In this weeks blog I will bring you updates from the majority of our pro staff groups from around the state. Everyone seems to be seeing pretty much the same type of activity. Personally, I have been hunting mostly in the NE Metro area in the cities of Lino Lakes and Columbus. I have also been spending some time in the Red Wing area as well as the Taylors Falls area. Last night or I should say evening, I saw two very large bucks on there feet with Does. One of the bucks was behind a running doe with his nose to the ground and the other was just casually standing with a doe in the middle of a clover field. The bucks are definitely on the does so if you can find them I would imagine you would see some bucks. Besides those two encounters I have seen a lot of small bucks wandering but none of the bigger deer yet. I have also seen a few does here and there but no bucks with them, lets hope that changes today. We have 5 days here in Minnesota before the gun season start. That means we have 5 days before the woods erupt with gun fire and the deer crawl into their holes. I'm hoping that in the next few days I will have an encounter with one of my hit list bucks and I can rest assured that no one else will shoot him come november 7th. Right now i'm looking forward to 5 full days in the woods. Lets hear what else is going on around the state......

From NW Minnesota - Jeremy Swanson:

Things have really picked up in the NW in the past week. We have been able to see younger bucks up on their feet bird dogging Does, and we also have some mature buck sighting in daylight hours too. The mature Does have also pushed their fawns away as the craziness of the rut rapidly approaches. We are still focusing on spots in between food and bedding, and counting on the bucks to work the trails scent checking. This next week looks to be decent as far as weather is concerned and should be awesome for activity. We are doing our best to get some solid stand time in before the rifle season opens up on Sat. Daylight savings messes up plans for getting out after work, but hopefully some schedule adjustments will be able to fix that!

From The NE Metro Area - Scott West:

In the past few weeks, I have added and moved some stands on the property in Andover. Where I will be spending a lot of time in the weeks to come. I have also experienced a temporary set back on one of my main properties. This came about when the adjoining landowner erected a large gate because of trespasser problems. He is working with me to gain access again and I am confident we will fix this problem. In the long run, it will be better for my hunting opportunities I just wish it were happening anytime but now.

The weather looks to be worsening for human conditions outside.  As I learn more about Metro hunting, I look forward to this. As I have said before metro deer pattern human behavior on a daily basis. The more the neighbor hood stays in doors the better my buck opportunities will be. In spite of land loss and the better (human) weather lately. I am keeping a positive attitude on the weeks to come.

 In addition, trail cams are back out and I hope to update some hit list photos soon.

Updates from SW Minnesota -

Brian Knochenmus:

Here in the SW, the pre-rut activity is just starting.  We’ve been seeing more bucks at night and in daylight hours, but not a tremendous amount of chasing is taking place yet.  One obstacle we are going to face is the amount of crop yet in the field.  Rain, rain, and more rain has kept farmers out of the field and with this two more days of steady rain this week, we are going to have fields full of crops during the rut.  The deer are on their feet now more times during the day.  Next week is THE WEEK in SW MN.  Breeding should be starting, and more importantly for bow-hunters, it is the week before the 9 day gun season.  If you have any vacation time to spare, next week would be a great time to take it!  Good luck!

Jeff Knott:

We are starting to see some buck activity with smaller bucks starting to act frisky and chase some.  This past week we were out and saw a shooter buck starting to get curious.  Bachelor groups have broken up.  Our biggest challenge still is the amount of corn in the fields.  At best 15-20% of the corn has been harvested.  This gives the deer an abundant food source, great cover, and no reason to come out.  For things to really pick up here we need about 2 weeks of dry weather so the farmers can get their crops out of the fields.  Until then, our best stand locations will be ok at best.  The weather has also changed deer patterns dramatically and movements have been difficult to predict.  It seems that every other day a new front moves in and the deer appear to be moving in the early afternoon or after dark.

From Little Falls and the SE Metro Area - Chris Seidl:

Hello there from Little Falls , Chris Seidl just giving you a update on the areas I have been hunting . First I want to emphisize the importance of Trail cameras are for me and should be in every hunters arsinal . I have had multiple cameras out all season and since the openner I have not seen or cought on camera any of the bucks on my hitlist in the Little Falls area . That is why we have resorted to the SE metro for our hunting . We have been getting two good bucks on camera down here(one is Dead , my cameraman killed "Tallboy" on Oct25th) pretty regularly so we have focussed our sights on them. We are about to hit the Primetime for down there and hope to bring you some fast action and hopfully some big bucks! This time of year if you can sit all day it can happen at any minute so we have the next three weekends and 6 days of vacation to hit it hard . Starting Holloween we will live in the woods until there is a big buck down! See you in the woods!

From the Starbuck Area - Kurt Amundson:

The rut has started to kick in.  We are seeing a few bucks on their feet and looking for does.  Scrapes and rubs are more common, the only drawback has been the terrible weather.  I expect the end of next week to be good in our area.  I have always had good luck on the 5-8th of November.  Mornings and mid-day might be the best time to be out as we are on in a full moon phase.  A couple of big deer were hit by cars this week in our area so that is a sign that the bucks are moving.