Winter became a little more real this week with high winds and low temperatures reaching bone-chilling negatives. There were a few pleasant days mixed into the rifle season allowing me to spend some time in the woods hunting, but the clever deer outsmarted me once again. I have a gamut of excuses for failing to produce some venison but the fact of the matter is that the deer populations are down significantly from last year throughout the state—and this is reason enough to satisfy my bruised ego.
There were a few bucks shot up the Trail by the more patient and experienced hunters this season and all of those were within a few miles of Gunflint Lake where it seems the only remaining herd of whitetails exists on the Trail. I had a good time hiking the woods and tracking some deer near Loon Lake where we live, but I was not fortunate enough to cross paths with any of the antlered ones. Maybe next year.
It was entertaining to watch the little squirrels and chipmunks surface on the warmer days, although I think they were trying to blow my cover by causing a noisy commotion as I would silently approach their homes. The jays and chickadees were also in good spirits while the sun made its brief appearances chirping and playing from tree to tree while I slipped in and out of consciousness waiting for a buck to appear.
Big winds have been a concern this week with 40 mph gusts causing some drifting and white out conditions. The few days that warmed up enough to melt some snow were nice but ultimately it caused some icy conditions on the Gunflint Trail once the temperature dove overnight. We don’t actually deal with ice as much as one might assume since our temperatures rarely allow for any melting, but the in-between seasons of early and late winter are the worst.
I worry in the winter since my wife and children make the journey to town four days a week and the early morning conditions of the Gunflint Trail can be dangerous, especially when she is ahead of the plow trucks. We bought the best tires out there for her mini van and it is also comforting to know there are a few contractors making the opposite journey each day in case something were to happen. She is known by some of them as “white van lady.”
Rachelle carries an emergency kit that includes blankets, extra jackets, and gloves but I don’t leave the house during the winter months until she calls from cell phone range (George Washington Pines area) to let me know that they are fine. This morning’s conditions warranted a deputy sheriff to escort vehicles down the big hill to Grand Marais which is a great reminder that we live in a community that cares.
I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. 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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