grouse hunting

[thore]

how was grouse hunting for those of you that do or should i say tried. went several times at huntersville south of park rapids, chippewa by grand rapids, and once by ely results weren't good wondering if i was in the right spots

[Guest]

Grouse are in the down cycle, so no matter where you go there will be less birds. I hunt Northern Minnesota, South of International Falls (30 miles) or Hunt Pine Island State Forest area.

This year was bad, thou I still managed 4-6 flushes per day. In a good year its more like 6-12 flushes per day.

Side note, This past hunting year I hunted off my ATV so in order to get the flushes I got, I put on 12-16 miles on the back logging road, with a young setter in front.

[Flatlander]

I only made it out 1/2 doz. times here in MN, but overall not too bad a year. I put on more miles than most years, but did manage some birds on most trips. Back home, in northern WI, you'd never know the birds are on the downside of their cycle. Oddly, they weren't where they were supposed to be(I hunt partridge more than deer when I go home for deer season), but I put up more birds than the last couple years the week of Thanksgiving. I usually hit the big swamps around my parents house that time of year, and they're full of birds, but not this year. I saw most in the popple slashings where I find them earlier in the year. It was nice to see my shooting hasn't improved, but I suppose it wouldn't be nearly as much fun if I could hit those guys consistantly.
Flatlander

[N Hardy]

I did pretty well in the Ely area. The farther I went up the Echo trail the better it got. I got skunked some day's and did well others.

[Little Joe]

Hunted the Mora area and it was brutal. Didn't even see any while I was deer hunting. In years past, they're running around like chickens.

Did better in WI - Hayward area