Grouse hunting from a motor vehicle?

[luckydog25]

I grew up in northern MN, and still go up as often as possible to hunt and fish. I have spent a ton of time in the woods grouse hunting growing up. Everywhere from the range, up to Orr, Ely, all the over to the red lake area. If I called TIP everytime I saw someone driving logging roads going slow with the windows down, my cell phone bill would triple. While that is not the way we hunt by any means, there are hundereds maybe thousands that do. It isn't illegal unless you shoot from the vehicle.

[reinhard1]

the guy said this vehicle was doing "laps" around the same place with the windows open indicating they were "hunting". if someone drives down a road with the windows open i would agree that it would be redicules to call the law. this was a little more than that. a CO could disregard that call but may check it out. personaly i have hunted since 1965 and have never seen anyone "road hunt" and i'm from northern minnesota. maby things have changed, but if i see hunters with all their windows open making circles i begin to wonder whats up. good luck.

[reinhard1]

it's also ilegal to have a loaded shotgun in your vehicle if thats the case. dont have to wait to shoot from one. good luck.

[life=outdoors92]

i took a friend with me on grouse hunting last year. we took his car to a trail and he spotted a grouse on the road and told me to load his gun and give it to him. i said "not a chance. do it and we are leaving". he then proceeded to load his gun, i simply walked out of the car and starting walking back to my cabin with my gun(only a couple miles away and it was in the morning). he did shoot the grouse. he continued his "road hunting" down the road. when he came back to the cabin i had cleaned my 4 birds i had shot walking while he had only 1 from the time before (he was a little jealous to say the least). i told him to pack up (this was the first morning) cause we are leaving and he wasn't ever coming here again. well he hasn't, and even though we are still friends, i won't ever think of hunting with him again.

i don't understand how someone can be so blood thirsty for a grouse. its a bird. if you want chicken, go buy one at the store. or go walk an hour and shoot a bird. if you need to road hunt (and are not disabled) by driving down a road/trail, windows rolled down, quiet as can be, you really need to re-evaluate what hunting really is about

[Barbelboy]

Well I think all grouse should only be shot with a single barrel english 20 gauge in the air at a distance of 40 yards after being pointed by a wire haired pointing griffon. Anyone who does anything else is a buffoon who doesn't deserve to be in the woods!

Give me a break

How dare anybody NOT break the law, drive down the road at less than 25 mph with the window down during an 80 degree day (or any other gorgeous fall day) and occasionally shoot a grouse on or near a forrest road. I'm so sorry my dad had a hip replacement surgery and it was the only way I could take him out this year and let him enjoy a beautiful fall day in the grouse woods and even shoot a couple.

Once again I have to break out the line, "if i'm not breaking the law, but enjoying the outdoors in a manner you don't necessarily see eye to eye with, leave me the heck alone!"Everyone's perspective on how they enjoy the outdoors is different, as long as they AREN'T BREAKING THE LAW you should have nothing to say.

Remember, we all can't pass on 150" bucks to "let 'em grow" or only shoot at decoying banded mallard drakes or only use beatis parachute dry flies on 1 lb tippets on blue ribbon trout streams or only hunt upland game birds over pointers with english double barrel guns. You don't have to hunt with or ever invite back to your cabin people you disagree with, but that doesn't mean that you get to enforce your view upon others either. So everybody take a deep breath, obey the law and enjoy the outdoors together in our own way. Sound like a plan?

[djlong]

I think people need to relax a little. If people are not breaking the law then let them drive around all day. Heck, it leaves more birds for myself to walk off the beaten path and get birds. If you can't walk and want to get out then go do it. Like I said before, my fondest memories as a kid were walking in the woods with my dad and I wish everyone could experience that kind of hunting. There are plenty of birds to be had by everyone so go have fun. On that note however, birds should only be shot by a 12 gage over and under with my dog pointing them. You also have to have a Toyota.

[tacklejunkie]

Well I think all grouse should only be shot with a single barrel english 20 gauge in the air at a distance of 40 yards after being pointed by a wire haired pointing griffon. Anyone who does anything else is a buffoon who doesn't deserve to be in the woods!

Give me a break

How dare anybody NOT break the law, drive down the road at less than 25 mph with the window down during an 80 degree day (or any other gorgeous fall day) and occasionally shoot a grouse on or near a forrest road. I'm so sorry my dad had a hip replacement surgery and it was the only way I could take him out this year and let him enjoy a beautiful fall day in the grouse woods and even shoot a couple.

Once again I have to break out the line, "if i'm not breaking the law, but enjoying the outdoors in a manner you don't necessarily see eye to eye with, leave me the heck alone!"Everyone's perspective on how they enjoy the outdoors is different, as long as they AREN'T BREAKING THE LAW you should have nothing to say.

