Current Rooster Reports

[tybo]

I saw over 200 birds on public land a few weeks ago. I was in western MN as well. Most got up way out in front of me and didn't offer shots. I got 100+ out of a corn food plot and another 100+ out of the cattails/tall grass areas. A few out of prairie grass. Had 10-12 points but only one bird was a rooster. Most all the wild flushes were well out of range and I missed a couple that were closer but not close. I eended with with just that one pointed rooster but that was fine the sheer number of birds I saw made the hunt one of the coolest expereinces I've ever had.

[IceHawk]

We were hunting all public land mostly WPA areas. Alot of these public areas were wet all yr and now there froze allowing access to the birds if you put some miles on your dogs and legs. Snow is alot less the farther west you go.

[Lunker]

Got back from SD just before the big storm hit. Hunted around watertown the first day, south of doland/redfield area for 2 days, and then hunted as we moved east the last day. Was pretty cold, but we had a blast just one friend, the dog and I. The first day was the slowest only flushing about 40 birds and almost entirely hens, though we did get a couple roosters. The middle two days were terrific, flushed hundreds each day and got lots of good shooting. The last day got windy and though we flushed a lot, most were way out of range. Birds were really grouped up. Most birds came out of grasslands, shrubs, hedgerows, and standing corn(best grass areas were adjacent to cut corn). The last day they were getting into the cattails more often.

This was my first SD trip, and was shocked at the numbers we saw. I'll definitley be back. I'll post some pics once I find my camera cord... Hunted only public land. Did best on GPAs, walk-in, and CREP land. Did the worst on WPA areas.

[Arago]

I'm checking snow depths, but I think I'll have to head out to western or sw Mn after Christmas for a last push. Tough time of year to hunt as my buddy and I are both 52 with 9 year old labs! However, we are not at the poster's stage!! Hope the rest of the winter & spring is a bit kinder to our cackleing friends and hens.

Any new snow depth reports from Ortonville down to say Slayton?

[Jack Peterson]

I'm heading out Saturday morning with some buddies. We have some virgin property to hit up!

Should be stacked with birds.

[NELS-BELLS]

I'm heading out Saturday morning with some buddies. We have some virgin property to hit up!

Should be stacked with birds.

Sounds great! When and where should I meet you?

Nels

[HAppnhook]

From all that I have researched,, coyotes are not focused on pheasant hunting and dont kill a lot of them like fox do. Coyotes eat mostly mice and rodents, Imagine my dismay after buying that new AR....... Cats are tough on all birds, and rodents, skunks, coons etc are nest busters.

Coyotes definately need some control as they have appeared in all of my hunting ground but they are not as destructive to the birds. They actually control the fox population.

FYI, and if you have any other good information, let me know.

[lawdog]

I'm in extreme SW and the snow depths in the cover is brutal! Birds seem to be hanging close to groves mostly. We'll find out this afternoon as i'm skipping out of work to give it one last try...

[kobear]

West Central has much more snow trapping cover, SW is 95% plowed ground. There are WPA's in West Central with 100's of birds right now and good cover. Best to send out a poster somewhere and then push around them. Our posters, sitting in heavy cover, have accounted for the majority of birds in the past three weeks. Flushed birds will even circle back behind the drivers and head for heavy cover.

I haven't flushed a rooster in range in the past 3 trips.

Gotta pity those birds in SW with less than 1% of the land in any sort of reasonable winter habitat.

[workin4bait]

Was out today at one of my favorite spots,walked around the whole swamp and never even seen a bird.It was like they were abducted by aliens,was at the same swamp 11 days ago and put up 40 birds.Very very strange!

[MNpurple]

I hunted 2 places on the 10th (right before the big snow) and then went back to these same two locations this past weekend, 8 days later. It was like bird numbers had been cut in half. I'm hoping they just found a different food source that I didnt.

[tori's dad]

Birds getting bombed again- saw an abandoned grove 2 days ago and as I slowed down with the truck- over 100 birds got up- one bald eagle sitting in a tree watching over them all- probably getting ready for dinner.

