Grouse Opener 2019!

Another great weekend in the woods for me.

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Quick question for you grouse hunters, do you have to worry about deer ticks this time of year? I’ve only grouse hunted a few times and it has always been in later November after it freezes. I would like to go but I’m always weary of deer ticks.

mille-lacs-guy wrote:

Quick question for you grouse hunters, do you have to worry about deer ticks this time of year? I’ve only grouse hunted a few times and it has always been in later November after it freezes. I would like to go but I’m always weary of deer ticks.

Simple answer is yes. Especially on warmer days.

mille-lacs-guy wrote:

Quick question for you grouse hunters, do you have to worry about deer ticks this time of year? I’ve only grouse hunted a few times and it has always been in later November after it freezes. I would like to go but I’m always weary of deer ticks.

Don’t get a false sense of security just because it freezes, either.

mille-lacs-guy wrote:

Quick question for you grouse hunters, do you have to worry about deer ticks this time of year? I’ve only grouse hunted a few times and it has always been in later November after it freezes. I would like to go but I’m always weary of deer ticks.

Absolutely. The dog obviously gets tick medication/prevention but I also use a 50/50 water/vinegar mix in a spray bottle as a supplement for both myself and the dog. I spray my pants, boots and upper body and the dog gets sprayed all over with the water/vinegar mix.

I usually grouse hunt around Mille Lacs. Yes, plenty of deer ticks until there is a coating of snow.

Hunted today in NW Wis. Dog was infested with small ticks. What a mess to clean up. She did great. We got two!

Short answer is YES!!! The long answer as related to me by a veterinarian:

In the spring they come out of winter hibernation with the intent of feeding to nourish eggs to be laid before they die in the May/June period. They virtually disappear during the summer and the ticks we run into in the summer are generally ordinary wood ticks. Of course tick borne illness is still an issue with wood and other ticks in the summer period.

Then once fall comes, the first frost is generally the period of egg hatch and the deer/bear ticks we see then are in their nymphal stage (why they are so small) and looking for a meal to get to and through the winter period. The Vet also told me that they mostly hibernate once there is frost in the ground to 4″ or 4″ of snow on the ground, so they are problematic during both the Spring and Fall periods!!!

Medicine has gotten better and better and at least the vet medicine for the dog has gotten to be outstanding!!! Elimitick and types of permethrin sprays for clothing go a long way toward keeping us safer… Diligence in the woods and once you’re out is the key!!! This might sound like TMI, but the diligence is naked in the front of the mirror looking over your entire body feeling for unusual bumps in places that you’re not used to feeling that unusual bump!!!

Good Luck Hunting, Be Safe and be Diligent!!!

Mark

suzuki wrote:

Hunted today in NW Wis. Dog was infested with small ticks. What a mess to clean up. She did great. We got two!

Glad it wasn’t just me! I took the dog out for a quick 2 hr hunt Friday night after work. I pulled at least 10 (I lost count) small ticks off her when we got home. First time all year I’ve found any ticks on her and mileage wise, I’ve put on about 41 miles in the woods so far. Couldn’t believe it!

We use Bravecto for the dogs and ticks prevalence has fall off the radar. For people, duct tape your pant cuffs tightly, wear a t-shirt under your long sleeve shirt with the cuffs buttoned and the t-shirt tucked in. We’ve cut down ticks found on bodies by more than 80% in the last four years but doing these things.

Anyone hunting or hunted recently around Warroad/Baudette this year? Looking for some current reports as we are going up next weekend.

Nephews first grouse.

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Nice, he’ll remember that hunt forever

Brad Dimond wrote:

We use Bravecto for the dogs and ticks prevalence has fall off the radar.

Important clarification. Bravecto does not repel ticks. A tick must bite your dog to get exposed to the drug. It’s still important to look your dog over thoroughly after time in the woods. It’s better to pull them off your dog before they bite if possible.

Going to go on a hunt in Alaska pretty soon. Rabbits and grouse!

Spruce, or ruffed james? I spent (2) 2 week trips up there when I was out of college – and it is truly a special place! Welcome to “here” and POST PICS!!!

Vagabond wrote:

Anyone hunting or hunted recently around Warroad/Baudette this year? Looking for some current reports as we are going up next weekend.

Well if the forecasted snow falls next weekend, you might not have to worry about the ticks.

bigpike wrote:

Nephews first grouse.

Nice grouse! Great work getting him out!

Didn’t make it out grouse hunting but the dogs were covered in ticks after a short walk in the woods by the cabin this weekend. Did bust a grouse too, but of course weren’t hunting!

I hunted some on Friday north of Grand Rapids in the windy/rainy/sleety weather.
No birds sighted. Got up early Sat to 4″ of snow and low wind. Flushed 6 before the scattered snow started again so I bagged it. I was not up for walking off trail and getting instantly soaked by all the snow covered brush. Funny moment was when I flushed 4 in a group. I hadent seen anything in so long I let my guard down and was daydreaming when they blew. It was all slow motion and I could see the easy shot but couldnt get my gun up fast enough. I can still see that huge fan tail in my mind. I scared the hell out of them with a 5 shot volley but they are all fine and hopefully make lots more little Grouse next year! One thing I have noticed about up north is that ALL the two tracks are hunted with quads. I even had one come down the minimal trail I had parked on. I would never pull into a Grouse covert with a vehicle parked there. They also make it harder to find birds on an average walk in hunt since they can get so far back easily. I keep threatening to take a wheeler up but so far never have. Also with all the rain the amount of standing water and mud was like nothing I have ever seen up there.

Price county is all about the woodcock right now. Flushed a grouse and woodcock walking down a firelane next to a swamp with young popple nailing the woodcock on Friday. After walking the woods on either side of the swamp without anything I hit the swamp and immediately had 6 woodcock flush up getting another. Went back Saturday and had 25 flush mostly woodcock. None down as most the shooting was tough. Headed back out now to see if I can touch a few. Love watching the dog lock up on those woodcock.

Cash and I put up 12 woodcock and 6 grouse tonight. Getting 2 woodcock and 1 grouse. Nice ratio! Worked the edges of the swamp away from the road. Shot the grouse on my first flushed covey of the year. Proud of my dog, he’s a keeper

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Sweet brown tail!

bigpike wrote:

Cash and I put up 12 woodcock and 6 grouse tonight. Getting 2 woodcock and 1 grouse. Nice ratio! Worked the edges of the swamp away from the road. Shot the grouse on my first flushed covey of the year. Proud of my dog, he’s a keeper

Nice work! Good looking bird dog for sure.

Thank you! Another good night in the woods. The woodcock seemed to have moved on as I only put up 2. A dozen grouse up and 2 down. I have been noticing red berry bushes of some sort in the area Im hunting and sure enough I found some packed in the birds gullet as I was cleaning it.

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bigpike wrote:

Thank you! Another good night in the woods. The woodcock seemed to have moved on as I only put up 2. A dozen grouse up and 2 down. I have been noticing red berry bushes of some sort in the area Im hunting and sure enough I found some packed in the birds gullet as I was cleaning it.

Unfortunately I think I’m going to miss the woodcock window this year. Was stymied by the weather last weekend. I have been seeing decent grouse numbers though and will get a chance to do some hunting at the end of the month.

Attached is a pic of Winterberry but I’m not sure grouse eat them. We have a bunch of it in our area. I was also seeing a fair amount of Hawthorne a couple weeks ago which is s food source. Another candidate is high bush cranberry not to mention crabapple can be a great grouse magnet.

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We had a couple Grouse two weeks ago and one of them had a sickly sweet flavor so I’m guessing it ate a bunch of berries?