Grouse

[Riverratpete]

well, only about a week left..can't wait, always love this time of year..any scoutting reports from anybody..not looking for honey holes, got my own, just looking for a general feel for whats going on out there..talked to my bro who saw 2 the other day, gray phase, not the big chicken browns so thats a good sign. Also excited since this will be my sons first year grouse hunting season, seems to be able to hit clay pigeons now we'll see when they zip through the trees going mach 5 and startle the you know what out of you.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

I was driving lots of 2-tracks looking for new hunting land in NW Wi this weekend and did not see a single bird on the road. That was not a good sign. At least for those areas. Most of my favorite areas in MN are far away and I only visit to hunt so I have no idea how they are doing. The only spot I was able to scout was near the inlaws. 10 years I hunted this land then this summer a leaser took it over and gated it. Potlatch land. I'll never forgive that company for their new program but I understand it so no harping please.

[subzero]

Was up north last weekend and only saw 1 bird and it was a small one at that. The DNR may be correct with there survey's. Any idea's on why the decline has lasted 5 years?

[setterguy]

There are birds out there, you just have to put in a little time and effort. I was out for just over an hour the other day and had two pointed, along with a couple woodcock. When the cycle is down is when a good dog really earns its keep. I would concentrate my time on "prime" locations instead of just aimlessly busting brush. When there aren't as many birds you can really learn a lot about thier patterns and tendencies. People I have talked to have said that there are more birds than last year, so take that for what its worth. Good luck

[captkev]

I'm with ya on the Potlatch thing, Its going to make it tuff this fall, Thank God I've got the private land and state ground to hunt, Leggs move birds, and theres going to be alot of walking to get to the productive ground.

Good Luck to All.

[jbdragon17]

We do a big hunt up by Northhome every fall. My buddy was up there last weekend and said he flushed 3 or 4 grouse and had two dogs locked on a woodcock. Doesnt sound too bad. I'm with Setterguy.. The cycle has been down the past couple years and I have still found birds. Not loads of them but enough to keep me coming back. This will be the first year I get to go out with my own dog. I am key'd to say the least!!

[brittman]

SetterGuy: QUIET

The best thing about the low side of the cycle is the lack of hunting pressure. I suspect many a weekend warrior will be south of I94 come October 15th - leaving the woods much quieter for dog and hunter.

Some of my best public land spots are essentially off-limits on weekends due to high hunting pressure (ie. years '7, '8 , '9, and '0) forcing my best hunts to occur on weekdays.

Hopefully not so this year.

I hear pheasants are up 75% and IOWA and SD are even better ....

[charliepete2]

I ran into a bunch of woodcock last week. I must have put 6 different birds up in a half hours walk. Not bad for local birds. I haven't been seeing that many grouse this summer, but while bear hunting last week one stand was absolutely thick with them. A nice grey phased walked under my stand peep peeping the whole way. I could hear two separate drummers in the distances and somewhere around 5 birds were fluttering up and down to feed on a dogwood bush.

I don't think it's going to be a great year, but like any down year good pockets of cover will still hold birds. The woodcock will make the early season interesting for sure.

[Mudflap]

I hunted 17 days, mostly on week days and late afternoons and I think I saw 2-3 hunters all season. Word gets out that birds are down and guys stay home and watch the Vikes.

I did see quite a few packs of wheelers which makes me sad but I'm starting to realize they drive by sitting birds that the dog finds. I just wish they didn't think they owned the trail.

I will get out for a short walk just to let the dog know that chipmunks are not the main target.

Around the Bemidji area I put up a record number of woodcock but grouse numbers were way down even from the year before. I did find just enough to keep me and dog interested.

[fisher_king2004]

Don't have a dog anymore so I try and get them to flush by walking myself. Can't say it's a good strategy early in the season. I can't make it on opener with work and family. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who does some hunting in the arrowhead region of Minn. That's where I'll probably try it the first week in October.

[lunker651]

I went down to southern minnesota and didn't see one grouse in the fields. I check about 12 grass fields, cover about 100 acres and didn't see one. there use to be alot of grouse there every year. I don't know what happen to them, maybe they move out of town. At lease now, I know I wouldn't be hunting there this year.

[captkev]

....?.....?.... .....? What Kind of grouse? maybe those southern birds like differant cover???.....? I'm confused I left the house before it got light out, drove in the rain and lightning, scouting for covers that had'nt been leased out by potlatch yet! about 8:30 I put the dog on the ground and hunted the east side of a 2 mile strech of low bottom pines and alder mix, we moved 18 King birds and 23 timber doodles, some of those were reflushes, probably one of the best openers on record for me, the cover was so thick, I did'nt even fire a shot. I can't wait to go back when the leaves are off......Grassy feild? are those sharp tails?

[OnTheWater]

Hit a few good lookiin' areas oustside of duluth today. Not a sign of birds anywhere. No dog to drag along, but plenty of good territory. Yet, I'm sure I'll drag myself out there again for another good walk or two later this week; can't waiting for that first SD pheasant hunt!

[lindyman]

Got out saturday afternoon. No birds on the "decent" cover trails. Had to go to prime locations to find any birds. Ground and tree cover was way to thick to get a shot. Saw about four birds all after 5pm.

What do you guys feel is their main food source right now?

[PierBridge]

Clover and Aspen>

[captkev]

I did better yesterday than today, saw 3 grouse and 3 woodcock today, yesterday I hunted about 4 hrs. and today only 45 min. I did'nt put a single bird in the bag all weekend so I could'nt check a crop. I did find the birds where there was clover, reaspberry greens, and dog wood. I cant wait for next weekend, then I can pull the triger on them doodles.

[Riverratpete]

Saturday AM wake up to rain, put on about 5-6 mile of walking trails,old log roads,never even stepped into the woods, boosted 1 (8) bird covey and a few singles, just heard, not seen..pretty thick in the woods still. Thinking we may be on the upswing for numbers

[subzero]

Saw one bird all weekend but did hear a couple more. Other than the weather it was a good weekend.

[akomadogman]

Very suprising, four of us huning, shot 11 had 45-50 flushes. Thick in hte woods but lots of fun!! The Dog

[Coach]

Dog, what part of the state were you in to get all those flushes?

[OUTDOORNUT]

Last season 10-15 flusher per trip were common for me. Now only if I could get my five out of those flushes! ha ha I do consider it a flush even if the bird is unshootable though, but then its not many times you get a "shootable" grouse.

You have to get off the trails and head IN the woods, and you'll find the birds. Don't forget to hunt the low, cool, damp areas when you get a warm day. Had days where without good boots you'd have wet feet, but the grouse where in there!

[akomadogman]

We were up by Northhome. Here is what we found. a good, slow dog at a quiet pace. we worked gravel trails and had the majority of flushes when the area came upon water/swamps and corner cover. I am still suprised at the amount of birds/flushes. Compared to last year, it was a real nice change. Going to my cabin by Hackensack this weekend...two weeks in a row???? fat chance but will give it a shot. The Dog

[woodman]

I am heading up to Northome to my parents this weekend to check out the deer hunting land and try and shoot some birds. I will post what we get on Sunday.

Where were you around Northome. We hunt just South about 1 mile.

[charliepete2]

I hunted for a few hours in the morning on the opener. It was plenty hot, but I managed to get into 9 grouse and 2 woodcock. I managed to scratch down the first bird of the year in some thick cover. Here is a picture of my pup and his prize.

[woodman]

excellent picture