Foot travel Grouse Hunt

[tjo]

Has grouse hunting become riding around on your 4 wheeler and shoot some birds? I enjoy a good walk in the woods and have been looking for spots to get away from truck and 4 wheeler traffic. This seems to be very difficult these days.

I get to a "foot travel" only area with a gate and there goes a set of wheeler tracks right around the gate. I'm learning to get as far in the sticks as possible away from any towns. I can't be the only one that enjoys a little exercise while out shooting some birds. Otherwise I am just going to have to buy a wheeler.

[life=outdoors92]

with as many birds as there are, people will do as they please. i don't "road hunt" and usually take the bicycle to my spots are dirt roads and within a 30 minute peddle or so away from the cabin. road hunters and people who ride won't see as many birds as the walkers so i really don't mind them anymore. i just wait till the leaves drop, and when things get colder i start busting brush to find jungle birds. given i do walk mostly roads/trails the first few weeks, walking through the woods is where i have my most fun and best of times, so i don't even worry about road hunters anymore. more birds in the deep woods for me then.

[Pinusbanksiana]

Has grouse hunting become riding around on your 4 wheeler and shoot some birds? I enjoy a good walk in the woods and have been looking for spots to get away from truck and 4 wheeler traffic. This seems to be very difficult these days.

I get to a "foot travel" only area with a gate and there goes a set of wheeler tracks right around the gate. I'm learning to get as far in the sticks as possible away from any towns. I can't be the only one that enjoys a little exercise while out shooting some birds. Otherwise I am just going to have to buy a wheeler.

Look no further than the highways leading up north from the cities on Fridays. Every truck has a trailer with a couple mud slingers on.

[401TE]

I always walk. Road hunters don't bother me, but I get a little annoyed when I park my truck at the head of the trail and later on the trail I hear a wheeler or two coming up from behind me. Didn't you see my truck? Don't you assume that means someone is already hunting down that trail? I'm usually pretty friendly when they come up on me, but I make it clear that I plan on finishing out the trail and expect them to respect that.

[varmithtr]

I agree with the above post. I have no trouble with someone enjoying the woods a little differently than I do. If you want to use the quad, go for it. However, show some respect, if someone beat you to a trail, find another.

[TylerS]

I always walk. Road hunters don't bother me, but I get a little annoyed when I park my truck at the head of the trail and later on the trail I hear a wheeler or two coming up from behind me. Didn't you see my truck? Don't you assume that means someone is already hunting down that trail? I'm usually pretty friendly when they come up on me, but I make it clear that I plan on finishing out the trail and expect them to respect that.

I can't believe how inconsiderate some people are. Last year I parked at a trail, right at the beginning and very obvious so people knew someone was using it. It was a longish trail, but an unwritten rule seems to be that if someone is using a trail, you leave it be and find another spot.

The pooch and I had walked a long ways and been there for a while. We flushed one bird, shot it, and decided to head home as the noon hour was approaching. We were just about to round the final bend, when this big lumbering lab come tearing around the corner. My dog, who was only 5 months at the time, proceeded to see who this new visitor was and totally ignored any pleas from his owner.

I was wondering if it was someone's lost dog, as I never actually considered someone else might be hunting the trail that I'd parked my vehicle on. But lo and behold, two nitwits come around the bend straight at me, with barrels pointed basically at my head.

"You see any birds?" the one guy asked, as I attempted to steer clear of the business end of his shotgun.

"Nope," I lied. "Not a one."

"Well we're going to try it anyone," they said.

I was going to ask if they realized someone was hunting it when they saw the car parked at the trail, but figuring they were a few bricks short of a full load anyway, I decided to skedaddle and call it a day.

Some people are just plain dumb, and there's no two ways around it...

[laker1]

Nothing worse than when on a long trail and you are getting back in good grouse country and than a ATV buzzes by you. You fill like you wasted the whole day. That's why many friends quit hunting grouse.

[Harmonica Bear]

I love the walk for grouse, one of my most enjoyable things to do. ATV's used to bother me 15-20 years ago. Now I just go with it. As long as they are respectful, and that goes both ways whether on foot or wheels, it really doesn't bother me. In fact I usually do one day every fall hunting from a wheeler with a buddy of mine who is not much of a walker. Not my preferred personal method, but it is fun and enjoyable, cover a lot of territory, always get to somewhere I've never been etc. We do get out and walk a little if the habitat is perfect or we see one scoot into the woods. My shooting sucks, so my bird take is about the same whether on wheel or foot..... I think the dog even enjoys the ride.

[Dusty]

I would rather go down a trail that I know has recently been hunted by a guy on a 4 wheeler than one hunted by a guy with a couple of dogs. 10 15 minutes after a wheeler has gone threw your still apt to see birds but not so with a dog hunter.

[cribbageboy]

^^^Agreed^^^

[BobT]

I would rather go down a trail that I know has recently been hunted by a guy on a 4 wheeler than one hunted by a guy with a couple of dogs. 10 15 minutes after a wheeler has gone threw your still apt to see birds but not so with a dog hunter.

Actually, 30 seconds later is more accurate. You'd be surprised how many birds a guy on a wheeler drives past.

A vehicle parked at the start of some trail doesn't mean the hunter is actually using the trail. When we hunt we walk off the trails as much if not more than on them. What gives anyone the right to block off a trail? Could be that someone is already in there and now they can't get out because some [PoorWordUsage] has his truck parked and blocking the exit. When I was a kid it was not uncommon to see multiple vehicles parked near trail entrances. Since ATV's were rare most of those guys were in there on foot but that doesn't matter. Public land is public and parking on some trail head doesn't suddenly give you ownership.

[lispeej]

We were at a hunters walking trail this past weekend just south of duluth. Didn't see a thing. Was I at the wrong spot for grouse?

[bogwalker]

I would love to walk. Realize how fortunate you are if you can. Hunting from a 4-wheeler is not the same but it beats staying home.

[tacklejunkie]

We were at a hunters walking trail this past weekend just south of duluth. Didn't see a thing. Was I at the wrong spot for grouse?

Gotta go North of Duluth