2014 DNR Grouse Survey Is Out

[birdguy]

Up 34 % in the northern part of the state.

[tacklejunkie]

That's good news but I wonder if that might be deceptive. Last year, the drumming counts were done when there was still alot of snow on the ground which might affect the drumming numbers.

I have seen a few moms with babies this year so if it is down, hopefully a good number of chicks survive

[birdguy]

Two of us did well on the Echo trail last year, even though the reports were not good elsewhere, but the Echo always seems to be fairly good, even in down years - IF you put in the miles and we usually walk about 30 miles a day when we hunt up there. Having a dog really helped, I have a griffon and he's pretty good at finding the birds. We got four limits in two days and I even got one limit on one trail on a morning hunt, but it was a five mile walk in and a five mile walk out. Been hunting there for 30 years, wild country to say the least, I've been charged by bull moose twice and had to shoot in the air to snap them out of it (do not practice your moose call when you see a moose in October, especially when you're three miles back on a wilderness trail) and I've been trailed twice by packs of wolves, not good when you have a dog with you. Both his hair and mine where standing straight up until we got back to the truck.

[laker1]

They probably are up that much,but when drumming count is like 0.9 and goes to 1.2 which is still low,your up 33%.

I do think we are swinging up. Seen more birds this winter and great fluffy snow for roosting.

[brittman]

2 months to go and a new season begins.

[tacklejunkie]

I've see a hen a few weeks ago do the wounded bird trick on my lab. Yesterday, I found her on the ground picked clean. Assuming it's an owl or hawk

[laker1]

Still looking for my first brood,been in the woods a lot. I still believe it will be better this year.

[certified jumbo]

I've seen 3 broods so far. Ne mn. Spend a ton of time in woods. There will be some birds to shoot. But it won't be incredible.

The last two decades the peak was about half of what it was in the 70s and 80s. Its hard to get overly excited, unfortunately.

[laker1]

Talked to a guy who seen a brood of 8 in Crow Wing county.

How big of broods you seeing?

[westb]

Is this possible?

[401TE]

IF you put in the miles and we usually walk about 30 miles a day when we hunt up there

Is this possible?

I'd say it's possible...but you'd have to be walking pretty fast! Figuring a 10 hour day (which is a LONG day for a dog, or a person for that matter, while grouse hunting) that is averaging 20 minute miles. A 20 minute mile is pretty fast for hunting grouse, but isn't unheard of if you have a fast hunting dog.

I don't put much stock into these surveys. Last year they said pheasant and grouse numbers were way down...went anyway and there were plenty of birds. Nothing like in 2009 and 2010, but a lot more than most people would have expected.

[Early Riser]

Interesting topic on the question of walking distance in a day. I would say a very long day of walking while grouse hunting for a fit young man or woman could cover upwards of 20 miles, with almost all of it being trail walking, but it wouldn't be as much fun by the end of it as it was in the beginning.

I used to spend 8-10 hours days in the woods regularly when we lived in the area, walking out the back door in Hovland with the dog, around Lost Lake (when it was all Consolidated Paper land) and back home along a different route. This was about 60-70% logging roads and 30% bushwhacking depending on the route. This was also moderately hilly and varied terrain. I was in very good condition and would only stop briefly to pick up birds, look at something interesting, get a drink or grab a quick bite. A good day of that would clock in at 14-17 miles according to my map extrapolation. By the end of it I couldn't really lift my legs, my feet hurt even with the best of boots, and was walking become more like shuffling along. I would not be able to repeat it the next day, but a good 5-6 miles was possible. I suppose two young guys split up would fairly easily cover a combined 30 miles in a day, but probably not easily or willingly on consecutive days - at least I never could.

[laker1]

In the end it is all about the hatch and brood survival. Could easily double the population with a good hatch.

[Ohboytimmy]

Drum numbers never seem to deter me from grouse hunting. Nor do negative fish reports or harvest rates. I'll still be out with my lab getting thorns in my face.