Gone is the once-a-year, three-day hunt that drew deer hunters from far and near because they were certain to gain entry. The three-day hunt was a replacement for the previous format of two two-day weekend hunts, also open to as many bow hunters who showed up. The theory espoused by managers of the hunt was that the placement of so many hunters in the woods at once would trigger more movement within the camp’s deer herd, leading to more shooting opportunities.
Lindy Frasl, an avid bow hunter from the Brainerd area, said he and his brother, Greg Kretzman, have participated in the Camp Ripley archery deer hunt since its inception. They miss the night-time card games, reunions and levity of the “rat-race” era, but the new format gives them much more access to the wild, public land that they cherish. Camp Ripley is 17 miles long by seven miles wide, has its own timber wolf population, provides varied terrain and is free of hunting rifles and shotguns during the firearms season.
“Doing it this way is way more beneficial to us,’’ Frasl said. “It’s amazing we can come in here any day we want… There’s just something about Camp Ripley.’’
Kitzmann said he expects participation in the new hunt to increase as people get more accustomed to the online permitting system. Learning the system is a turnoff to some hunters and a chief complaint is that you can’t obtain a permit until 12:01 a.m. on the day you choose to hunt. As soon as 150 permits are issued (sometimes within 10 minutes), registration closes for the day.
People who live far away say the late-night registration is a deal-breaker because they’d have to drive in the middle of the night if they want to arrive for the 6 a.m. opening.