Remember, we all can't pass on 150" bucks to "let 'em grow" or only shoot at decoying banded mallard drakes or only use beatis parachute dry flies on 1 lb tippets on blue ribbon trout streams or only hunt upland game birds over pointers with english double barrel guns. You don't have to hunt with or ever invite back to your cabin people you disagree with, but that doesn't mean that you get to enforce your view upon others either. So everybody take a deep breath, obey the law and enjoy the outdoors together in our own way. Sound like a plan?

+1

However, I've gotten grouse that ATVs that went past me while I was walking missed

[Harmonica Bear]

+2

I do a lot of walking, but I will never pass up a road bird (a gift), unless its an un-safe situation. That doesn't mean if I have my windows down that I will shoot them out the window. Stop or drive by, get out, load the gun, pick up the bird. Nothing wrong with that at all.

[candiru]

I have some great memories of time spent in a vehicle driving slowly with the window rolled down with a now-departed friend, who went too soon. We had some good conversations, told stories, solved the world's problems, and shot a few birds. If we saw a good looking spot we got out and did some walking.

[gooty]

personaly i have hunted since 1965 and have never seen anyone "road hunt" and i'm from northern minnesota.

Are you joking??? Everyone up here road hunts...whether its their main way of hunting, or going from one spot to another. Like said...road birds are "Bonus Birds"...

Things have changed...obviously you haven't been in the woods to notice this.

Opinions are like NiceGuys...everyone's got one, & sometimes MOST people dont want to hear them

[gooty]

I have some great memories of time spent in a vehicle driving slowly with the window rolled down with a now-departed friend, who went too soon. We had some good conversations, told stories, solved the world's problems, and shot a few birds. If we saw a good looking spot we got out and did some walking.

+1

[reinhard1]

well i guess things have changed. are you saying if someone is driving from one spot to another that is considered "road hunting"? if someone is driving slowly and looking for a bird to shoot and then getting out of his vehicle, loading his shotgun, and then persuing the bird, that is what i consider road hunting. that is also not against the law. that is also something i dont do. that is just me. if that is what you do fine.

i have been hunting every year since the early 60's except the three years i spent in the military. and as i said before, i have never seen anyone road hunt that i can remember, and all of my hunting is done north of Duluth. people here are expressing their opinions and that is all. i have respect for your and i would ask that you have respect for mine even if we disagree. good luck.

[candiru]

The windows were not rolled down to shoot out of. It was for the smells, the air, the view, and to hear birds.

[luckydog25]

Where we deer and bear hunt on the Iron Range, they actually cut down the grass on the sides of the logging roads. Not sure if it is for grouse hunters or not, but it sure makes it easy to see them coming out for some water or gravel. We see them on the roads all the time driving to and from the area where we put our stands. This is also why we need to kill our bears before small game opens!!! Shotguns going off constantly in the evenings and the bears go nocturnal.

[tacklejunkie]

Are you joking??? Everyone up here road hunts...whether its their main way of hunting, or going from one spot to another. Like said...road birds are "Bonus Birds"...

Things have changed...obviously you haven't been in the woods to notice this.

Opinions are like NiceGuys...everyone's got one, & sometimes MOST people dont want to hear them

I've been bird hunting up here since about 1971 or 72 and It's very common to see people road hunt. I don't think they are as successful as walk in the woods guys, though

[gooty]

people here are expressing their opinions and that is all. i have respect for your and i would ask that you have respect for mine even if we disagree. good luck.

I don't necessarily disagree with your opinion, shooting birds out of a vehicle is illegal, but just ask that you have more of an open mind to others opinions and see it from more sides than yours before "sharing". The world we live in is three dimentional....our opinions should be as well.

Also, recently, I have read in one of your posts, and i quote, that "You know everything".... That is something to take caution in, if you know everything, how do you learn? This is something that will hinder yourslf to viewing others opinions in an openmindedness.

Back to the issue at hand,i also spent many of fall days with my dad "road hunting". Pheasants, grouse, and rabbits. It was a blast and will definitely be taking my son road hunting.

[reinhard1]

if i said "i know everything" it would have to be a total joke. i am an expert at nothing and never claimed to be. i think most here that read any of my post know i give information when asked to the best of my knowledge and experience. still learning like everyone else. i'm glad you read all my posts, that shows your open minded as well. good luck.

