Grousin Lately

[JJK]

Anyone been out lately?

I haven't read anything or hunted recently, but I hope to get out a couple more times before the season ends. Probably just close to home single day hunts, maybe this Saturday if I don't have to work on Friday night.

[tacklejunkie]

Should be getting some good burrowing snow

[mixxedbagg]

How do you hunt grouse once there's a good snow blanket if you don't have a dog? I've not had much luck for grouse in December....but the hare sign becomes pretty obvious.

[tacklejunkie]

How do you hunt grouse once there's a good snow blanket if you don't have a dog? I've not had much luck for grouse in December....but the hare sign becomes pretty obvious.

After the snow gets like this I don't go out , either.

I did see a few this evening in trees eating buds while driving

[CRAZYEYES]

Was out last wednesday before thanksgiving. Saw quite a few right away then it started snowing hard and they vanished. The only good grouse hunting I've had once there was deep snow on the ground it was warm and sunny. I've seen them out sitting under pines kinda like pheasants do warming up and out picking grit on plowed logging roads. Wish they'd leave the season open through january or febuary. Dont think that would really have any effect on the population and I'd go once or twice. Once hunting season is over i get fat and drunk staring down a hole.

[Harmonica Bear]

Wish they'd leave the season open through january or febuary. Dont think that would really have any effect on the population and I'd go once or twice. Once hunting season is over i get fat and drunk staring down a hole.

+1

[life=outdoors92]

some of the best hunting occurs in the month of december. the deep forest birds you don't get to see much during october usually come out and covey up with the rest of the gang. in peak years, its not uncommon at all to find covey of 10+, and i will say 15+ too. my record is 21 (i have seen this in Nemadji and northern minnesota). when its sunny out right after a fresh snow (month of december), i think is the best hunting all year long. easy to find them on the edges of the spruce swamps or on a sunny aspen hill. just go to your favorite forest road and look for their tracks and follow them a little bit. you wont always jump one but its fun to see where they go. and get ready for those big coveys of birds bustin out of the snow. its an experience

[canman]

I was up around McGregor last Saturday. We managed 3 for 3 of us. We pushed the edges of swamps and evergreens. The best for us was around the thick tagalder. We don't hunt much in the snow and are still figuring it out. Many places we had tracks, just no flushes. If I were hunting hares, many would have been had.

[JJK]

How much snow was on the ground by McGregor?

Did the storm we just had hit McGregor/McGrath area?

[tacklejunkie]

There must be enough good roosting snow by now for them.

How deep should the snow be to provide adequate insulation?

[Pinusbanksiana]

I am going to be out here one day this week and will let you know how things look out there. Snow is deep for Dec. 7th thats for sure. Will have to trim the hair between the setters toes first and they hate that!

[wdgold]

Haven't hunted winter grouse in a few years but when I did it seemed like the the best area, with good snow depth, was walking right through the young aspen and watching them flush out of the snow. Been reading alot about hunting on sunny days being the best, does it matter if it's sunny but cold instead on the warmer side?

[Tim_Anderson]

I'm a late season bird hunter... always at it until the bitter end. Gotta be willing to endure some big time hardship, and of course some disappointment. But the rewards are really worth it.

Two days ago had a late season hunt that we dream about. Two of us hunted five spots. We flushed 28 birds, and shot 10. The birds were relating heavily to large swamp areas, and creek bottoms. We found them in the thickest HAZEL that we could find adjacent to the swamp edges. A few birch and aspen for budding, along with a few spruce for cover, and that was the ticket. We even flushed birds out of the cattails, like pheasants.

And, they were really grouped up. First a group of ten (of which we got zero) - but then we flushed a group of 8 and did some damage. They were coming up out of there and it was like a shooting gallery. We got five.

Now I can't wait to get back out!

I really think 90% of the grouse are in less than 10% of the habitat right now. If you find them, make a mental note of the ingredients you see, a picture in your mind so to speak, and then go look around and try to duplicate what you have seen somewhere else. Helps when you are looking at large expanses of public land!

