grouse-anybody see any ?

[laker1]

I went out around crow wing county for two houra and seen one.

[tybo]

I hunted the Snake River State Forest. My pup had twp points SAT and heard the birds. I also flushed one wild that I never saw. Saw 1 & heard many more SUN morning. Too many leaves to see the birds where i was. I did get a couple points on woodcock and shot one. My friends had the same story, points & flushes but didn't see the actual bird for various reasons but mostly too much cover. It was great being out in the woods again.

[magnum mike]

We got 1 of 2 seen Saturday and 2 of 4 Sunday. It was very thick in the bush and the birds were very small. One looked like a quail with tail feathers only 2.5 inches long.

[Harmonica Bear]

I was in Solona State Forest Sat morning, hunted until about 11:30 and it just got too warm for me and dog. Had one point and got one woodcock right away. No other points, no wild flushes or anything else. I was a little surprised. I was in some traditionally good spots. Hunted Mille Lacs Sunday morning until Vikes game, one point, one flush, and a very poor attempt at a shot.

I did discover an old trail (new to me) barely noticeable on Sunday that took me way deep and accross several usually uncrossable swamps that I thought would lead me to the promised land. An hour and a half of walking that only lead me to mature woods, just couldn't find the right habitat. Felt like a big waste of energy and time, but one never knows what you'll find on exploratory walks like that.

[brittman]

Old hidden trails usually mean the clear cut was made too long ago.

[shooter_mcgavin]

Found them in dense young poplar and alder near swampy areas. So dense that the only way I could get a shot was by crouching down in "grousy" looking areas and waiting until something showed itself. Got a few birds and a few more flushes. Also walked away with bug bites and ripped pants. Talked to some road hunters that were really having a hard time.

[BucksnDucks]

Noticed a few last weekend also in the crow wing/aitkin area. After all the rain the area got during the summer, the areas I observed seemed to be drying up nicely once again. Also did note that there was some foliage beginning to drop. Looking forward to a great year!

[uplander]

This goofy hot weather probably still has birds in family groups yet.(brood groups).We haven't got the fall shuffle yet which will spread out the broods and make hunting a little less hit or miss!. I didn't go , but i'm guessing guys that found them found them in bunches....We could use a little cool weather up in here!...

[Riverratpete]

Walked trails and roads..4 flushes total for the wknd..never did really bust any brush..too hot..looking forward to it getting cooler and dropping some leaves..still nice just to get out...Crappie fishing in the evening was great though!

[Jackpine Rob]

Jr. and I logged about 10 miles of trails and portages and brush-busting on Saturday. Too hot, so we left the young pup back in his shady kennel with plenty of water.

Saw 3 birds, got 2. Both young ones.

Sunday we hiked some logging roads early with the pooch, and saw nothing. As the sun got high, and things warmed up, we headed back in. Jr. had a paper to write, so Grandpa and I took off and hiked a pretty rugged trail, where we went 3 for 4 on the birds. One mature gray phase who tried to outrun a load of 7 1/2 shot, and 2 youngsters that stood and stared at us as we walked up to them. I don't think they had seen a human before.

[Matt Breuer]

Hunted Sat. and Sunday between Grygla and Roseau. Myslef, and buddy, and my 2 GSP's put up 40 birds (mix of ruffed, sharptail, and woodcock) but only capitalized on a handful. Lots of foliage, lots of wind, and loads of panting miserable dogs. Worst year I've seen for greenery and heat... With the wind, rain, and supposed cool down coming things should improve in a hurry. I'm running 75% shooting, so I need to get out and wreck that stat!

[uplander]

75%! You are on fire....you need to get out with me then and clean up my garbage..I hope i can start that Hot!...Sounds like a good start Matt!..Although, i'm still not regretting staying at home this weekend!

[Matt Breuer]

Shooting 75% means poor hunting to me. I didn't toss lead at nearly enough birds due to foliage. When my % is down to 30% then you know the hunting is getting good...

[R. Miller]

I hunted a couple hours up at Roseau River WMA Sat morning. Got up three woodcock and ruffed grouse...got one of the timberdoodles and should've had a grouse. Seemed almost too hot for my dog by 9:00am! Crazy. Bugs were horrible too...

Had to cut my trip short and drive home, my Grandma had a stroke Saturday but seems to be recovering.

Awesome country though.

Matt-Drove through Wannaska on the way home...almost blinked and missed it! Sweet looking little cafe though. Didnt have time to stop.

[knoppers]

hunted itasca co. area, saw just a few birds, way too hot and plenty of other hunters in the area to compeat with for spots. the skeeters were also bad, and I had no spray with.

[GB Fan]

We hunted Aitkin Co. on Sunday only for 3 hours. We flushed or heard over a dozen birds. I took a rookie (13 year old) out for his first hunt. His dad and I trailed behind him. We walked a trail that dead ended and got into a covey. The dog treed a bird that I tried to let the rook shoot. He couldn't see it.

The dog was on fire. For a 2 year old, she got right down to business. On 2 seperate occasions, she flushed 2 birds in front of the boy. He did manage to get one shot off. He was very safe and was surprised how loud and fast they are.

A little too warm but it was fun introducing a young man to the woods. What a great day!

[scoutWBL]

I made it out today for the first time this year. Hunted near Pine City, just me and the dog. 3-2-1: 3 flushes, two shots, one bird. Two of the three were woodcock so I'm shooting 100% on grouse this year, that shouldn't last long. Great to get the dog out and knock down his first grouse. Let's hope for some cool weather.

[SledNeck]

Ive seen shizzleloads of birds already. I have a young dog making too much noise to get close to em in this thick stuff.

[houndheaterguy]

Was up in thew Effie area. Flushed 11 got 4. Two adults, two youngens. When I dressed out the youngens, they each had a couple of long worms around their gizzad, They looked just like round worms but had a point on both ends??? Adults did not. Any one seen that before?

Sunday went over by Northome. Flushed 3 got 3....no worms.

Thanks,

The "Hound Heater" Guy

[Matt Breuer]

I don't know what a shzzleload is, but I've seen a fair amount of birds..

This morning I worked the GSP's around Bemidji for a couple of hours in the nice wet conditions. With the sun shining and 2 days of rain under our belts, I figured we'd do well. I had 4 solid points w/ 5 flushes. Took one shot, and downed one bird. I was only able to get a visual on 1 of the other 4 birds due to thickness. We need frost!

Here's the bird, very cool mixed color phase w/ a burnt red sub-terminal band...

[tybo]

Matt,

Cool looking bird. I need to hunt with you. You get some birds with very cool color phases up there. Keep us posted and try to leave a few for the rest of us.

Tye

[kobear]

Walked 2 miles of the Pow Wow Trail in the BWCAW just me no dog. Saw three and heard a half dozen others. Bagged one. Walking back out I was making some noise, a Walmart bag rustling on my belt, and all the birds apparently could here this as I didn't get close to any on the way out they flushed 20+ yards ahead of me.

The coveys had yet to disperse.

[rmkod]

Hunted this morning for 4 hours. Put up 16 grouse and 3 woodcock. Only managed to bag one the dog pointed, cover is way to thick to get a very clear shot.

[Matt Breuer]

kobear, did you see any timber scat down the pow-wow? Any spruce hens?

[kobear]

I heard one lonely howl and saw no other sign.

No sprucies, I paddled in and walked from Lake Three south to Rock of Ages Lake and on to Path Lake. Mainly poplar, maple, and Jack Pine with some good spruce areas in blowndown poplar.

I'll be in Foot Hills next Tuesday and will report from there.