple sticks. This may not seem like much money until you consider the fact that you are supplying the meat.
Last year I had Rachelle take the scraps from our deer to Zup’s, and they ground up 15 pounds with beef fat for less than $20. The ground venison tastes better than hamburger and I really like the fact that we are getting our own deer that was carefully processed. Most processors give you a weight credit when you drop off your deer and you are not going to get your own deer back in the finished product. I know that my deer was taken care of, but I do not know that the other deer at the processors were.
You are allowed one deer this year in my zone which encompasses the upper half of the Gunflint Trail. No bonus tags within the zone and you can take either a buck or doe. I need to brush up on the regulations since I have never shot a deer in this state before.
It is a little intimidating knowing that other hunters are in the woods, armed with rifles that can reach out and touch things from a long ways away.
The restaurants on the Trail are all closed except for Windigo and the Gunflint Lodge. Hungry Jack Lodge is closed, but you can still get gas at their 24-hour gas pump. Many of the resorts are still offering lodging right now, but the stores and dining rooms are closed for a while. They are coming off of a busy summer season and concentrating on repairs and much-needed vacations.
Yesterday, I drove all the way to Grand Marais from my house by Loon Lake and never saw another car until I reached the Four Corners. Hard to blame the resorts for closing up for a few weeks.
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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