Better Grousing around Longville/Walker or around Babbit/Isabella

[castmaster]

Going to get my dad out for the first time this season after having hip replacement surgery this summer. Just wondering if the leaf conditions or bird numbers have been better around the Babbit or Isabella areas or else in the Longville, Walker, Remer areas. Not looking for specific spots as I have some in each area, just havent been up yet this year and would like to get him on some birds as I know the walking will be somewhat tough on him this year.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[grousewoods]

Sorry I can't help you about the leafs,but have a great time with your dad something to remember for a life time! Let us know how you guys did.

[2thepointsetters]

I work near Babbitt at the Mine and the majority of leaves are down and I am even seeing a few grouse out on the old mine dumps. I have heard decent reports from all over St. Louis County.

[CRAZYEYES]

I have been doing quite a bit of hunting north and east of hwy 53 between duluth and I falls and there seem to be plenty of birds this year. The leaves were pretty well down on sunday and I'm sure that the rain probobly brought them down the last couple days. I have heard a couple of good reports from the walker area though near nevis and my cousin that lives in duluth said that they saw a lot of birds near finland just south of isabella. Personaly I'd head east.

[YellowOtter1]

I agree with Crazy. Seems to be a good population north of Duluth this year. Under brush leaves are pretty much gone. Aspen cuts, tag edges, and raz bushes. Haven't heard about west but you should be able to find action in the arrowhead.

[duckbuster]

Have a couple of friends who have a deer shack up by the Izzy area and they have been pounding the birds most of the fall. They had one bad weekend, leaves or no leaves.

GOOD LUCK and BE SAFE!!!!

[castmaster]

Well we ended up heading to the Walker/Longville/Remer area. Friday morning shot one 5 minutes into the first trail we walked, then flushed 2 birds on the next and dint see a bird the rest of the day. Was cloudy with light drizzle at times and slightly windy. Hunted some good looking areas just couldnt get a bird to move.

Saturday morning flushed 3 on the first trail we walked, then 10 on the next and ended up getting 2 there. Flushed 6 on the next trail and got one. Flushed birds on every trail we walked Saturday morning- early afternoon. Then we went in and ate lunch and when we came out it had went from sunny to overcast and drizzle again and we only saw 2 birds the rest of the day. Dad was getting pretty sore from the walking so we headed for home.

Not sure if we just werent in the right areas for hte birds to be holding in the wet and overcast weather, or if they were jsut holding that much tighter in those conditions.

We dont have a dog so maybe with a dog we'd have seen more birds in the wet cloudy conditions?

Overall it was a nice weekend and hope to get back out this weekend for one more trip before deer hunteing takes over the northwoods.