![]() ![]() Hunters who enjoy heading into thick woods will find a wide array of options in the coniferous forests of northern Minnesota. Hunters who prefer the more open terrain of grasslands and prairies can headquarter in cities such as Marshall, Fairmont and Montevideo in the southwest, while those who prefer a mix of prairie and deciduous forest may choose Fergus Falls and Morris in central Minnesota. Hunters lodging in big cities such as Rochester or small towns such as Lanesboro have easy access to thousands of acres of prime hunting land within this deciduous forest biome. The bluff country of southeast Minnesota offers some of the most stunning scenery around, with deep valleys and meandering streams and rivers as prominent natural features. That kind of behavior presents more and better shots for the standers.Minnesota contains four distinct biomes, all of which provide good habitat for thriving deer populations. Miller believes that a deer not panicked might stay only 100 yards or so ahead of the drivers, occasionally stopping to check his back trail. Today, most drivemasters prefer slower, quieter drives. Barking dogs or hounds might have been part of the mix. Old-fashioned community drives of a bygone era featured drivers who yelled and banged on pans as they moved along. Typically, drivers walk at a uniform pace that’s faster than the slow stop-and-go pattern of a still-hunter, but not hurried. Drivers should walk abreast of one another for safety and they should keep in visual contact with the drivers on either side of them. Though the terrain governs every drive, usually the strategy calls for there to be more standers than drivers.ĭrivers must not begin to move until the designated time or until they have been given a directive, assuring that all of the standers are in place. ![]() Cedrone and Miller agree that drives involving smaller areas and fewer hunters are easier to plan and control. Normally, however, the number is somewhere between the two extremes. On opening day at Cedrone’s club, drives might involve as many as 30 participants. He must also know the boundaries of his hunting area and the location of any residences on the hunting property, as well as any just outside its borders.Īs few as two people can stage a drive but most drives are fairly complex and require a number of hunters. The Drivemaster’s RoleĪs might be expected, the drivemaster is an experienced hunter who knows the territory and how to position his hunters to take advantage of the day’s weather and wind direction.e’s aware of any changes to the property that might have taken place since the previous hunting season, such as terrain funnels that have been blocked or created, lanes and logging roads that have been constructed and woodlots that have been cleared. Two-way radios, one in the hands of the drivemaster and the other in the hands of the captain of the drivers, maximize the coordination of the two teams of drivers and standers. A topographical map of the area to be hunted helps each participant better understand how the drive will play out. Sometimes consecutive drives are planned, making such information all the more important. The drivemaster must explain the route of the drive, where each stander will be and what is expected of each, and let each person know when the drive will begin. “Every person must know what is expected of him before, during and after the drive,” he says. Miller believes that communication is the key to a productive drive. ![]()
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