grouse numbers and drumming

[life=outdoors92]

what have you guys been seein or hearing so far in the woods? i was just north of grand rapids by about 30 minutes last weekend fishing, and saw at least 10 to 15 different birds! and i know it wasn't peak drumming season yet, but stil heard almost constant drumming all around in the evening till just after dark. i know summer fishin is the next thing on my list, but i can't help but get really excited for fall now!

[Bowfin]

This dry spring should be good for young grouse chick survival.

[CRAZYEYES]

I saw a couple right at the end of our driveway when I was up at the cabin a couple weeks ago and a couple on the main road which is usually a pretty good sighn. I hope that last year was not the peak yet becaus eit would be nice to have another great year. As much as we need the rain this generally dry and mild weather would be good hatching weather.

[Darrell Larson]

On the drive to the asphalt today, two flew across in front of the truck, I zigged they zagged all is well for them. nice to see them again.

Hear the drumming now and then when I am outside working in the yard etc.

Hopefully we will all have a good autumn and see some birds like last year.

[brittman]

In the areas that I have walked this spring - I would say drummers are up 50% or more including grouse drumming in some non traditional areas.

Dry spring? The dry and warm April will be a big plus for woodcock chicks which hatch right around now or earlier.

We need a drier / warmer May 20 - July 1st for best ruffed grouse chick survival. The early spring may push these dates ealier, but it takes about a month for a hen grouse to lay a dozen eggs and incubate them.

There have been many years where March and April were warm and nice only to get to late May and early June - and have cool, rainy days .... Worst case is that wrap around low that gets stalled over MN for a week of 45F and rain ....

[Musky Buck]

Hearing some, nothing like the 80's, they are having a tough time coming back in the central MN hardwoods, I highly doubt they can come back enough in huntable numbers, hope the rest of the state to the north is doing well.

[tacklejunkie]

Hearing some, nothing like the 80's, they are having a tough time coming back in the central MN hardwoods, I highly doubt they can come back enough in huntable numbers, hope the rest of the state to the north is doing well.

It seems that some forest management might be in order

[Musky Buck]

Maybe that's the issue, not much forest ? But it went from jumping roughly a hundred a day to lucky if you see a bird within about a 2-3 year stretch. Since the mid-90's it's over with, they just can't repopulate those old stomping grounds. The landscape hasn't changed all that much, the berry bushes are still in that swamp and others, the birds are just gone, we used to make a lot of deer drives and the talk would be about how many grouse we'd see, now the talk is did you see any ? But, the goose and turkey have replaced the grouse in the area as far as hunting goes, but boy when you're a kid and see grouse that thick it's hard to imagine a day where they'd nearly be extinct in your area.

[Finlander]

Last weekend at Osakis the grouse were constantly drumming all day long.

Most I have ever heard!

[life=outdoors92]

Musky Buck,

i wish my dad and grandfather would've taken photos of all the birds in the late 70's-early90's. back in those days, there were no 10 yr cylces for them. they tell me they could walk down any given dirt road, and a couple birds would be there (they even use to eat the clover in our yard). then again, the land we hunt has historically been managed very well, and its almost all perfect partridge territory. nowadays, they don't log as much as they use to (but in the areas they do ), there's more hunters, and the 10 year cycles are in affect. its just nice to see this many birds again. i hope it last a few years

[charliepete]

Want to see grouse/deer/pheasant/ducks....you should have seen it when I was young. Want to hear about the worlds best dog....you can bet he's been dead at least 10 years. Want good fishing....you should have been here yesterday.

I still have 100 flush days; but I'm in my prime and so is my dog and I'm not locked into hunting covers that used to be good but are now grown up.

As an aside...you can read classic grouse hunting literature from 80 years ago and they still reference the grouse cycle....and how good it was when their 'pappy' hunted.

[grousehunter]

Want to see grouse/deer/pheasant/ducks....you should have seen it when I was young. Want to hear about the worlds best dog....you can bet he's been dead at least 10 years. Want good fishing....you should have been here yesterday.

