Well boys here is your “Monday Morning Mash from Manland”
I spent the weekend with a good buddy of mine in the heart of Minnesota’s untamed wilderness. Our motivation for the weekend was simply to scout deer, rustle up a few grouse and possibly stumble across a shed antler. A tall task especially since Mike forgot coffee. 
For those of you who were lucky enough to spend the weekend in the northern reaches of Minnesota you were truly rewarded by “Mother Nature”; Our weather was simply fantastic with clear blue skies and temperatures reaching 50 degrees.
Ruffed Grouse appear to be at moderate levels based on what we observed with the occassional clutch of grouse found in close proximity to the low grounds. I’m not sure if I buy into the 7 year cyle theory. Hunters looking to put a “Grouse on the Barbie” had best put tighten down their goggles as the birds seem to be holding in the tangled mess of the thick growing popple and birch. It never siezes to amaze me with today’s “Road Hunter” how few men likely experience the “Nose Snap” of the “Red whippers” by never leaving a boot track 50 yards off the road.
The “Northland” Bucks seem to be a bit behind in seasonal territory marking as both rubs and scrapes were done seemingly half-hearted in the areas we scouted. As my buddy and I discussed in detail; the highly touted “RUT” is viewed quite differently hunter to hunter. We both agreed we would prefer to be hunting early rut before the big boys are on “Lock Down”. Once a big mature buck becomes locked down on a doe his movement is greatly reduced. It is the Search period where IMHO a hunter has the best chance to cross paths with the “Seasonal Ghost” which becomes most vulernable 2 weeks of the season. There were a few nice rubs, but generally most trees were just touched with a couple head turns. We were a bit more focused on Scat and tracks due to the seemingly reluctant nature of big boys ripping an area up. Possibly the warmer than average fall has the big boys still rather relaxed here in the 3rd weekend of October.
I was lucky enough to stumble across a couple fun things this weekend besides a nice batch of ruffed grouse; I found yet another Moose Shed located in cover truly not fit for the “Sane” human being. We also stumbled across an old kill site presumably by the loved and currently federally protected Minnesota Gray wolf. This Moose had bones scattered amongst a 20 foot area. I was able to find a fully intact Moose femur bone. I can’t help but ponder the horrific nature of a Moose/Wolf encounter. One might ponder what a “PETA” activist would say should they ever witness these real life encounters seldom understood within the confines of their homes. BTW this was a full grown animal and not just a calf. Upon conversations with big game specialists there are few documented cases of Moose/Wolf encounters. Well here is another from this field agent, that likely will be not “Documented”. 
We also had the pleasure of witnessing this “barred” owl overlooking some low lying timber. Not sure if you know this, but the “Barred” owl has a natural predator in the “Great Horned” owl that truly rules the forest from the Owl front. Those owls never sieze to amaze me with their silent wing beat and their “Ghostly” presence. I would bet a few nickles those owls prey upon the “Silly Chickens” of the northwoods also known as the up north “Partridge” or correctly named ruffed grouse.
Maybe next fall we can get together and do a little bird hunting.