We go to the same spots year after year. When I say spot, I mean a small area that is maybe 10-20 acres at most. As evidences by their tracks, they are living in these areas... popping up for some buds, then back down to loaf in the thick cover that offers them protection from the weather, and from any kind of predator.

Except me!

Re-flushes were really tough. The little buggers would scatter and sail into a nearby spruce swamp, then land in the trees. We would walk from tree to tree looking for them, trying to get a flush and a shot before they were gone, but it was just next to impossible. Most would just stand up straight like a stick, and wait for us to pass.

So you gotta do damage on the first go-around.

If you find tracks, most likely there is birds really close nearby. Scour the area. And make sure and leave some breeding stock for next year. This is what has been working for us.

Good luck to those of you still at it.

[JJK]

Thanks for the tips and reports.

No Dec hunts for me yet,I've had to work almost every day since Thanksgiving, and it's driving me crazy. When the weather is poor like yesterday and today it helps ease the pain. I'm trying to think of where I'd go if I can get out. Only a couple of areas come to mind,I have to spend more time walking and scouting next season. It would be nice to have a little run of spots to hit.

Are the state and county forest roads plowed?

[DanH]

Tim: Excellent tips. It's all about habitat. Their range is relatively small, but needs to include a variety of habitat to provide life support across a range of seasons. Summer scouting trips are essential for me when it comes to finding coverts. Beyond habitat, I think wind is a critical factor. Even in great habitat, wind greater than about 12 mph makes the birds very, very reluctant to get up.

[2thepointsetters]

I decided to try some late season grouse hunting today. With 24 plus inches of snow on the ground I knew it would be tough traveling through the woods. The weather was beautiful with decent temps and a nice slight wind. I hit the woods around 1:30 p.m. with 2 setters and a borrowed pair of snow shoes. I walked the first hour and a half with no points and little excitement. Then I heard Buddy's e-collar start beeping about 50 yards off my right side. With great anticipation I made my way towards the locked up setter. I ended up getting my first grouse triple. The first bird held beautiful for the dog and other 2 didn't sit still much longer and flushed after the first grouse got up. Definitely a great day in the woods.

[life=outdoors92]

nice work! nothing like a good december grouse hunt!

[WalleyeDrifter]

pointsetters,

I hit the woods with snowshoes yesterday as well. Walked probably 2 1/2 hours with no flushes. My lab never got "birdy". We were hunting some areas with thick pines and a few alders. Did you find the birds in blowdowns? We were north of Duluth about 40 miles.

[2thepointsetters]

pointsetters,

I hit the woods with snowshoes yesterday as well. Walked probably 2 1/2 hours with no flushes. My lab never got "birdy". We were hunting some areas with thick pines and a few alders. Did you find the birds in blowdowns? We were north of Duluth about 40 miles.

They were on the outside edge of a spruce swamp in the popple trees. I have been reading articles in the outdoors news and I focused on the areas that were described. I have not hunted grouse with more than a couple inches of snow on the ground before this weekend. It was a real fun experience that I hope to try one more time before the season ends.

[tacklejunkie]

Were they in the trees as sitting on the trees or were they in popple stands under the snow?

[muc33]

Thanks for the story and the pics! Great post 2thepoint!

[2thepointsetters]

Were they in the trees as sitting on the trees or were they in popple stands under the snow?

One for sure came out of the tress, but I have no idea where the other 2 came from. It will go down as one of the best hunts of the year for me. I cant wait for a day off from work to try it again. We are supposed to get another 6 to 10 inches of snow tonight, so its going to get even tougher out there.

[setterguy]

Deep snow = tired dogs. Nice work Chris. How's the boat doin.

[2thepointsetters]

Deep snow = tired dogs. Nice work Chris. How's the boat doin.

The dogs last about an hour and a half and they are shot. When I go out this Friday I am only taking the big dog because he doesn't stop or slow down for anything.

The boat is fixed and ready. I am adding a kicker 20 h.p. kicker and autopilot so there will some work this spring.

[diederich06]

has anyone hunted the Floodwood area lately? was hoping to make a final trip up that way.

how much snow, any birds.?

thanks,