Local Grouse Hunting?

[jbdragon]

Anyone know of decent grouse hunting on public land within an hour and a half of the cities?

[bigeyes]

1 1/2 hrs is not going to give you many options. The few you would have would be Rum River state forest(small and not what I would call "good" or even decent). Otherwise you might be able to make it to areas along 35W in that time frame. Maybe Chengwatana or St. Croix and they are probably a little better for birds.

[setterguy]

It all depends on what your definition of good is. I have places that will more often than not produce 2-3 flushes per hour that are 100 miles from my house in Fridley. Obviously the farther north you go the less people you will see and probably more birds. Find the right cover and you should find birds. If you would ever like to get out just leave a post here and I'd be more than happy to take you out.

[metrojoe]

An hour and a half is going to be tough, not impossible but tough. I drove up to the Park Rapids area last year and saw more birds in that weekend than all the weekends I spent close to town last year.

I've flushed birds here and there in St Croix and Nemadji, but some days I saw nothing.

It's still tough to beat a day walking in the woods with the dog. I'll find any excuse to go, even when the birds are pretty scarce.

[jbdragon]

Setter guy.. Where in Friendly Fridley are you? I work at the United Defense plant on East River RD. Ever find any birds in Carlos Avery? Or possibly up in Sherburne?

[Borch]

There are a fair number of grouse in Sherburne. But they are in pockets. Once you find them you'll have good hunting. But there's a lot of unproductive walking till you do.

[Roosterslayer05]

YOu can find good grouse hunting within an hour and a half of the twin cities. I do better closer to the cities then I do around megregor. The pine center area can be decent. The Mille Lacs managment area can have some good hunting at times and the rum river state forest is nearby, lots of land to hunt there and its about an hour and a half away. I have a spot about an hour and a half from the cities that Iv scared up grouse every single time iv went there and iv hunted it about 20 times in the last 3 years.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

There are places within that range, especially when the cycle is up.

[Harmonica Bear]

I'd agree there is plenty of decent spots to hunt with in an hour and a half from the metro. I live just north of the metro and 90% of my day trips are no more than an hours drive. That pretty much puts you in the same areas. It's all about finding the right cover/habitat. Seek and you shall find.

Good luck,

HB

[This message has been edited by Harmonica Bear (edited 08-24-2004).]