2012 Ruff Grouse hunting reports-yes anouther season has arrived

[laker1]

Was out in the woods in southern Crow wing county and seen two birds in about 1.5 hours. It will be interesting what people see and report.

I hope reports are better than predictions for this year. good luck.

[Matt Breuer]

Only hunted for 4 hours today... hard work for the dogs in 80 degree temps. We put up 11 birds, got 5. Mix of adult to juvenile was pretty even... Only 1 covey of three, 10 minutes into the hunt.

[wdgold]

Anyone up in the Nemadji/St. Croix state forest areas chasing birds?

[tacklejunkie]

Hunted this am till lunch. Bumped a few.Got one. This was pup's first year and did ok.

[KidMoe]

We only put up 3 birds all weekend and they were all eating gravel. We got one. It was tough walking through the woods with the temps so high and there was pretty much all the foliage still up. We had a great time though!

[vman11]

Me and another guy got out at sunrise Saturday and bagged 7 birds. Should have had 9 - missed 2 slam dunks. Saw probably 10 others we either didn't get a shot at or missed.

This was my first time hunting in this area but not so for my partner. He said this was the best opener he had ever experienced. Not sure if the bird number are that good or if we just got lucky. I will post my next hunt - hope to repeat the success.

[Matt Breuer]

Sunday report is similar, 5 hours hunted, put up 9, got 6. I had a clean miss on a gimme, otherwise we shot pretty well. 11 for 20 on the weekend was pretty good for us on opener.

I don't think the numbers are high, but I do think the birds are going to take a beating this year. With the lack of berries and dry conditions, the birds are pretty predictable. Even with lots of leaves up yet, you can hear them from a mile away and be prepped. They are hitting the trails all day, off and on. All clover and catkins in 11 birds. Not a single rosehip or dogwood, snowberry, notta...

[tybo]

We hunted the morning and eveing Saturday and this morning until 11 or so. We moved 15 grouse and 8 WC Saturday but only bagged one bird. Lots of wild flushes and only one family group. We moved a couple of grouse and 7 or 8 more WC today but didn't bag any grouse. We were disappointed that we didn't get any real good shots at birds and that we didn't see any birds in some cover that looked like the right stuff. It would have been better if we could have shot some of the many WC the dogs pointed.

[titelines]

Got out at sunrise and walked for a couple hours Saturday. Only saw one bird, but I got him. Drove home and there was a covey of three hanging out in the front yard...

[smalltastybird]

only got out for about an hour saturday, saw one and never got a shot. hunted for about 3 hours sunday morning got three and saw 5 missed one gimme right in the middle of the trail. whoops!

[CANOPY SAM]

Alright...Alright!!! All this talk of grouse has got me dusting off the 16-gauge, and cleaning the old dusty sticks, leaves and twigs outta my upland vest!

Nice cool temps this week should make for some nice walks with the new puppy. He seems anxious to go walking, and sniffing around in the woods. We'll see how he does!

[tcumd]

me and my setter puppy's first hookup.

[TylerS]

That's one cute pup and one BIG grouse! Looks part turkey! Nice work

[setterguy]

Great looking pup, looks like mine with more ticking on her face.

[knoppers]

flushed 4 in a covey, missed due to cover, at least thats my excuss.

[tacklejunkie]

me and my setter puppy's first hookup.

Good pic and nice, happy pup. Is that a 12 or 20 gauge?

[tcumd]

20 guage 870 express. nothing but the best for this hunting pair!

[TylerS]

20 guage 870 express. nothing but the best for this hunting pair!

Can't beat that for brush busting! My youth model is still my go-to for The King in close quarters.

[titelines]

Got out for another couple hours on Sunday and went 1 for 2. Missed a good, open shot flush, my mistake. The one I got was in full strut and had other things on his mind. The object of his affection disappeared, didn't get a shot.