Lots of drumming..

[tacklejunkie]

Been hearing alot of birds drumming this spring. Especially this am. Are others hearing the same thing?

[tacklejunkie]

Nobody hearing them?

[NWKR]

The last two weekends I was out in the woods and was hearing them. Can't say that its any more or less than prior years. I have thought an amateur survey of the area we have land could be fun.

[laker1]

Hearing nothing in crow Wing county,a fair number in cass county.

[birdguy]

I was up near Isabella three weeks ago and saw more than usual for that area along the forest roads. It's generally slim pickings in this area so seeing more this year is a good sign overall. I prefer to hunt grouse further north/north west of here up along the border.

[Surface Tension]

 I didn't hear any drumming this Spring.  I have seen a few birds around though.

[tacklejunkie]

Anybody know when the drumming count survey for this year comes out?

[NWKR]

I think the DNT had an article a couple weeks ago already:

http://ruffedgrouseminnesota.com/minnesotas-ruffed-grouse-drumming-counts-2015/

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/hunting/grouse/grouse_survey_report15.pdf

 

 

[birdguy]

Just got my October "Grouse Vacation" time off approved. Heading to the Orr area this year.

I'm having my annual clay shoot this coming weekend to kick off fall; Here's last years shoot:

[Neighbor_guy]

Pickups in a line and guys standing around giving you grief. That's the best way to do it. 

Now if you can run trough a bushy wooded area. Pick up you shotgun. And have a buddy pull the trap at your feet while you catch your breath and the "bird" goes sailing through the woods. All the better. 

[birdguy]

Neighbor_guy, I let this fella do all the hard work when we're in the woods.....

[jparrucci]

Plan on giving it a go this weekend in the Vermillion area. Usually pretty hard early in the year until the leaves fall.

[jparrucci]

One grouse on the board. Put up 5 in about an hour or so of walking. Only bird I saw, I shot. Woods are still very thick. 3 of the others were pointed by my dogs, and I never so much as saw the birds.

Edited September 19, 2015 by jparrucci

[MN BassFisher]

I'm headed up to Lake Vermilion in a month to close up the cabin and to get some fishing in, now you have me wondering if I should bring my shotgun..;

[TylerS]

I'm headed up to Lake Vermilion in a month to close up the cabin and to get some fishing in, now you have me wondering if I should bring my shotgun..;

Uh, no brainer...

[jparrucci]

Got skunked on day 2.  Missed one in the split second he was between trees.  My dogs had a couple of great points,  including my younger dog honoring the point of the older one.  Got up a handful of birds again, just too darn thick.

[MN BassFisher]

Got skunked on day 2.  Missed one in the split second he was between trees.  My dogs had a couple of great points,  including my younger dog honoring the point of the older one.  Got up a handful of birds again, just too darn thick.

Respecting his elders, well done pup! Sorry to hear about the skunk but it's better than sitting inside! I might have to scout out some areas to hunt up there in 3 weeks.

[tacklejunkie]

There is birds out there but there is also a ton of leaves yet

[MN BassFisher]

I'm going to be hunting Grouse in the MacGregor area on the weekend of 10/17. Hoping to bag my first Grouse.during that trip

[birdguy]

Three of us hunted the Isabella area Oct 1st - Oct 5th with most of our hunting done Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We walked a lot of miles and I mean a lot and managed to bag 18 grouse and one wood cock. So we averaged two birds per day between us and I'd say it took about 10 miles of walking for each bird taken. We hunt separately and pack a lunch and meet back at camp in the evenings.  

Two bull moose were seen, the wolves howled a couple of nights and the weather was sunny and crisp. All-in-all a good trip.

Lots of strange mushrooms growing everywhere along the trails, big, small and multi colored.

 

[tacklejunkie]

Three of us hunted the Isabella area Oct 1st - Oct 5th with most of our hunting done Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We walked a lot of miles and I mean a lot and managed to bag 18 grouse and one wood cock. So we averaged two birds per day between us and I'd say it took about 10 miles of walking for each bird taken. We hunt separately and pack a lunch and meet back at camp in the evenings.  

Two bull moose were seen, the wolves howled a couple of nights and the weather was sunny and crisp. All-in-all a good trip.

Lots of strange mushrooms growing everywhere along the trails, big, small and multi colored.

 

Like the gun. Twenty or 12guage?

[birdguy]

Thanks - It's a Browning Upland Special - 20 gauge.  It's a nice grouse gun.

[bobberineyes]

Went up for a one day shoot in Cass County,  was hoping for for a half day today but was a wash out. The young lab put up 10 birds yesterday but only 2 of them were shoot able.  I couldn't get over how jumpy they were,  most birds the pooch picked up the scent close  to the trails but they ended up flushing 30 yards in.  Either lots of pressure or the lack of young birds...

[NWKR]

Was out in carlton county Sunday and kicked up 8-10 grouse in 2.5 hours. I think only 2-3 were repeats. A friend got her first grouse and it was the only one we got. Most were in the really thick stuff!

[brittman]

I am seeing and for the most part getting grouse each trip out, but I would say the population as a whole is about the same as last year - maybe even lower.

All my birds appear to be adults or very early hatch birds that have had the time to be fully plumed.

The RGS hunt in the Grand Rapids area ages all the birds killed and reported one of the lowest juvenile:adult ratios on record.   It sure seemed like spring was gentler than that.