A few grouse questons

[Warzord8]

I'm relatively new to hunting them.

What would you chose for a grouse gun?

-12 gauge remington 870 pump with a full choke

-20 guage savage single shot

Also what times of the day or under what conditions are they most active. I'm guessing dawn and dusk on sunnyt warmer days but I'm not sure.

Finally, I know no-one wants to give up their favorite trails but which direction out of Bemidji would be considered the best grouse habitat for public land?

Thanks in advance to any help.

[huntnfish]

This late in the year and with no leaves I would take the 12 gauge. This year I have had the best luck in the mid day hours, but that is a first for me. I think that had a little to do with most people back at the cabin eating lunch. I can't help you about anything in the Bemidji area, but I'm sure there is someone here that can help you out. Good luck and remember, everyone has to change their shorts after that first flush.

[gspman]

Personally there's no way I'd opt for a full choke for ruffies. I'd use that 20 ga. if it has a more open choke.

[Harty1384]

there are a few grouse and woodcock managed habitat areas around black duck. What i did was go to the chippawa national forest HSOforum and they have maps of hunting areas you can print out thats what i did when i was a newcomer up there but i mostly hunt over by big fork.

[Matt Breuer]

You dont' have to travel far from Bemidji. I live on the city limit edge and shoot birds across the street... There are a ton of them around this year, and there's ton of land to hunt. Pick up a PRIM map for the area at Gander and hit some of the public land you find. Get in a good mix of young and aged aspen with pines nearby and you're golden. Walk a bunch, and try any time of day. They are active throughout the day. If it's sunny, hunt near trails as they love to sun themselves. If you find some good berries still standing, try those areas, as they can hold a lot of birds early winter. Good luck, shoot straight!

[TRITC]

I grew up in the Hibbing area and IMO the 20 is definitely the way to go. 12 gauge to me is not necessary in any conditions for grouse. I would say 90% of all grouse that I've flushed have been within 30 yards (even closer if you have a good dog). With their quickness and the close cover that they are in you are better off with a quick gun that spreads quickly and that you can "thread the needle with". I know some guys say that they like to use a 12 gauge to get through the brush, but I think you're better off being accurate and picking the open shot. Also, about the only time you are going to get multiple shots is if you run into a covey. I know with my mad skillz if I run into a covey I'm lucky to knock one down and I'm so frazzled that I don't know what happened.

Also I went to BSU for a couple years and after class I would usually head east out of town and turn down some dirt roads and find some trails that lead into unposted land. There is a lot of different public land around so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

TRITC

[Meat-Run]

Hey Tritc,

what year did you participate at BSU???

mr

[CrappieAttitude]

I spent a lot of time in the woods when I attended BSU. Between Chippewa and the land behind the old Squirrels nest, we shot our fair share of birds. The nice thing about grouse, is that they like to relate to trails. Either they will be on the trail, or not very deep in the woods off of them. If you take your time walking trails slowly you should get some. They get nervous when you walk slow. Normally a nervous bird will flush, so take your time. There were times that we were clipping along and walked right passed them only to have the flush after we walked by. Any trail that happens to have clover growing in it would be a good one to walk. Take it slow and when they flush, go chase them. This is bringing back a lot of great memories.

[Meat-Run]

OK, know I am getting the itch. I'm going to let you all in on a little tip that some may have thought of but most haven't. Purchase a county plat book and find any small plots of county forfeited land around the 20-40 acre in size. These little gems were the secret to all my success grouse hunting in Bemidji. At the peek of the grouse cycle in a 40 acre parcel I took over 25 grouse in one season. There were grouse everywhere. Opening weekend I started on small trail and harvested 2 grouse on the way in. On the way back to my truck I had 3 grouse litterally under the front bumper of my truck, well you can guess what I did. So a few b-b's messed up my bumper it was worth it. Good luck and check out those forfeited plots.

mr

[CrappieAttitude]

Meat-Run,

I feel a little Road trip in the making...

CA

[charliepete2]

I'd take what ever gun has the most open choke. Load it with 7.5's and look for popples a little smaller than baseball bats next to water and sporadic conifers.

[huntingmaxima]

Early in the season I remove all my chokes and just shoot the threads. This time of the year I would not shoot more than IC. I shoot a Browning Gold 12 ga. and if it is toward the end of the day i might also take my 20 ga gold because it is relly light.

[jweitgen]

I prefer the bigger iron, but I would take an open choke before more lead. The wider the better, those birds are fast.

[knoppers]

I keep the modified choke in for everything, it works good for grouse shootin' 71/2 shot, and just as good shootin' 3 inch mags in BB for ducks and geese. I think you become more adjusted to shooting the same choke. a shorter barrel helps in the woods.

[TRITC]

MR,

I was there fall of '96 through spring of '98. I had a house out on the lake during the winter where I usually did my homework. Man trying to do accounting homework with textbook, workbook, notepad, calculator and writing utensils scattered all over and then having a walleye slam your bobber sure made for some excitement and a mess.

TRITC

Go Beavers!