Best method for grouse hunting?

[TheGuy]

Hey Suzuki, You know anything about Suzuki outboards? I have some questions about them.

Can I send you an email with some questions?
Need you email address if you don't mind.

Sorry guys, I might be getting a boat soon and need some info.

Like it's been stated earlier in the post, stay with in the law. Have fun out in the woods and be safe. I say to each his/her own.

[jweitgen]

Bushwacker:

I went to UMD from 1996 until 2001 and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. We always hunted near Twig off of some road called something trail. I haven't been up there for awhile, now I hunt grouse near Mora but I don't get up there too often living in Mankato.

I sure miss a walk through the woods to clear up a good hangover on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

[deepdiver]

jweitgen,Bushwacker
I am a 3rd year student up at UMD and just started to grouse hunt last year. I am still looking for spots more so really of where not to go....

Shoot me an email would like to ask you a few questions if you wouldnt mind.

-John-
damh0001 at d.umn.edu

[This message has been edited by deepdiver (edited 09-24-2004).]

[Holy Canvas]

Went to a end of the road trail last weekend. There was a truck parked by it with an empty dog carrier. My buddy and I weren't going to walk down it, but then changed our minds, not knowing how long the guy before us had started out. We got out of our Dodge, and were loading up. I was standing by the edge of the trail ready to go, and my buddy was walking toward me when a truck pulling three 4 wheelers pulled up. They parked and got out. I thought they might leave, seeing us just start walking down the trail, and another vehichle there, but they didn't. They unloaded there wheelies as we started our walk. This trail is very narrow, (following an old railroad embankment) with no offshoots. We walked about 50 yards, and looked back to see them getting ready to head down the trail. My buddy asked me if we should continue down the trail, after these guys pass us, or just turn back now. We turned around and headed back. At the foot of the trail, one of them asked "How'd you do?" My buddy replied, "We just got here" as we slunk back to our Dodge. They then left down the trail, though one of their party looked a little embarrased as we walked by.
Back in the Dodge, we were a little upset at first, but then laughed it off. There is a lot of woods to hunt in MN, and to get mad, and let your weekend be ruined over somthing so trivial in my opinion is pathetic. However, I own an ATV, and would never consider doing that. Oh well, I hope the dog hunter before us slayed them! Good luck to all this weekend, be courteous, and remember that being "forced" off a trail is still more fun than work!

[cheektowaga]

Great topic and some great side-bar arguements going on. I got into grouse hunting the same way most on this topic did, because I loved the outdoors and one didn't need a dog or a wheeler to be successful. Just a shotgun and a general enjoyment of nature. Now, I prefer to hunt without a dog. The one fellow had it right, dogs usually hunt too far away, and when shooting through the woods a bird flushed to far out is usually a bird lost. As far as ATV's, I've used them to hunt twice and saw a combined 0 birds. I'd much rather find a peice of public land and walk trails, it's quiet and you can usually walk right up to them. Which leads me to ground pounding. I understand the ethic of letting them get off the ground if it's duck hunting or with dogs around, but with grouse, I consider it fair game. Back to the original post: I find it best to find a plot of public land that was logged 5-10 years earlier and hunt the edges. It's great bird habitat. Good Luck

[The Grebe]

"Grouse, yum...It's whats for dinner!" I loves them grouses!

Grouse hunting is my favorite and when I do get time to hunt, it's what I do, right up to the end of the season, if the snow does'nt get to deep!

The areas mentioned in the previous posts are probably where most of us hunt.

A few years ago, my friend (Also my acct.) asked if I would like to go Grouse hunting with him sometime, I agreed and when the opportunity presented itself, we went.

I'm a pretty physically active guy and even though I'm not a kid, I can still pound the brush... but not as long, far, or hard as I used to.

That is what I started to do once we got to our destination. My friend looked at me like I was nuts and proceeded to show me his way of hunting, which was easier and much less demanding. Not only that, but it afforded clearer shots, more time to enjoy the surroundings and the hunt itself.

Trail walking! Crook the old shot gun and mosey down the trails! Some are better then others and no one has been down it for a little while, you have a pretty good chance of seeing a bird.

If during your stroll, you see a patch of cover that just crys out, "Grouse" you can work it and get right back on the trail. It works for us.