Hey all-
I live within a 1/2 of of the refuge, and this time of year, the place is all yours. Plus, with the ice freezing up, you can walk through the ponds to hit some untapped areas.

Best advice.....hike in a 1, don't hunt the spots accessed by parking spots, and try to hunt during the week.

If anyone knows where the Sand Dunes Stop (Gas station) check out their deer board. Some nice pics taken and posted there.

Thanks for your input. I have noticed that also with many people frequenting the parking areas and areas close to the road. I have tried to find areas away from parking "lots".

That's a good idea to check back in the swamp more with it being froze over. I didn't want to venture onto the ice too early but I think it should be safe by now.

There aren't any pine trees in the area that I'm hunting, so I'll have to cruise around more. I mostly stayed on the west end since I'm coming from St. Cloud. Maybe with gas cheaper I'll look around more before the seasons over. Wouldn't hurt since I'll be out there next year unless I find land around here to hunt.

One thing to remember is that muzzleLoader season is open this weekend; you can not muzzleloader hunt in SNW, but you can in the Sand Dunes. It would be an excellent idea to hunt on the opposite side of the St. Francis River with the Sand Dunes on the other side of the river.

Get out there early. If you go to the spot I talked about above - follow the logging/DNR road to the South until it splits. Go Left (east) and this should bring you close to the river.

There are some nice spots out there that were logged off about 15 years ago to place a portable stand. My best luck was very close to the river as the deer seem to have a funnel and a trail the runs parallel.

I will be out of town this weekend, however, next weekend I would not mind meeting you out there and showing you some spots.

Well I finally made it to the refuge. I wish I would've gone sooner. For one it's huge, but the habitat is ideal. I first tried the advice from a few here off CR 15 but ran into areas of muzzleloading pressure on the south end and wasn't sure of the whereabouts of the other spot near the river. Looking on a map, I think I know where it is now. I found a spot between Orrock & the headquarters Saturday afternoon that looked promising. I saw a big 8 pointer on Sat night and a smallish 8 last night. No flattops but plenty of tracks around. I even flushed a ruffie. I never saw another hunter either. I'm looking forward to getting back... I need to punch a tag so I can't start ice fishing! What's the pressure like in there during early bowseason?

Early bow season has lead to many frustrating hunts for me with small game folks.

I am surprised at having ML people there - the refuge is closed to ML hunters. The Co. Rd 15 spot is on the opposite side of any State Land - sorry you had the issues. One thing I have found is that very few Federal Conservation Officers around there work on the weekends.

I ran into muzzy hunters down in the Sand Dunes area. One guy recommended the Svea church and that's where I ran into hunters. I believe the place you were talking about was quite a ways north of 245th and had a gait at the dead end? I parked at the gate and there were fresh vehicle tracks going south and I didn't know if I could be in there so I headed north and found the area I described. I wouldn't mind meeting you out there sometime and picking your brain if you're around. If anyone else wants to head out - let me know. It's always fun to get a few guys together late-season in the snow. Most guys have hung the bows up or moved onto ice fishing.

Of course I could meet you out there sometime. Yea, it could be more north then 245th (it was a guess). You should have been able to find a tree farm.

There would be a gate on your right at the dead end. Then a logging type road past the gate - you head south and the logging road splits.

That snow was definitely helpful. I made it out on Sat. evening and setup on a trail in the fresh snow and saw a doe but she took a trail I hadn't noticed which of course was out of range. I still have yet to see a buck, just signs.

I didn't make it out there early season, but in the beginning of Oct. it was fairly busy out there. At least it was on the west end.

I'm surprised you didn't see an army of people off of Co Rd 15