I still have 100 flush days; but I'm in my prime and so is my dog and I'm not locked into hunting covers that used to be good but are now grown up.

As an aside...you can read classic grouse hunting literature from 80 years ago and they still reference the grouse cycle....and how good it was when their 'pappy' hunted.

100 flushes for 5 birds..man your shooting must be bad

[charliepete]

man your shooting must be bad

On occasion. A couple years back I went 4 up and 4 down without getting the second barrel dirty, and then proceeded to burn a box and a half of shells before fringing the limit bird that my bone weary dog managed to run down for me.

That being said, grouse hunting in September produces a heck of a lot of unshootable birds if you don't ground pound, limb swat, or ride around shooting from a 4-wheeler. On one run in September last year my dog had around 15 productive points (twenty some birds moved) and I didn't even fire a shot. I'd hear the beeper collar, approach the point, and then hear a bird or birds taking off in heavy cover before I got within 30 yards of the dog. At the end of the day I didn't have much to show except sore feet and a tired dog. I went back to the shack, had a bourbon, and swore an oath of revenge that I exacted when the leaves were down. Man I can't wait for the season to open up.

[grousehunter]

I can't wait for the season either! I know what you mean...normally I'll have a shot at about 25% of the birds flushed and hit about 25% of the ones I shoot at..lol. I was just giving you a hard time. I can't say I have had any 100 flush days though...upwards of 50. Looks like I need to find some more spots. I don't know why we torture ourselves in the early season cover, but every year I do.

[Musky Buck]

The only way I could have a 100 flush day is by flushing the same bird 100 times. They are simply gone and it's not things are grown up etc or this cycle etc. there's more to it than that in our area. I personally don't care in a way, it's too bad for the kids though, great to learn about hunting with a minimal recoil weapon or low base load I should say, but the birds have been gone for 20 years now, since we have geese now and turkeys, things we didn't have in the 80's or spotty in parts of the state I haven't thought much about the grouse, also the Hungarian partridge is also non-existent, where'd they go ?

[Musky Buck]

I do care actually, it's just I'm not sure what I can do to help bring them back, Ottertail county is a different ballgame for the ruffies.

[Fins-n-feathers]

I saw a coiple at my reletives land near Rhinelander, WI.

[tacklejunkie]

Anybody know when the MNDNR puts out it's spring drumming surveys?

I have heard alot of drumming this year that also started early

[brittman]

Some local personnel may still be running counts. Tail end of the survey, but still counting...

The report is usually issued mid to late June.

Weather will be a bigger factor. Need nice weather mid-May to July 1 to optimize brood size and chick survival.

[Matt Breuer]

I think the birds are getting close. My mother-in-law called me last night to inform me that the grouse in her yard has been hissing at the dog and chasing him through her garden. She said she walked over there and heard it scurrying toward her and hissing and she bolted.

Counts are still going on, and the drumming is unreal this year. Every spot I stop to pick morels I hear multiple males pounding.

[uplander]

Thanks for the reports boys! September can't come soon enough!!!! We will have to get out once this year Matt!

[Matt Breuer]

For sure, uplander! I believe you still have my e-mail address... Let's plan something!

If I weren't stuck in town waiting for a baby to pop out I'd be up at the in-laws shooting birds with the lens!

[uplander]

Well congrats on the Baby!!! I think i have it. I'm working up in Brainerd on Gull Lake all summer so i plan to make many trips to the woods scouting spots for fall. Cental part of state can be tough ...but with good dogs, we can get em! I'm working at Jakes on Gull the old Kelly's ..Stop by if you are fishing the area!

[dogs]

Spent last week traveling through out a all of St. Louis County. Unless it was a developed area of the 60 or so stops I made at lakes,, I heard drumming it seems at just about all. Very unscientific study but I was impressed.

[Ely Lake Expert]

There are birds everywhere in the makinen/melrude area. I shot a lot last year and it seems like there are even more this year.