Scott’s Camp Ripley Monster

by
posted on August 23, 2010
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
2010823134858-minn-scott-okonek-w-mount_f.jpg

One day last October Scott O’Konek and his wife, Susie, hunted Camp Ripley, a 53,000-acre military training base in Minnesota. The goal of the two-day lottery hunt was simple: Get Susie on a deer. Scott had a good spot picked out for her. But they got there and found other hunters. No sweat, Scott set Susie up in another area he’d mapped out. Then he took his climber and snuck off to hunt about 100 yards away.

Scott, a maintenance company owner who lives to bowhunt, started to see more and more deer activity as the morning passed. (Sometimes it’s like that. Don’t leave your stand too soon when the deer are moving.) A doe crossed about 120 yards out and the doe’s presence and smell caused a giant buck to stand up. “When I saw the buck I knew it was something else, just unbelievable,” Scott said.

The buck veered closer, but then vanished into brush. Would Scott see him again? Tense minutes passed and the buck started to panic. Then there it was, quartering away at 44 yards. Scott had a small opening and one chance. He made it count with a perfect shot.

He found the buck and stood with him for 45 minutes, simply awestruck. Susie came over and joined the celebration. “It was so inspiring to see that beautiful animal lying in the woods with a grown man crying over it,” she said.

The 32-pointer with the gigantic brow tines was one of the top bucks of 2009, if not the best. The rack scored 227 3/8 net, a new Minnesota archery record.

Lessons Learned
-The biggie: Military bases, state forests and urban parks with lottery hunts and limited permits offer hot public hunting for monster bucks. Check out any such opportunities near your house.

-If other people are hunting one of your best spots, so what. Pressure is a big part of hunting public land, so deal with it. Map and scout at least two or three different areas (the more the better) so you have plenty of stand options each day.

-Scott and Susie went out that day to get her a deer, any deer. They didn’t go with the mind-set of having to shoot a huge buck. They hunted free and easy, which is often when you get a crack at a huge deer.

Latest

Ledegrasssland
Ledegrasssland

Grassland Conservation Funds Available in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has $9 million in funding available for landowners who want to create grassland habitat that can support native wildlife, like northern bobwhite quail and other grassland-nesting birds.

New for 2025: Texas Hunter Products Trophy Quail Feeder

Texas Hunter Products has launched its the Trophy Quail Feeder, engineered to meet the diverse needs of landowners, hunters, and conservationists nationwide.

Hardware Review: Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2

This year Leupold introduced the VX-6HD Gen 2 series of scopes. Read our Hardware review of it here.

First Look: MDT Timbr Core Rifle Stock and Core Bottom Metal

MDT has announced that the Timbr Core Rifle Stock and Core Bottom Metal are now available.

#SundayGunday: Burris Signature HD 15x56mm Binocular

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re taking a break from things that go bang and setting our sights on a key piece of gear for spotting your quarry, the Burris Signature HD 15x56mm Binocular.

First U.S. Citizen Contracts New World Screwworm

On Aug. 24 HHS confirmed a Maryland resident—who recently traveled to El Salvador—is the first documented human case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in the United States. Presence of the parasitic larvae (maggots) was confirmed on Aug. 4 after studies conducted by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.