[TRZ II]

I have a cabin on a low maint. road in carlton county and I have never had a weekend that at least a few road hunters didn't "creep" by my place during season, some weekends it is more like 50. It is a dead end road and only one reason to go 5mph down it because it leads to nothing! I too will not pass up a "gift". I just can't believe anyone who hunts can say they have not seen a road hunter since 1965! Unbelievable-i have seen thousands. I really don't care, I will get more birds walking anyway. It is only a bird! Not like we are talking about big game. Now people who road hunt for deer that really chaps my hide!

[TylerS]

Now people who road hunt for deer that really chaps my hide!

Pretty sure that's the only way people shoot deer in Nodak

[reinhard1]

i guess when i hunt i spend all my days in the woods. i drive to my area, hunt, and go home. all i can tell you is the truth. i dont sit somewhere on a road and watch cars and trucks go by, i am in the woods till i'm done and go home. i also have not lived at a home so i could observe any hunter also. maby then i could have seen this. where i hunt rabbits and partridge is also where i deer hunt. i have some foot trails and i know the area well. i love walking in the woods, that's my way of hunting.

have i seen partridge while on my way to the area i hunt? yes, but i drive on. meat is not all i'm after in my day in the woods. if i dont get a bird i still have a great day. never hunted with a dog. just me or with some friends or family. i think hunting with a dog would be great. just had large house dogs who i took fishing. greatest animals in the world for me and i could see the bond a person has with his dog in the field.

i have already stated that i dont have a problem with legal road hunting. if thats what a person wants to do that is fine. i can also see if someone gets older and not able to want to walk a great distance than that is an option for that person. i would not want to make it illegal my any means. good luck.

[Musky Buck]

I won't be teaching any road hunting to my son, we will scout and never shoot, just sorta seems to take the word hunting in a different direction, but yes it's embedded in MN grouse lore. I want him to experience (my 9 year old) loading and unloading of guns, learn how to slip medium quietly through the brush, how to handle his firearm carefully, see and hear the many wonders of the outdoors, not just mufflers and etc. We'll do it for exercise, to enjoy the success of the hunt by putting some work and effort into it, kids love to explore, I don't expect him to shoot flying birds yet either, we'll work on that with clay pigeons and he can work on the lowbase recoil shooting at our stationary targets. But to those that road hunt I don't care really, have at it, it's your way.

[Matt Breuer]

This thread is full of humor. I love it.

Do I walk with the dogs? Yep. Is there anything better than shooting a bird over a solid point? Nope. Does the meat taste the same if it was blasted off a log on the side of some grousy road? YEP!

I am with Harmonica, roadies are bonus birds. I will not pass on them, unless the circumstances are special, like photo trips, beatufil birds I want to leave alone, etc...

Oh, I shoot birds out of trees in the winter too. Incredible hunting, and the easiest shooting in the grouse world.

Pheasants and sharpies I will not ground pound in any circumstance though. Not sure why, just my personal ideals.

Some of my best memories with my pops are while driving up and down the gravel on Beltrami Island, creeping along, looking out the rolled down window, conversing like crazy, and getting out and shooting the incredible ruffed grouse. I have taken my 4 year old road hunting several times, and I'm sure he will do it when he grows up. When he's bigger and can walk through the woods a bit better, we'll surely hunt the dogs hard and he will learn the beauty of a point. For now, he'll enjoy the time spent with dad chatting and eating snacks down some dirt road...

[laportian]

Man this is a good thread. Lots of opinions! I can respect them all. You guys that are so passionate about being purists my hats are off to you. I totally get it.

I am an oppertunist though and love poppin shots off at roadies. My only triple happened on the road a few years back. I was cruising timber for the tribe one fall day and we used to bring a bolt action 410 along just in case. And low an behold I spotted two birds up a logging road. I stopped the truck and shot both birds across the hood and was celebrating my good fortune when their brother hopped out on the trail, between the two shot birds as if to say "What the heck are you guys flopping around for!?" I shot that bird too. I have over the years toned road hunting way down though. Seems like as each year rolls by road hunting becomes less of a common practice of mine. So many people do it now days, both out of vehicles and atv's, that the birds get educated pretty fast to steer clear of the roads. The first week or two I may concentrate on roads but once the road birds and yard birds have all been picked off or educated I drive in and get out in grousey areas and walk.

[Pinusbanksiana]

I don't hate them enough to murder them.

[fishuhalik]

matt, you said it best. i also think its different for locals. when you only get out a few times a season, you tend to want to hunt more, as in walking trails, flushing birds, etc. when you live up in Gods country like i did for the 1st 18yrs of my life, sometimes you just wanna hang out with a buddy, solve the worlds problems, chew a can of kodiak, and maybe shoot some birds if they happen to step close enough to the trail. and sometimes you wanna hunt. those times you walk the trails and keep quiet, senses on edge ready for the flush at any second.