Camp Ripley's second bow hunt breaks record

A 265-pound buck taken by an area bow hunter was one of seven bucks weighing more than 200 pounds that were harvested during Camp Ripley’s second archery hunt, Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

Archers harvested 305 deer during the second hunt, a record take for the second hunt and only 20 deer below the record two-day total harvest of 325 deer set in 2008 during the first hunt. In 2008, hunters harvested 191 deer during the second hunt.

“Despite very poor weather conditions and lower harvest during the first hunt, this represents one of our best annual harvests at camp, and is only 7 percent below the record take of 516 deer set last year,” said Beau Liddell, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Little Falls area wildlife manager.

Cory Williams of Pierz took the 265-pound buck, which was the largest deer harvested during both weekend hunts. Other hunters who harvested large bucks were: Chad Kloss, Royalton, 222 pounds; Rand Kramer, Holmen, Wis., 221 pounds; and Ryan Orrock, Elk River, 218 pounds. Michael Hake of Browerville harvested the largest doe, which weighed in at 117 pounds.

Poor weather for the first hunt resulted in only 172 being harvested. But deer taken during the second weekend brought this year’s total to 477 deer harvested during both hunts, about 57 percent above the long-term average harvest of 304 deer.

A combined total of 5,005 permits were issued for both two-day hunts, with 4,126 hunters participating. Hunter success during the first hunt was 8 percent but increased significantly to 14 percent for the second hunt. This year’s success rated was similar to last year and about 4 percent higher than the long-term average of 8 percent.

For the sixth consecutive year, hunters were allowed to take up to two deer and to use bonus permits to increase harvest on antlerless deer.

“We’re very pleased with the results the past few years,” Liddell said.