While many organizations and experts preach getting youth involved in the outdoors in a positive manner, few push that agenda with as much conviction as the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association and their partners involved with the Forkhorn Summer Camp programs held each year across the state.

The idea behind Forkhorn camp, which according to the MDHA was started in 1985, is to teach kids between the ages of 11 and 17 the ins-and-outs of the outdoors and hunting through a unique hands-on, intera...
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Well, after bowhunting multiple times nearly every week since the Minnesota deer archery opened on Sept. 15 I've figured out two things - don't hesitate when a nice buck walks up to you on the first day of the season regardless of how many deer you think you will see the rest of the year and I need more stands.

Make that three things: I also learned I really, really love it!

For those who forgot, are just joining us or don't really read my stuff to closely, on the opening morning of the 2012 ar...
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It’s nearly here.

My favorite time of year and probably yours too if you’re reading this - The 2012 Minnesota Firearms Deer season opens at one half-hour before sunrise on Nov. 3 and runs through one half-hour after sunset on Sunday Nov. 18.

(Note: Sunrise on Nov. 3 is 7:54 a.m. but it will be at 6:55 a.m. on the second day of the season, Sunday, Nov. 4, because of daylight savings time).

So what kind of season will 2012 and be? Record setting? Slow as can be?

How about something in ...

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    One hour into the 2012 archery deer season - and my archery hunting career - two does came storming out of the woods heading west to east.
    One doe ran right by my stand, not passing 15 yards in front of it, while the other one stopped directly in front of the stand and immediately turned back toward the west, ears high and on full alert.



    Being the professional journalist that I am (even though I don't get paid anymore, which isn't really that much of a difference from when I was get...
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  Saturday morning, Sept. 15, (and plenty of mornings after that) I'll be in one of my favorite deer stands hunting big bucks with a bow and a couple of arrows and I'm pretty excited about that.
   I've talked about trying the Minnesota archery deer hunt for years now but never got around to it. One thing or another has always come between me and hunting deer in the most basic of forms.
   But this fall I'm going to go for it. In July, I bought a bow worthy of the challenge and I've spent eve...
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   While doing a little research for this blog I came across an old magazine advertisement for the Marlin 336 that had the following statement on the page: "This one puts meat in the freezer."
    Talk about truth in advertising!

     For my money, the Marlin 336c .30-30, which has been in production since the late 1940's, is arguably one of the best guns for hunting deer ever made.
     In fact, I'd argue it is THE best deer gun for hunting in northern Minnesota: Great caliber, compact ...
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