Grouse Hunting Tough

The DNR drumming count appears to have been accurate. Birds were scarce. My buddy and I had 3 by 9:30am Sat however we only pushed about 5 birds during that time. Saw only 1 bird the rest of the day. No birds on trails or roads. Every one we flushed was in the woods. We covered a lot of area over a 30 mile section that we saw birds on last year. I’m probably switching gears this fall and do more fishing or pheasant hunting. I have already cancelled my next grouse trip. That’s just the way it goes. I will be eating grouse for dinner tonight!! The skunk population appears to be out of control up north. I spoke to a local that believed skunks had a large part in decimating the grouse. Smelled them all the time walking in woods and dead ones on the road constantly. Bummer.

I’ll second that Suzuki! By noon Saturday we were on our way out of the woods and ready to put the boat in the water. We covered a ton of ground that morning only for a few flushes and never got to pull the trigger.

After getting a few last year, I was really counting on the grouse to be on the up-swing (hoping those DNR reports were wrong!)
Considering how tough it was for us just to jump a few birds, I am impressed you got three the hard work will make those birds tase even better.

I’ll second that Suzuki! By noon Saturday we were on our way out of the woods and ready to put the boat in the water. We covered a ton of ground that morning only for a few flushes and never got to pull the trigger.

After getting a few last year, I was really counting on the grouse to be on the up-swing (hoping those DNR reports were wrong!)
Considering how tough it was for us just to jump a few birds, I am impressed you got three the hard work will make those birds tase even better.

I’m wondering if the DNR threw that comment about weather affecting counts in just to keep the hunter money coming. If the DNR or outdoor rags start saying the grouse season started off slow due to foilage then we know it’s a scam. They just aren’t there.
Where I was in far north central the birds are very low. Shawn Perich reports practically no birds on north shore and I believe him. I’m sure some people are hitting pockets but I’ve been doing this all my life and we are just at the bottom of the/a cycle, a term I use loosely since it is not as consistent as most people think. They will be back in high numbers hopefully some day as long as logging continues and we have large tracks of new growth aspen. My next major grouse trip just turned into a major fishing trip. I’m scheduled to take my non-hunting friends son out for a weekend and fishing somewhere up north will be just as fun. I’m may try to focus on other birds in the near future such as duck and more pheasant. Crow for sure.

I’m wondering if the DNR threw that comment about weather affecting counts in just to keep the hunter money coming. If the DNR or outdoor rags start saying the grouse season started off slow due to foilage then we know it’s a scam. They just aren’t there.
Where I was in far north central the birds are very low. Shawn Perich reports practically no birds on north shore and I believe him. I’m sure some people are hitting pockets but I’ve been doing this all my life and we are just at the bottom of the/a cycle, a term I use loosely since it is not as consistent as most people think. They will be back in high numbers hopefully some day as long as logging continues and we have large tracks of new growth aspen. My next major grouse trip just turned into a major fishing trip. I’m scheduled to take my non-hunting friends son out for a weekend and fishing somewhere up north will be just as fun. I’m may try to focus on other birds in the near future such as duck and more pheasant. Crow for sure.

I think the DNR definitely throws in that pseudo-disclaimer to keep the funds coming in. The 10 year cycle doesn’t seem to be quite as accurate for the birds as it is for the #’s of hunters out chasing them
I’ll probably only chase them while hiking in and out of the duck blinds from here on out…at least they seem to crumple pretty easily with steel
My little brother started school this fall at Vermillion CC in Ely, I was hoping to get some good reports from him and head up for a weekend, but from the sounds of it, it will have to be a walleye weekend instead.

I think the DNR definitely throws in that pseudo-disclaimer to keep the funds coming in. The 10 year cycle doesn’t seem to be quite as accurate for the birds as it is for the #’s of hunters out chasing them
I’ll probably only chase them while hiking in and out of the duck blinds from here on out…at least they seem to crumple pretty easily with steel
My little brother started school this fall at Vermillion CC in Ely, I was hoping to get some good reports from him and head up for a weekend, but from the sounds of it, it will have to be a walleye weekend instead.

Another option is the southeast MN birds where the bird counts are a little more stable from year to year and no hunting pressure(except myself and a few). But then again, I think moving 5 birds and getting 3 is very good.

Another option is the southeast MN birds where the bird counts are a little more stable from year to year and no hunting pressure(except myself and a few). But then again, I think moving 5 birds and getting 3 is very good.

Yes that was just extreme luck. 3 presented easy shots and we were hitting. Anyways Iv’e tried that years ago. May have to give it another shot.

Yes that was just extreme luck. 3 presented easy shots and we were hitting. Anyways Iv’e tried that years ago. May have to give it another shot.

Just heard from Shawn Perich, he says

“In six hunts with dogs, I’ve put up one grouse and two woodcock. I haven’t heard of anyone doing any better. The birds are really down.”

Does not sound good for our annual trip to Grand Marais. I guess we will have something to look forward to next year.

Just heard from Shawn Perich, he says

“In six hunts with dogs, I’ve put up one grouse and two woodcock. I haven’t heard of anyone doing any better. The birds are really down.”

Does not sound good for our annual trip to Grand Marais. I guess we will have something to look forward to next year.

I hunted on Saturday morning in areas that nearly always hold birds. I did not push a grouse, but I managed to bag two woodcock on four flushes. It was a beautiful morning which I was able to enjoy with a great dog, I was happy. We all look forward to the 7,8,9 and 0 years, when the grouse boom will once again be upon us.

I hunted on Saturday morning in areas that nearly always hold birds. I did not push a grouse, but I managed to bag two woodcock on four flushes. It was a beautiful morning which I was able to enjoy with a great dog, I was happy. We all look forward to the 7,8,9 and 0 years, when the grouse boom will once again be upon us.

I may be getting over to Whitewater on Friday for some hunting. I will report on flush counts of proven spots.

I may be getting over to Whitewater on Friday for some hunting. I will report on flush counts of proven spots.