Warmer weather greets deer hunters in Saturday's opener

By Bill Bartusek

It was cool last week, but things turned around just in time for Saturday's opener.

That was not good news for the deer hunters. Deer tend to slow down or bed down during daytime hours when the weather is warm. They will still move mornings and evenings, so the hunt isn't a wash. In real bad weather, they just hunker down and don't move at all. So this was not the worst scenario. The rut isn't in full swing just yet. The bucks are chasing does, but the does are not yet receptive.

So I expect a lot of young bucks to be harvested. The big old boys move at night and don't chase much until does become more receptive.

Friends hunting in different areas had mixed results. Around New Prague, my son Bill didn't see a deer

either day. Kurt Palma didn't hunt far away and saw several deer. Kurt

was able to harvest a nice eight-point buck not far from his home, which is south of New Prague.

Dennis and Brandon Palma hunted north of Aitkin. Brandon harvested a doe on Saturday morning. Jeff Rathmanner of Champlin also got a

nice doe Saturday afternoon. My son, Joe, hunted in the southeast part of the state near Rushford. His party harvested four deer, including two nice bucks. Shane Raveling downed a great eight pointer, while his friend harvested a big 11 pointer. I'm guessing the harvest around the state went pretty well. Hunters do a better job of hunting when the weather is good. So I expect some good success

As the season progresses, so will

the rut. That will really get the deer moving. Also in the hunter's favor, more corn will be harvested in the coming weeks, eliminating cover for the deer. Next week should be good, and hopefully when I hunt on the 18th, things will not have changed much. That will be up to God and the weather.