Anybody seeing grouse out there

[Odonata]

Hunted most of the day yesterday, saw 9, shot 5. Great time, great day. A few folks out; the birds cooperated.

[Cheetah]

We did ok today around Cloquet State Forest. Started as two guys, no dog, bumped a grouse or two but couldn't get a good shot in the thick cover. Met up with another buddy and the three of us explored new areas. Missed another bird, jumped a couple others with no shots. Managed one hare for each of us, had a couple other hares sneak past without shots. Going to give it another go tomorrow, hopefully get some grouse to go with the hares.

[fishinjosh98]

2 weeks ago i filled up my limit

[tacklejunkie]

Do you guys age your birds before cooking like other fowl?

[ParkRangerRube]

My first time grouse hunting over the weekend. Went out yesterday NE of Bemidji in Chippewa. Three of us flushed 11, but weren't able to get a shot off. Made a quick run through Smoky Hills State Forest on the way back to Fargo and we didn't kick anything up. Saw a bunch of squirrels and 5 porcupines though, so at least there's some sings of life in the area. Had a good time, and can't wait to get out again!

[Cheetah]

I went back out for a bit on Sunday morning in Cloquet State Forest with my cousin. Our third hunter had a quarter-sized blister on one foot, I think the other was blistered too, he could barely walk. So the two of us made a walk down a long ridge, saw some decent deer sign, no grouse. Finally kicked one up way in the back along the edge of a slough, my cousin missed both shots as it flew across in front of him. On the way back towards the road we kicked up another but could not see it through the thick cover.

We did get another hare. Kinda funny, I was taking a leak near the car and it ran out from the ditch I was standing over... Only went about 10yd and my cousin ran over with his gun and was able to get a shot. We saw one other while walking as well that stayed just far enough into the thick cover that we couldn't get a shot.

[reinhard1]

it's been awhile since i've had rabbit. was it a snowshoe? i hunt north of duluth and haven't seen many snowshoe's as i used to. good luck.

[Cheetah]

Reinhard, they were all snowshoes. I will PM you the area we found most of them in case you want to go chase a few.

[TRZ II]

I actually got 4 grouse this weekend, by far the most i seen all year. Sat. was perfect conditions. I saw 2 snowshoes were I was, got one and didn't have a gun when I almost stepped on the other. Also seen my first pheasant in carlton county,

[Mike Sertich]

Went out most of the day Friday. Saw 9,never got a shot. Lots of people out. Fun day regardless. Maybe next time.......

[Johnny_Magellan]

We had 8 or 10 flushes Friday afternoon/evening. All were spooky, though, and didn't hold long enough for my dog to get close enough for a point.

Saturday, there was 4 of us with 2 dogs and hardly had any flushes from the trails. Then yesterday, it started off slow with the clouds/drizzle, but we got 1 grouse in a clearing about 30 or 40 yards off the trail and another right off the forest road. -Plus, a few woodcock in the late morning.

I like the sun for bringing them to the trails and roads, but does too much sun or too nice of conditions just keep them running?

Sure seemed like it this last weekend. Plus, there were a ton of people road hunting that probably didn't help the visibility of birds from the truck going spot to spot.

[Harmonica Bear]

Was out for maybe 1.5 hours Saturday before I hade to get back to work on the ice house. Flushed 12, zero points, zero shots. Man were they skittish. Never seen anything like it. Me or the dog were not even remotely close to these birds. Off the beaten path too in one my "go to" spots. I suppose with it being MEA weekend they may have beeen worked for 3 days straight. Hard to say.

[leech~~]

Har,

Your story sounds almost the same as ours Friday after noon, after some Bow hunting. 12 birds kicked up but we were letting a youngster in our group walk first and even though he did not get one he still had a great time flashing them. They were all taking off way head of him. Oh, he also missed two bucks on his stand that morning as well. Two more then I seen but he had a great day in the woods!

[brittman]

Was out for maybe 1.5 hours Saturday before I hade to get back to work on the ice house. Flushed 12, zero points, zero shots. Man were they skittish. Never seen anything like it. Me or the dog were not even remotely close to these birds. Off the beaten path too in one my "go to" spots. I suppose with it being MEA weekend they may have beeen worked for 3 days straight. Hard to say.

Could use a little rain in them grouse woods too. I think it would help the dog's performance.

[brittman]

Still have my streak of not shooting a juvenile bird alive... of over 25 birds this season, I haven't seen a single baby!

Man that is really sad. The peak and bust in the cycle tends to move NW to SE across MN. Guess we will see when the drum counts are completed next spring.

Across the different areas that I hunt, I am averaging well over 50% young birds. The birds are fully feathered, but certainly smaller and ligher in weight.

[Matt Breuer]

I typically measure tail feathers to age the birds. None in the juvenile range for the season still to this day. I did see a juvenile the other day, running down the forest road in front of me, but I didn't take 'er. Odd year for me, as roughly 30-40% of my bag is juveniles, especially early...

