Pheasant/Grouse near Motley

[Big Brown]

I am heading up to Lake Alexander this weekend for some night trolling and was wondering if there are any public areas worth stumbling around during the day. Anywhere within an hour of Randall would be great. I am not that experienced of a hunter but would love to get the dog out for a try on Sat. or Sunday. By not very experienced, I mean I have only hunted pheasants for one year and have never went after grouse. Any pointers would be appreciated as it will beat raking leaves and mowing lawn during the day. Thanks!

Big Brown

["The General"]

There are lots of trails and state land just north of Motley on 64, going towards leader. I grew up in the area and from what I remember it was fairly decent for grouse, not so much for pheasants.

[gorrilla]

there's a few grouse to be had for sure but I leave the lucky birds alone until the very tail end of the season in that area due to the crazy high amount of deer ticks in the area. I had to pick 30-40 off me and the short-hair one day between Alexander and Pilager and we were only in the woods for 2 hours. I've found that just one or two frosts doesn't matter on these little buggers since all it takes is a semi warm afternoon.

On the other hand, if I were you I'd head towards the Long Prairie or Sauk Center area and look for pheasants since the public land may even be good on opener and I've got reports the birds are up there too. You can find the occasional brood of grouse in that area too.

[Big Brown]

Gorilla,

Any particular public land areas that you would suggest? I have been on the DNR HSOforum looking and not sure which direction to head. Long Prairie River, Turtle Creek, Hartford, Iona, Burleene? Thanks for the input. I think that heading that direction is the better bet than trying grouse for the first time. Plus with an inexperienced lab I am not sure that it wouldn't just be a walk in the wooods rather than grouse hunting.

[captkev]

I live in Todd county and hunt all over, There are a few birds(grouse) to be found in the area, but the real numbers are the Pheasants, I do some goose hunting neer Miltona, and Carlos, there are plenty of birds there and lots of WMA's too.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

There's lots of potlatch land up there especially by Leader. Unfortunately they now lease most of it. I would consider the habitat around there marginal therefore very tough to find birds on a low year like now. I have been chasing them in that area for 12 years. My inlaws live there. When the numbers are up it's "decent" but again minus the potlatch land it's hard to find public hunting grounds right around Motley. Almost all the land I used to hunt is potlatch and almost all shut down in the last 2 years.

[gorrilla]

Big Brown, I just got home from bowhunting our deer lease this evening. No deer but plenty of roosters cackling(safe until muzzeloader is over) and surprisingly LOTS of drumming by the grouse tonight. Honestly I bet I heard 60-70 drums in 2.5 hrs on stand. It all came from the same poplar stand just inside the woods and I can hardly believe its coming from one goofy little grouse - he'd have arms like Scwartzenagger!!! Maybe a brood or two running around our 260 acre lease.

If you want grouse(pretty wet in the woods) try Dismal Swamp north of Lake Osakis and Roosters anywhere from Osakis to South of Sauk Centre... Just look for land w/ lots of CRP.