Cool Video – Ruffed Grouse Hunting

Honestly grouse hunting is one type of hunting I’ve never done, but this video really makes me want to do it.

How would you guys say it compares to pheasant hunting? Any general tips or suggestions on where to go if I’m looking to try grouse hunting? (I live near St. Paul, Minnesota)

Thanks!
Tony

I flush them off puddles in the road all the time…….

I don’t know a lot about grouse but if grouse didn’t open a month before pheasant I would never go. Since they are in the woods though the hunting is better and easier later in the year once leaves thin out. Maybe I’ll try once this year later but generally I only go during the first month.

Probably about the closest big area is the Mille Lacs WMA and Rum River State Forest.

There’s a lot more grouse further up north in the Superior National Forest areas like Orr, Ely, Isabella and up. I’ve been going to Isabella but am going to try Orr next, I don’t know what is better.

If you go up north you are going to find that 95% of people just drive around on forest roads in their vehicle or on ATVs and road hunt. It’s really annoying trying to actually walk somewhere and have a convoy of ATVs pass you. Walking up to one on the road and flushing it like in the video is more often driving up on an ATV and shooting it on the ground I think for most people Try to find smaller trails or ones that don’t look used much if you want to walk.

Ill be north of Grand Rapids this weekend chasing Grouse. Cant wait. Then back up there again two weeks later. Even when its bad up there you find some birds.
I have all but given up on the north shore after getting skunked there multiple times even though it can be dynamite if you find them. I used to chase them in SE Mn but lost interest in those areas over the years.

suzuki wrote:

Ill be north of Grand Rapids this weekend chasing Grouse. Cant wait. Then back up there again two weeks later. Even when its bad up there you find some birds.
I have all but given up on the north shore after getting skunked there multiple times even though it can be dynamite if you find them. I used to chase them in SE Mn but lost interest in those areas over the years.

I’m trying Isabella this weekend one more time, just because it’s a short trip and I know the area. Might be the last time though unless it really surprises me.

Last year, on opening day, the guys in the campsite next to me got 9 and that convinced me to keep trying that area. I can’t find them though…

Reef W wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
Ill be north of Grand Rapids this weekend chasing Grouse. Cant wait. Then back up there again two weeks later. Even when its bad up there you find some birds.
I have all but given up on the north shore after getting skunked there multiple times even though it can be dynamite if you find them. I used to chase them in SE Mn but lost interest in those areas over the years.

I’m trying Isabella this weekend one more time, just because it’s a short trip and I know the area. Might be the last time though unless it really surprises me.

Last year, on opening day, the guys in the campsite next to me got 9 and that convinced me to keep trying that area. I can’t find them though…

I love that area. I’ve gotten lots of birds there and had trips where came home early because it sucked so bad. This over a 30 year span. The guys that got nine probably decimated a clutch or two. Ive done it but I wont any longer. Good luck up there. Maybe take a Brookie rod?

ps-Im taking my pud this time. She has really surprised me on Grouse this summer while walking by the cabin. She appears to have a knack for it! How about yours?

i’ll 2nd what reef said. I usually only hunt grouse while im at the shack getting things ready for deer camp. ill bring a shotgun with me while im setting up stands or scouting area for deer season.

suzuki wrote:

ps-Im taking my pud this time. She has really surprised me on Grouse this summer while walking by the cabin. She appears to have a knack for it! How about yours?

I always take them, I wouldn’t go otherwise. Hard to say if they have any knack for it though, they haven’t gotten on a lot of them. This is the younger ones first year and he hasn’t seen one yet. I have seen the older one point a couple and stay steady but most of the time, early in the year, I can’t really see what’s going on because of all the leaves. He could just be running them over by accident for all I know In any case they hunt really close though so I don’t think they could do much harm.