[lawdog]

I'm in extreme SW and the snow depths in the cover is brutal! Birds seem to be hanging close to groves mostly. We'll find out this afternoon as i'm skipping out of work to give it one last try...

I wouldn't say it was successful Friday. We saw about 40 birds, all in one group that all bugged out when we were 75 yards away as they saw us coming. LOTS of snow in the grass we walked, not much good cover, the birds were all in the willows along the creek and there was very little grass available for cover.

[muc33]

Thanks Jeff, it's getting tough with everything filled up. Our lovely wind keeps coming from every direction too. So there is no, bare spots, it's blown in at every angle.

[lawdog]

how much you get over there yesterday Muc? We didn't get as much this time...

[grab the net]

I hunted SW MN on Monday. In the snowstorm. My favorite set of circumstances for a late season hunt. About 25 degrees, a wind to help with noise, and a heavy snow falling. Snow where I was hunting averaged knee deep, with drifts in the belt buckle area. Walking on the plowing was the easiest part, ankle deep in the wind blown spots. Found my three after 2.5 miles of walking. One flush in the cattails and two points. Saw quite a few birds on Monday, with the majority of the roosters still jumping just out of range, the hens holding tight. Went out this morning from 10 am to 12:30 pm. Put up just 3 hens. Think they may have all been out scratching for something to eat. The dog and I are both stiff tonight, will take a few days off to recuperate then try and get out around home a few more times before the end of the season.

[Scott M]

It was brutal this weekend. Even with snowshoes you would sink in the fresh powder. Gonna give it one last try in one spot that held birds, all my other late season spots were snowed in...nary a track. Fall of 2008 was good and that year pheasant counts were high, but with two going on three bad winters, huge chunks of CRP going back into row crops, things are looking pretty tough for pheasants.

[wdgold]

I noticed on the snow depth map that south of Windom to the border has the least amount of snow. Has anyone hunted this area lately?, was thinking of going to that area on Thursday. My son really wants to go out but with no dog I don't think it's worth the time.

[Arago]

I noticed the same thing. Problem is the drifting. Making access to cover very tough. Without a dog, you'll need to step on them for a chance. However, there is more to hunting than bagging a bird! The experience for your son may just be worth it. Good luck!

[JJK]

wdgold, I'm thinking of grouse hunting Thursday, fairly close to the metro. I have a dog and if you like I could use some company. Give me a call 612-281-3602

[CodyDawg]

Got out last Friday and we got one and the second was dead but I didnt pull the trigger cuz I didnt know exactly where my partner was (he would have been out of the line of fire...oh well). Only hunted a couple hours so pretty successful. I will get out tomorrow methinks.

[workin4bait]

Got out of work early today so went to a local swamp,the walking was brutal to say the least. I did manage to pull the trigger on three roosters and if I thought walking was tough before that, imagine walking with three fat roosters in the game vest

Their was 4-6" of slush just about everywhere and the snow was above my knees,or it was chest high.The birds all had full crops and lots of fat so if they can avoid preditors they should be good for awhile yet,but they really need some better weather.

[wdgold]

I noticed the same thing. Problem is the drifting. Making access to cover very tough. Without a dog, you'll need to step on them for a chance. However, there is more to hunting than bagging a bird! The experience for your son may just be worth it. Good luck!

Oh! Absolutely, it would not be a waste of time being with my son and because of that it would be good. We got out for some grouse hunting last week and although we didn't get any we had fun and enjoyed our time together.

[wdgold]

wdgold, I'm thinking of grouse hunting Thursday, fairly close to the metro. I have a dog and if you like I could use some company. Give me a call 612-281-3602

Thanks for the offer, didn't see your reply in time. Let me know if you go and how you did. Where do you go?

[muc33]

Today's forecast has me wondering if anyone will be able to hunt anymore without being a fitness freak. Another 3 to 6 today on top of already full cover will make it very very tough. As dachise said, even with snow shoes, it is and has been very tough walking in many spots as many places have drifted full of knee to waist deep snow.