Oct. 31–After Halloween, many Northlanders gear up for the next major holiday. Yes, it’s almost time for the Minnesota deer hunt.
This is an especially busy time for Gary Hepola and the members of the Brimson Sportsman’s Club, as the arrival of hunting season means organizing the annual Big Buck, Big Doe contest. The event draws hunters from all over Minnesota, and this year it’s celebrating its 20th season.
“It’s quite a deal. People from all over have deer shacks up in this area, so we get a lot of hunters from the Twin Cities area and Duluth,” said Hepola, the club’s vice-president, adding that Wisconsin hunters, and kids are well represented among the contest’s 6-700 entrants, as are women.
Last year the big buck was won by a woman, he said in a phone conversation with the Lake County News-Chronicle. Hazy on a few of the details, he called to his wife, Jody who quickly filled in the blanks. Patricia Norman of Duluth bagged a 212.2 pound white-tail, earning herself a new gun —one of 10 given as prizes– and the season’s bragging rights.
If the influx of hundreds of hunters sounds as though it could make for an increase in activity in tiny Brimson, it does. Hepola said that November is Hugo’s —the town’s iconic eatery and watering hole — and the town’s busiest time of year, but it’s not just about hunters. Efforts are made to ensure that there’s something for everyone. Hepola and his wife, Jody, own Hugo’s, a hive of activity year round. There’s a farmer’s market during the summer, a tractor parade in the early fall, monthly pot lucks during the long winter months, Hugo’s prom in spring and many other activities and events in between. For now, however, the Hepola’s focus is on the next several weeks.
“We have a grocery store, food, a bar and on weekends there’s always some kind of live music,” he said, as he also acknowledged that sleep may have to wait until hunting season ends on the Dec. 1.
“It’s an absolute zoo around here,” he added good naturedly.
Hunters can sign register and pay their $15 contest entry fee for the Brimson Sportsmen’s Club Big Buck and Big Doe Contest at Hugo’s, 1898 Hwy. 44, Brimson, where deer will also be weighed and registered. During hunting season, drop boxes will be available nearby to deposit deer hides. A knife or pair of gloves will be offered in exchange for each hide.
For more information, call Hugo’s at (218) 848-2220.