Grouse country?

[roughbird63]

Hi all! Mine is a long story, try to shorten it a bit for you. I am Dale in Ky. Should my friends hear me say this I would be tarred and feathered! I am a southern boy with a northern heart! I am sooooo hooked on grouse and walleye(both northern species of course) that I am relocating to Minn.I have grouse hunted in every northern state except Minn. how have I missed the best state for it? I am in the Guard and Hurricane Katrina altered my plans to finally make it there this past fall.Instead, I went back to Wis. for 5 days and heard 3 grouse flush from the spruce!We have a few grouse and walleye here in the mountains, but, if I stay here much longer my jeans will burst at the calfs! Walking these mountains for years has my calfs at maximum density!Anyway, I am 42,single, no kids, 1 setter,and live for grouse hunting! I will come to Minn. looking to be a community minded citizen,steward of the land, and avid grouse hunter. My only problem is........where to go? I have never had any problem finding work, been a flooring installer for over 20 years.I was a Marine many years ago, currently a Guardsman. Now, I just want to live in peace, work,take care of my setter, and grouse hunt and walleye fish in all my spare time!My question is.....Where can I find the best grouse hunting in your state, which Nat. or State forests hold the most grouse? No, I know better than to ask for your favorite coverts,a 500 mile radius would be great! I have read alot about this but am still confused as to where the greatest numbers of grouse are in the state. Ely?Duluth?International Falls? The northeast, northwest,where? Any replies, good and bad will be greatly appriciated!

[koutdoors]

Shoot me an email, I'll help you out

[email protected]

[mpete54]

Grand Rapids

[Quackaddict9]

Bemidji, Beltrami Forest, Blackduck!

[jonny_redhorse]

Welcome to Minnesota first of all Rough!....I've always been intrigued by "ole ruff" my self!.....great little birds!...I live on "the Range" and through the 57 years that I am,I've have had the good fortune to hunt grouse in a good portion of the northern 3rd of the state...of course the population changes with the "cycles" but these were my best areas:

1. Togo area(koochiching county)...the old logging roads or "spurs" of the old railroad logging days "Holstrum spur"....Kendall(one of the last logging camps in the north) logging road..."Dentabo" logging road..."loffgren Trail" logging road...I know a lot of people still hunt this area through the years but it's a vast area for sure and many "smaller" roads off these main ones..it wasn't unusual to get our limits off these roads but that was at the "peak" of the grouse cycles...

2.Orr area:...the area between Pelican Lake and the Nett Lake indian reservation,"Townline Forest road"..just before entering the Nett lake reservation,there's a road to the right"east nett lake road"(also known as the government landing road)...joins up with the "town line forest road"...this road goes around Pelican lake(north side to "Cusson" on hwy #53

3. "Snake trail"...about 18 miles north of Hibbing(my home town)north on hwy#5...it's marked by the DNR just past the Side Lake store on the left side of hwy #5...this trail also is linked to the "Link Lake trail" going west toward hwy #65(which it hits)...then to go further west off of 65 go onto the "Bear Lake" road (#52) this goes miles meandering until you hit the "lost/Owens Lake" area hundreds of old grouse holding trails and logging roads..Radisson Lake..Blind Pete Lake..all good grouse areas

hope this helps! ....jonny

[roughbird63]

Thanks Jonny, and all you guys!Very informative!I put another post on here, hope it helps!Well, the temp just hit 32, I better get there after a bird! My lil' setter is barking, how does he know it's a bird hunting day? Take care! Dale

[jbdragon17]

Basically anywhere north of McGregor and west of Hibbing. My suggestion would be to start around Grand Rapids or Bemidji. Lots of state land.

[tealitup]

Well the Paul Bunyon State forest has held good numbers for a couple of years. I know a guy who builds log houses that is always looking for employees.

[Law Firm]

Where are the grouse currently at in their cycle? Anyone know for sure?

[jbdragon17]

I would only be speculating, but from what I have seen the last couple years it seems to be at the bottom on the way back up. Could just be my "glass half full" mentality.

[89Bronco]

Grand Rapids and Itasca county have a great reputation for grouse woods although I've never hunted it myself. The Echo Trail from Crane Lake to Ely is excellent country. Koochiching County is can't miss also. Anywhere between Orr and International Falls is awesome. Lots of backroads, logging roads, pine and aspen, birch, swamps, highlands. The Iron Range is great also. We hunt a lot north of Buhl. All those places are great for grouse, rabbits, deer and walleyes!

[setterguy]

I would say this year was better than last year. The first time I can say that in the last 5-6 years so hopefully we are in for a rebound. It seems that the place we go in Canada is usually about 2 years ahead of us and this year they had a monster year, get those dogs honed up and polish up the guns, I think we are in for a few good years here coming up.

[jbdragon17]

Hey Setterguy... I been wanting to talk to you about the "place in Canada". Can you shoot me an email with info about it please? Thanks.

JB

[roughbird63]

Hey guys(and gals?) Thanks for all the replies! No luck here! In the past 3 weeks I have been grouse hunting about 8 times logging in about 100 miles. Have flushed 2 grouse, shot at 1, a miss!Mt 13 month old setter is wonderful, but ranging a bit, tryiind a bird.He is relagated to pointing red birds at the moment! I really need to find some birds for him.It was 61 here yesterday, I had to keep him near water.We really need some nasty weather here! Can you guys send us some of yours?I am praying for 6 to 10 inches of snow, but it does'nt look likely in the near future! I heard the walleye were on an early run at the spillway near me at Cave Run Lake, guess I will try that today!Thanks again guys! Dale

[fisheyes2002]

Roughbird,

When you make it to Minnesota you have to head to the North shore. The end of Sept and the first half of Oct there is no place on earth that can beat it. The colors are beautiful and with all Superior National Forest there is pleanty of area to find birds. Last year was suposed to be the low part of the cycle but there were more birds around then I have seen in years. And another great thing about up there is the walleyes are really turing on the feed bag at that time. There are some lakes that are better then others but most of the small lakes have a real hot walleye bite at that time. If you want you can email me and I will give you alittle more info on it. [email protected]