Just came across this on the DNR website, it was last updated 12/14/11! It has the western zone of the BWCA(118), as having a very high WSI(Winter Severity Index)! Where as the eastern part(where the burn was), seems to be alot less! Well, im planning a 2012 BWCA deer hunt, and have been jousting between what "Half" to hunt, this was to say the least a valuable find! The western part of the BWCA has the highest deer density, around 18-25 deer/sq mi, while the eastern has around to the best of my knowledge 8-11 deer/sq mi! That however could change, deer that find the rich/lush emerging growth this year, and for the next 3-5yrs may really take advantage of the eastern side! Ive been researching, and looking very hard over maps trying to settle on an area to hunt, but im kinda torn! Ive read all of Stu Ostoffs' articles, and i have a general idea of how he hunts, and love the idea of it! Anybody out there with any help to point me in the "Best" direction would be great! Is it the higher density west side thats supposed to, by the looks of it have a severe winter/winter kill OR the eastern side that although traditionally doesnt have the numbers, did just have a drastic event thats sure to change the demographics of the area and at least for a matter of years, have substantial/favorable whitetail browse and habitat?

Ive been watching the weather, and havent really noticed alot of snow or extreme cold in the BWCA! Is it really that bad up there? Or is this just typical MN DNR again?

Ive got a buddy in Hoyt Lakes, Mn he says its gotten pretty cold and they have had some pretty good snow fall from time to time. however, they have had several days of above average temps. He thinks the deer are gonna be just fine. Also lets not forget it is only December, February is when the really cold misserable weather hits up there, and teh snow can pile up then too. thats when it might poss a problem for deer.

I would personally be looking to hunt the burn area, the rich new undergrowth will draw deer and moose and just about everyother animal to it. I would reccomend a ground blind as the trees might be brittle!

Good luck, I cant wait for photos from a hunt!

I was trying to look up how the values are determined. I think it is 1 point if the temperature is below zero and one point if there is 12" of snow on the ground, but I could not find that. It looks like the WSI ranges from 4 to 8 in northeast minnesota. Which seems about right, we have had a handful of days with below zero lows and very little snow to cover food sources. It is my understanding that until values reach at least 100 that it does not have a significant enfluence on deer mortality.

Thanks for the replies! My original plan was/is to hunt an area of the burn thatll allow me to get in a couple miles, and hopefully away from any crowds! If the weather cooperates, and i can paddle in i have a few sweet looking areas that are on the fringe of the fire line and should be dynamite! If its too cold to paddle in, i have some good areas to hunt from a forest camp i plan to set up and hunt from! I do have a few ?'s about camping though? Ive read that camping need not be at a designated site starting Oct 1, does this also go for any fire a man might start in his camp that isnt in a designated site? Ive read it in a few of Stus' articles that a guy can camp basically anywhere starting Oct 1! Best i can come up with is the volume of people that use the BWCA during the busy season would be an absolute mess if they were not limited to the fire grates for their fires!

better double check about camping at non-designated sites after Oct 1, it could be right, but would be news to me, I've always stuck to the designated sites, and notice everyone else does too. Then again, we just might not be aware ...

my observation about deer in the eastern BWCA is that there are few, but yeah, you'd think the burn area would attract 'em, there sure are a lot as you get closer to 61

Id say the reason that there are "More" deer near the Vermillion/Trout Lake area of the BWCA, and the area you mentioned near 61 by Grand Marais is the amount of logging that happens in the surrounding national forest! Logging in essence does the same thing as a burn, or vice versa...adds food/edge cover that whitetails love! im guessing that the internal BWCA has very few deer, but probably some bucks of record book status! I have a friend who does prescribed burns for the MN DNR, as well as other agencies and he says ungulates begin funneling back almost as soon as they get their equipment out of there! Picking a side of the BWCA would be easy had that burn not happened, that opened up a can of worms thats for sure! About the campsites, i will have to call a ranger office and ask! If you really sit back and think about it, permits are self issued starting Oct 1, thats a huge difference right there, also i know for as fact that guys who ice fish the BWCA dont use the campsites, hell most of 'em are under 3' of snow, they mostly sleep in wall tents on the ice! Another issue i have is what to do with the deer should i be lucky enough to take one? My plan is to quarter the animal as far as legally possible(believe i have to leave head attached to a quarter, and maybe leave proof of sex attached to a rear quarter)! I commonly use the "Gutless" Method on my elk, mule deer, western excursions where the animal is shot up to 10mi from any vehicles and must be packed out! I plan on doin that up in the BWCA, but the whole LNT has me wondering! For bear hunting, they want the guts to be buried, for deer when the ground will more than likely be frozen thats gotta be out of the question? The "Gutless" Method would require me leaving the ribcage and most of the hide out there, there are no special regs in place for those who do deer hunt the BWCA but...?

while it may not be legal, "don't ask, don't tell" :)

not to encourage breaking the law but it would be appreciated by the wolves and many birds, heck, seems like a win-win for everyone, you can imagine what it would be like in more popular areas if everyone did it though

that's always been the question, hard work to get it out, but people do it

I was in the burn area the fall after it happened, still looked like an inferno but last year the trees were all waist to head high, must be great browse, and you can see forever, so leave your shotgun home and take your rifle

Actually, if you are referring to the gutless method being used in more popular areas, it is used and is totally legit, DNR cant say s@#$! I have a friend who hunts way up on the canadian border, abd is many many miles from civilization, they hike into an old clearing and set up their camp! They use the gutless method religiously! If you are referring to the campfire issue, id say yeah it wouldnt be very good for cosmetics if it were a free for all during the busy season! I called and talked to an outfitter in ely, and they have fires right out on the ice when ice fishing, so...

My understanding on the permit issue after October 1st, is that you do not need to purchase a permit. Instead you fill out the self issuing permit at the entry point. On the back fo the entery permit, the rules that you need to follow in the summer are still in place, meaning that you will need to continue camping in designated camping locations.

eyestalker deer area 118 this year has a wsi of 12 at this time. That is unbelievably low for this time of year. Yes it is the highest in the state. That is because nobody has any snow or much cold weather this year. If it was always that low of wsi the deer would gain weight in the winter and never lose weight, and never face starvation. If you had a reading of 100 this time of year than I would be worried. The area of the burn as of now has only like 2-5 deer/sq mile,yes that may change with all that lush growth,plus you will be able to see a long way.

As far as quartering your deer the DNR has addressed this and understands the situation. I think there is just a few common sense rules you have to follow. I asked a CO many years ago and I was very satisfied with the procedure at that time,I just forgot a little of the detail since than,so it is best you check up on it.You got a few months to ask. It is best to ask a CO from that area,they know the situation best.

You are also talking about paddling in the BWCA in November,that could be tricky.Two years ago on Island river you had to break a skim of ice in October.

Thanks 'TREE! Oh im well aware of the dangers involved when it comes to paddling in the BWCA in nov! If it ends up being froze over i do have a backup plan that requires me to hike in a mile or two and set up camp! I kinda always thought that designated campsites had to used as well, but when you sit back and think of the guys who are in there in the winter ice fishing, skiing, etc they dont use the camp sites as they are usually drifted in badly! Like i stated before Stu Osthoff has articles stating that designated camp sites arent required after the permit reservation period has expired!

Back in the late 70's I day tripped in about 3 miles into the BWCA for deer by Phantom lake. Stu has a article in this winters addition about last years BWCA hunting. I can't figure how he keeps finding so many sheds.

The big thing to remember also is that a lot of the back access roads & parking areas are not plowed. So if the area has or is supposed to get any amount of snow, you better plan for it.

If you have a truck with a V-plow your set!