Is it time?

[Matt Breuer]

Okay, so I thawed out some ruffies and made a huge batch of grouse quesidilla's today, and I was just a glutton at the dinner table. Now I'm in the mood for a walk down and old beat up trail with the smell of wet poplar infesting my nostrils... it's almost time boys...

[tybo]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well I wish it was! The pup is close to being trained so the remaining weeks will be helpful but if it opened this weekend he'd still be going. The only consolation is dove opens on Sept 1st so we can get then and shoot at a lot and bring home a few. Nothing compares to grouse but doves keep me a little distracted.

[tybo]

Sorry about the grammar, way too early. Anyway, how are bird numbers looking your way Matt?

[Harmonica Bear]

Can't get here soon enough!!

[Powerstroke]

Are we there yet?

[Matt Breuer]

Tye, that's great news about the pup! I'm sure Haze will have fun having some backup this season! How's he taking to the new pup?

Bird numbers look fine up this way, and up near the cabin. We've had a boom the last 2-3 years on our land, and I hope this year we continue to see the massive numbers we've been seeing. Bear baiting will be the true test, as that's when we see the large broods and can assess the situation up there. Lots of sharps again this season, so you better get up here!

Is it September yet?

[tybo]

Haze and Chip get along very well. It's alittle better now that Chip lost his puppy teeth. When Haze gets annoyed he reminds him who's bigger but he's not vicious. Just letting him know the way dogs do. We'll definitely need to talk about a trip up your way. Let me know what plans you may have for being up there and we'll figure it out.

How's the fishing?

[CodyDawg]

I saw KHO last nite and I think you were prolly the Matt Breuer on it, eh? I think it was spelled differently though. Nice work and good show.

[Matt Breuer]

Thanks! Yeah, they spelled the names of both of us representing the Sharp-tailed Grouse Society wrong, and then fixed it later. Both air from time to time... Glad you liked the show!

[R. Miller]

Wish I still had some grouse left...yes, can't get here soon enough. I always start getting the itch for Fall with this heat of late July. Can't wait!

[TylerS]

Never hunted grouse before with a dog, so even though he'll still be a pup, I'm VERY excited to go this year! Can't wait to get him on birds and see what happens!!!

[Matt Breuer]

I've been running up to the land near Roseau, been visint family near Thief River Falls, and been baiting bear around Bemidji here. There seems to be a good number of everything I like to chase around. Most likely because the season isn't open, and they like to taunt me. I've been seeing good numbers of sharps and the most huns I've seen or heard about up north in a long time. Been seeing some nice broods of ruffs around Bemidji too. Got to examine 1 young bird the other day when it met my front tire when I came around the corner. They're getting big and appear very healthy.

I was out picking blackberries and saw a ton of good hazelnuts and rosehips are starting. I can't get grouse off the brain!

Is it time?

[charliepete]

I've been seeing goog numbers of grouse while bear baiting, and a surprisingly high number of woodcock. The dog are getting restless with the cool mornings. Only a month to go!

[tybo]

Flushed around 20 woodcock the last few days getting the pup out. I've seen around 100+ pheasants between driving, walking the dogs, etc in the last week or so. Chip had his first point on a wild pheasant last night. He bumped some woodcock and then pointed a spot where a WC had just flushed from. He's 8 months old now and is really starting to figure it out. I was getting nervous since he bumped a few birds yesterday but that first point of a wild bird fixed all that.

Is it time?? Not yet but it feels a little more like it every day!!!

[charliepete]

Tybo...glad to hear your new pup is working out for you. I've got a ten year old GSP with his PHD in grouseology. I lay awake at night hopeing his old body will hold together for a couple more good seasons. I probably shouldn't admit on a public forum the awful things I'd do in trade if someone had a way to put the brain and nose of that old popple runner on a pups body. My 7 year old GSP has never been quite the grouse dog the old one is, but is good on pheasants. After about 1 year of dropping hints and another year of strait up whining and begging the wife has ok'd the third dog, but now that I've got the ok I'm getting cold feet. I'm a little hesitant to break the old ones heart again, and three big dogs living in the house is a lot of work. Maybe I'll feel different by spring if I see a noticeable drop in dog power this fall.

[Matt Breuer]

You run sounds identical to mine, minus the 3rd dog. Our 9 y/o GSP is a stud-freak on grouse and woodcock. His 6 y/o daughter just can't get it down like he has it. She's a rockstar on fuzzy's though.

[uplander]

Bring it on boys!.....STOKED!

[R. Miller]

With you Uplander...not too long now.

[Matt Breuer]

Maybe this will make things worse for everyone... These were 3 of the 5 staring me down on my way to one of my bear baiting stations. Cute/tasty-lookin' little ones!

[tybo]

Hopefully they'll live for a few more weeks so you can put some #8 shot into them.

[R. Miller]

Great pic Matt.

[chuckwagon]

Can i get some help for a first time grouse hunter? how far north should get before I turn off the main road looking for public lands and is the good resouse for finding grouse trails and places to take a walk for some birds.

[gooty]

depends on how far you want to drive, the further north, the better

[tybo]

I have got into birds as far South as around the Sherburne NWR but there aren't a lot. Plenty around Mille Lacs if you find the right areas. I hunt a lot between Remer and Walker. The big thing is finding the habitat they like. Even in bad years you can find decent numbers of birds if you know what type of cover to hunt. You can find some info in books and other sources that will tell you what the birds like. Generally that's a younger forest with aspen, birch, hazel, etc for much of the year but they need a mix of young/old/conifer to get them through the cold stuff.

Knowing the type of cover is learned from hunting lots of cover and being observant as to the types of cover the birds are in, the time of day, time of year, etc. As a general rule the State Forests are logged more than National Forests but that may not be the case with all. Don't be afraid to call some local DNR COs and see what advice they have. Grouse are my favorite bird to hunt and much of the fun is in seeking out the places they live in. One of the reasons many people keep notes to track areas, how they numbers change with age, etc.

[brittman]

In 1994 I went from prairie to forest. Lot's of trial and error ... whole lot of fun. Lots of walking, sweat .. Maps (PRIM, atlas, dnr on-line) really help.

I hunt with Britts so I do not road hunt or run trails on ATVs. There are walking only trails. When bird numbers are up "hunting" on motor vehicles can be effective, but walking behind dogs is what I do. Bigger blocks of forests tend to have more motor vehicle traffic.

There was a thread on here awhile back on grouse foods including photos - search it and review.

In the fall sunny days can go cloudy in minutes and you need to be aware of how the forest changes - your perception of direction, etcc...

Compass and ability to use one is great. GPS sure, but I have lost signals in the woods (hills, early fall canopy, etc...). Learn to get off the trails, use your compass and eyes to identify key topography and routes back to the main trails. Explore a litte further out each time you go.