....for anyone named bob.
I have always wanted to hunt 'the northern woods.' A fellow campfire member graciously offered to take me hunting with him in Wisconsin. Due to helth reasons, I was hesitant to go. Another reason, was the expense of the clothes I might need. I could see spending $500-$750 on clothes that I have little need for. I have never hunted in snow. Only once have I hunted when it stayed below freezing all day. That night it got into the teens. Most of our cold days are a little frost in the mornings up to mid fifties by mid afternoon.
I am 69 and no longer interested in hard trecks and freezing my ### off. I prefer to sit in some comfort, watch the sun come up, enjoy nature and perhaps get a shot at a deer. I am wondering if there are any reasonable hunting operations in these states that offer heated blinds, where I might hunt? I'm not particularly interested in a trophy, but would like a chance at a doe at least. A trip such as this, in Texas, would cost around $300+- per day lodging and meals, with a kill fee of $200-$300. With the lack of public land in Texas and lots in the northern states, I know our thoughts are different in some aspects of hunting and this may not be available. If it is, help finding such will be appreciated. Thanks captdavid
BTW, rifle only

I don't even enjoy hunting if it gets up to 50°. Hunting weather to me is in the 20-45° range.

Not "Northern", but this place is located on the Piedmont area of SC, and looks to have some nice hardwoods. Ought to be pretty warm, and the prices are very reasonable. I've kept this bookmarked for a couple of years, just in case.

http://clintonhouse.com/deer-hunting-2/

You're looking for a heated blind, No problem, Wisconsin has those.

You want to fly from Texas to WI to shoot a doe? You can do that.

Flights, outfitter and such will be at least 3K to start.

What's reasonable to you?

Could you be a little more specific in what your after, in the "Northern woods"?

+1.

I enjoy getting out a couple of times in soft, fresh snow, bitter cold, and still air, even if it's just to sit and watch the woods, or track critters around to see what they're up to. Snow has been rare during deer season of late, although I did take a doe with a muzzleloader in a driving "wintry mix" a few years back, and had to drag her about a mile to my car. Great fun!

Back in the '80s, my brother and I spent an entire day out in the woods near Gettysburg trying to get a doe. The temperature barely cracked the teens, and the wind howled like a demon all day. We were wearing pretty much everything we owned, froze our azzes off, and saw not a hair.

I am not aware of any deer outfitters in NH, I think there's some in Maine. Further north you go, the deer get more spread out and harder to find, so hunting tends to be tracking over sitting. Deer do get bigger though.

captdavid,

If you make it to WI, I can set you up with some warm clothing.
A popup blind and a little propane heater will be all you need to stay toasty and I could probably set you up there too.

It's not uncommon for temps to be in the 40's and 50's during our November gun season either - but could also be in the single digits.

I'd take the fellow campfire member up on his offer - especially if it'll only cost you transportation and the dirt-cheap nonresident tag. (compared to many states)

Northern MN checking in...

Were in a panic about processing the deer right away when it hits even in the mid-30's!

There is an outfit near my hometown name mosquito creek outfitters that supposedly rents heated stands. There website wasn't up the last time I checked.

The unique thing about them is you could say you hunted north of the Mississippi river headwaters.

You dont need to spend $700 on clothing, but buying good boots is worth it.

I don't know of any here in Maine but I hope you find what you are looking for.

Moose, to me it's lows around 40 high around 60. I've never actually deer hunted in shorts, but have worn them in midday. Where I live we have a lot of winter Texans. I've seen them wearing shorts while the natives are wearing scarves and gloves.

Kenneth, I expect to pay $500 for a flight. And hope no more than $300-$350 per day to hunt. Hopefully I can do this For $1500 or so. It's more than just the hunt.I'm interested in the experience of doing something I've never done before. I would love to shoot a buck, but would expect to see and shoot at least a doe. I would also love to hunt in the snow, as long I'm in a cozy blind. Is kinda like the ice fishing in "Grumpy old men". I would love to do that too, as long as I'm in a cabin and not freezing on a five gallon bucket! Captdavid

New wool pants = $80
Wool shirt = $50
Wool socks =$ 12
Blaze orange vest and hat = $25

Much cheaper than $750. I'm not sure how you came up with that.
MN has screwed up deer seasons. Unless you hunt the southern farm lands, you probably won't be able to shoot a doe.

Wi probably has more outfitters and is more hunter friendly. Between MN and WI anyway.

What size are you? Have tons of extra stuff. Mail it back when done....

W

I always hope for snow opening gun. This year's first day was near 60F through the night. Woke up 4AM next day to 1 1/2' of snow!

Sometimes we get snow during bow too.

Much easier to spot deer even if they stand completely still.

-Ken

I've never had a problem getting a tag in 184. We saw a lot of 1.5 year olds last season


He could always creep around itasca state park for a different experience.

This is just a suggestion but you might be able to work out a deal with a hunter up here that would welcome you along at no cost but they have you pay for the blind. I know that I would welcome you along and set up the blind if you paid for it (and I got to keep it). I think a lot of property owners up north would love a blind on their land but don't want to spend the $800+ on one.

The reason I said I "would" welcome you instead of offering is because my facilities are not up to par.

I live in MD, have a farm in WV and friends in PA. Sitting on stand the view is the same. A couple years ago I went on a pig hunt in SC. View was much the same, a little flatter. Our outfitter has deer hunts in the fall, lots of nice bucks. He has an 8 point limit with 15" spread. I guess if the rack is to the ears it's OK. On a deer hunt he fixes 2 meals a day. Nice bunk house with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, sleeps 5, great room and kitchen. On a deer hunt you can shoot all the pigs, coyotes, and bob cats you want free. You would need some buddies to fill the bunk house or get on the list to fill in with strangers. We did that one year, another party had 2 drop out and my buddy and I filled in. Was no problem, you don't hunt with them.