AS for the "cycle", I pay very little attention to it. I actually had my record harvest on a supposed basement season...

As for flighty or skittish birds, I notice them being that way on heavy hunting weekends as well as windy days. Days like today in the north country I find perfect. Overcast and calm, and the sun is trying to peek out. As soon as it does, I will be walking trails...

[Chef]

Two of us hit some trails between Hwy 200 and Hwy 2 this weekend. Both days Fri-Sat. we flushed 7 each day and took 4 home. We hit two solid and they looked dead as they fell, but were not.

Mature to young was 50-50. Young were all alone, no groups, none of them were stupid like you see in years with more young that fly of the trail and into the first tree to look at you, or jump up off the ground and give you a chance to head-pound them. The last yong one I shot was 20 yards into the open area off the woods loafing and that was a surprise "gift" shot! He's on the plate tonight along side the Wild Rice

[hampster]

Hunted MEA in the Chip with the kids and some family. Hunted about 4-5 hours a day, two young dogs, managed 2 grouse in 4 days; flushed about 20 (some very skittish), shots at about 6 (some very prayerful shots). Similar to others about 50/50 on young to old birds ratio (harvest and on the wing, guessing). Maybe walked 15 miles or so, and not on trails only, we got off trail and hunted all sorts of cover types. Only pattern I could figure out was where there was water we saw birds, no water no birds. Just wish there were more birds. Later half of the weekend we kicked up a few woodcock, and took one of them to dinner.

[R. Miller]

Days like today in the north country I find perfect. Overcast and calm, and the sun is trying to peek out. As soon as it does, I will be walking trails...

Lucky man....

[fishlakeman]

I've had the chance to get out a couple times this year. First was in Paul Bunyan when the leaves were still on the trees. Walked about 4 hours with no flushes to show for it. It was windy and I was by myself with no dog, so that probably had something to do with it.

On the 2nd outing a week ago, we got into them pretty good. Hunted the Chippawa east of Bemidji. Got back deep into the forest and found a few nice area's of young aspen stands. My brother and I walked about 2 hours, flushed 9; and shot 5. Also managed a woodcock. All mature birds. Without dogs, we took it really slow with a lot of pauses, and the birds held extremely tight.

[ParkRangerRube]

Walked the trails NE of Detroit Lakes yesterday and got 3 (including my first grouse ever!) so I was pretty pumped. I can officially call myself a grouse hunter now, and I think I'm hooked. Flushed 7 birds in all and put about 11 miles behind me, so I had to work for the ones I got---but it was worth it. Looking forward to getting back out there.

[Ferny]

Three of us hit Grand Marais area for MEA. I have NEVER seen so many people outdoors in my life. I did see two other groups hunting with kids. The rest, all adults must have been teachers. More hybrid cars and Suburu's than you could shake a stick at. I expected after driving 4.5 hours from the cities it would be like my normal grouse spots with strictly deer and grouse hunters. Now I can mark that area off my list.

We saw ~20 ruffies (half red half grey) and got 11. One spruce grouse made it in the bag. First time I have ever seen one...interesting. Anyone have a spruce recipe? Thursday/Friday all animals running wild everywhere, Saturday VERY quite! Didn't hunt Sunday. Managed to see 3 red fox within 20 yards. I wanted to pop one and pelt it out. They looked prime and fluffy. My son and buddy wouldn't let me, there just too cute! Saw a moose and plenty of turds, a ton of eagles and hawks, deer, coyote, zero hares or timber doodles.

All ruffies had hazel brush catkins in there crops and a couple had some clover too. That's it! Spruce had all needles in his crop. We did get two of the worlds smallest grouse this year. They were tiny and had short middle tail feathers all others were adults.

As for scenery and number of different animals it was an awesome trip.

Having left over grouse wild rice and squash for lunch today mmmm good.

Ferny.

[Chef]

Spruce are bitter due to diet, of course. You can marinate the breasts in strips about the size of your pointer finger in:

4Tbsps Dijon Mustard

2-Tbsps Honey

3Tbsps Balsamic Vinegar

Fresh Crushed Garlic

Black Pepper

1Tbsps Olive Oil

Fresh chopped Rosemary (Optional)

Put the breast meat on skewers and grill for appx. 3-4 minutes or until just done, don't over cook.

[knoppers]

its been a good year in the aitkin area. I am shutting my self down for the year, with 7 in the freezer. have seen plenty, missed many, but a good year overall, this is without a dog.

[RustySasquatch]

Spruce are bitter due to diet, of course. You can marinate the breasts in strips about the size of your pointer finger in:

4Tbsps Dijon Mustard

2-Tbsps Honey

3Tbsps Balsamic Vinegar

Fresh Crushed Garlic

Black Pepper

1Tbsps Olive Oil

Fresh chopped Rosemary (Optional)

Put the breast meat on skewers and grill for appx. 3-4 minutes or until just done, don't over cook.

Pretty good stuff chef? I usually just make mine into Jerky.