Check out Waccamah Hunting Services. Rick is a great guy and has won several outfitters awards, Joe.

Seems to me that sitting in a heated blind isn't really a true "Northern woods" experience. There are many thousands of acres of State and NYC DEP reservoir lands that can be hunted for free here in NY's Catskill range. You could stay at a motel and hunt to your hearts content but construction of permanent stands or blinds is forbidden. Still hunting or tracking will keep you warm and would be more of a true Northern woods experience. If that is out of the question you could set up a portable blind and stuff your clothing with body/hand/foot warmers.

+1

I contacted captdavid. We are talking about possibly hunting out of our camp in Pa. in 2018. I'd have him down this year, but I won't be going due to a wedding in Ohio for my niece in September. Can't swing two trips back in such a short time. 'Wish I had the $$$$, but it's not in the cards. Hopefully we hunt together in 2018, with possibly T-Zone, EFW and MJBGALT.

the early muzzleloader season in PA might be to your liking. its in october and a week or two before the rut. it could be 25 or 75. leaves are still colorful and you can hunt a few hours in the morning, take a nap and close out the day for a few hours in the evening.

Anticosti Island in Quebec has a season that opens in September and continues into December. There are lots of deer (not especially big ones, though), no high fences and usually reasonable weather early in the season. It might meet your requirements for a northern deer hunt.
The New Hampshire rifle season begins in mid-November. The weather can be mild or very cold; I have never seen a heated blind here.

Come up and hunt with me this fall. We have ladder stands set up. I have a couple of private farms farms I hunt, and lots of public land. NH is tough, for deerhunting, 50/50, maybe for a weeks hunt. Spring gobbler season, I could almost gaurantee a bird. I'm 65 with a double knee replacement, so I don't work as hard at it as I used to, alot more stand sitting.

I have hunted in shorts a bunch of times. Most of the time in bow season. Chicken legs attract deer.

No heated blinds, we usually use the shake&bake warmers. A couple by the kidneys, and we're good to go. A thermos of hot coffee helps.

We may freeze our buts off, but we don't have any rattlesnakes. Those Texas diamondbacks give me the heebyjeebys.

On a lease we had for two years we only killed 3 over 5". The scariest thing is we were driving back to camp. About 150yds from camp, about a 6" was crossing the road. We ran over it. When we backed up to see, it came out of the brush and attacked the truck. That still gives me the chills. We never found it! We certainly watched where we walked around the camp. Wwwwrrrr! Captdavid

Dang... I carry a 410 single shot pistol to pop an occasional ruffed grouse...

It takes on a new function in your country!

Snake steak anyone?

They taste like OWL:) the water boy's mother says the knee is the best.
Actually I attended a function, where they had two, five gallon Buckets, filled with rattlesnake steaks, covered in Tabasco sauce. Fried they kinda tasted like a catfish-frog legs blend. Captdavid

I wouldn't mind tryin 'em on a plate. It's the live ones I want nothing to do with. I've had gator, and thought it was pretty good. I imagine rattler tastes similar.

Must have good eyes to see a 6-inch snake crossing the road.😛

They may be small, but as we say, 'it's not the size of the snake in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the snake!' Would you believe that is between the eyes!!? Thanks I changed it, captdavid

alright ill speak up for northern mich. get out your maps of mich and look at alpena , montmorency and presque isle countys. theses 3 countys all but up against each other and have tons of open stae land. also these 3 countys are in a deer management area. you can purchase multiple doe tags every day throughout the seasons. motels are cheap in these areas .plenty of mom and pop type hotels and resturants.air fair and a rental car would be your largest expense. archery starts oct 1 thru nov 14 . fire arm of any sort and caliber except.22 cal can be used during the fire arm season which starts nov 15 thru nov 30 . then archery starts again untill muzzle load opens usually around the 10 of dec. for a week then there are more seasons till the 1st of the year.local processing pkg and freezing till you leave only about 80 bucks, , oct nov and dec my family cant remember what i look like cuz im out huntin. plus your only about an hour at most ffrom any of the great lakes and the mackinac bridge one of the largest suspenion bridges in the world 5 miles long. nuff said

I'm thinking hard about heading to the UP for the Mich. gun season. I've often wanted to do it but the season hits at the same time as PA bear and deer so I haven't yet. Might this year. Thinking about WI too. I have to check when their season is.

Michigan would be cool. I am planning another bear/deer trip to the Adirondacks this year. I did one in 2015 and had a great time but didn't come back with any meat. I like how the season opens early and there is endless forest to roam.

+1

Cap, have you ever hunted the Big Thicket?

Well, at least the edge of it. Mainly the Davey Crockett national forest. I lived in the Nacogdoches Lufkin area for 20yrs. I didn't hunt it hard for deer, harder for hogs and harder yet for squirrels. I saw a few tails on the latter. As far as deer hunting I did a little still hunting, but mainly ambush. I saw a few more tails, and had a couple of iffy shots, but didn't take. There are pastures (leases) now, that are under management and the hunting has improved immensely. Of course these are on private land. Captdavid

I asked because we have a member here who use to post frequently who grew up in that area and had much success. Said he always hunted public land. Can't recall his name off hand.

As I've stated before, during most of that time period I had a lease, or was invited to leases in the hill country. I'll admit I didn't devote hundreds of man hours scouting for places, or hunting. I spent most of my free time fishing. I never knew anyone who hunted the national forests much, who ever killed one. But again my experience is limited. Captdavid