High expectations

My high expectations in pounding my favorite coverts around Mcgrath were met with two days of walking resulting in very few flushes. In the good years (which they say are beginning now) I can typically put 10-30 birds up in a day of walking quality cover. I flushed two grouse on Saturday. I flushed six birds on Sunday, including 2 woodcock. I was wondering prior to my weekend trip why everyone was so consumed with low bird numbers…well, I quickly found out. I attribute the phenomenon two ways, either the volunteers working the drumming routes need new batteries in their hearing aids -or- the MN DNR really wanted to sell a large amount of small game licenses by skewing the drumming count numbers.

Seeing is believing.

Seeing is believing.

I just read in the latest Outdoor News Gary Clancy makes the same claim for the area I visited this season. His group saw 50% less birds than 2006. That whole area north and east of Winnie just isnt there.

I just read in the latest Outdoor News Gary Clancy makes the same claim for the area I visited this season. His group saw 50% less birds than 2006. That whole area north and east of Winnie just isnt there.

I also read Clancy’s article at the cabin this past Friday afternoon, I didn’t believe it. I went and busted the brush and quickly found out that it was true. I think Clancy is on the right track regarding a poor hatch this spring due to the weather. So disappointing though, seeing as we grouse hunters wait so long for the “good years”.

I also read Clancy’s article at the cabin this past Friday afternoon, I didn’t believe it. I went and busted the brush and quickly found out that it was true. I think Clancy is on the right track regarding a poor hatch this spring due to the weather. So disappointing though, seeing as we grouse hunters wait so long for the “good years”.

Yep. I dont have time to bounce all over the state. Pheasant hunting, deer hunting and other stuff take up a lot of my fall weekends now.

Yep. I dont have time to bounce all over the state. Pheasant hunting, deer hunting and other stuff take up a lot of my fall weekends now.

The SW corner is about the same as last year, maybe up a bit. Expect a flush every 1/2 hour to 45 min; eating mostly leafy greens like clover and grass.

Central MN has been so-so, numbers seemed clustered in areas to me. The little white berries seemed hot a couple weekends ago. Have not been there much, dunno what to look for now.

Northern MN seems a bust to me, at least there is less than last year. The couple birds I got had empty gizzards? Last year this time it was a find the standing water and green mossy pine tree looking thing and you found the birds. My trip was in the rainy weather, that may have been a contributor, don’t know for sure.

Central to North West Wisconsin seemed better than MN. I think that’s because there are more road hunters and less foot walkers in the places I have been in Wisconsin? I don’t have a way to validate that, but I never run into foot walkers in Wisconsin, they are all riding the trails shooting of the back of their 4 wheelers. Green leafies in the crops of those birds.

The SW corner is about the same as last year, maybe up a bit. Expect a flush every 1/2 hour to 45 min; eating mostly leafy greens like clover and grass.

Central MN has been so-so, numbers seemed clustered in areas to me. The little white berries seemed hot a couple weekends ago. Have not been there much, dunno what to look for now.

Northern MN seems a bust to me, at least there is less than last year. The couple birds I got had empty gizzards? Last year this time it was a find the standing water and green mossy pine tree looking thing and you found the birds. My trip was in the rainy weather, that may have been a contributor, don’t know for sure.

Central to North West Wisconsin seemed better than MN. I think that’s because there are more road hunters and less foot walkers in the places I have been in Wisconsin? I don’t have a way to validate that, but I never run into foot walkers in Wisconsin, they are all riding the trails shooting of the back of their 4 wheelers. Green leafies in the crops of those birds.

I tried some new spots for this grouse trip based on advise from a county forester. I hit it hard alone on Saturday and flushed 10 birds between 9:30-10:30 all flew away unscathed dang they’re quick! What a way to start the day!!! My third grouse trip and my first flushes for 2007!!! All of the initial flushes came from brush pile blow downs in thick sapling areas. I didn’t flush another one for an hour and a half and I finally connected It was about 20 yards from the truck and right next to the trail…finally an open shot!

Having forgotten my boots at home I spent most of the day hopping from high spot to high spot trying not to soak my feet! Note to self, double check stuff next time and hunt all the way back to the truck!

I was going to head to the nearest cafe for lunch and noticed a forest road with no vehicles so I tried it and flushed a couple more birds. I was pretty hungry so I stopped for lunch. They had a plat map book showing all the tax forfeit land in the county. That land is also open for public hunting. I found some new spots to try in the future.

After lunch I hit a familiar trail and scored 2 more for tonights dinner The funny thing is I busted brush for an hour and a half instead of walking the trail. I never flushed one??? I was kind of turned around (even with GPS) and stumbled onto the trail from way back in and walked it for awhile. I flushed 3 right next to the trail…go figure.

I made it back to the truck and decided to hit the second trail again and flushed several more birds. I think they were roosting up for the night and were very skittish. A rabbit even flushed one after I kicked him up!

I ended up with 21 flushes from 9:30 am until about 5:00 pm.
It was my highest # of flushes in 15+ years even though some were flushed twice. They didn’t seem to mind the endless array of ATV’s cruising down the trail with deer stands in tow I don’t think they were bird hunting??? It seemed like they were just pushed 20 yards or more off the trail.

I saw a Pine Martin or Fisher or black fur bearing animal cruising for a meal to top off the day.
It seems like the birds are thick in some spots while there’s nothing 30 miles away??? All 3 of my birds had greens in their crops.

What an awesome day to be in the woods with a shotgun!

Ferny.

I tried some new spots for this grouse trip based on advise from a county forester. I hit it hard alone on Saturday and flushed 10 birds between 9:30-10:30 all flew away unscathed dang they’re quick! What a way to start the day!!! My third grouse trip and my first flushes for 2007!!! All of the initial flushes came from brush pile blow downs in thick sapling areas. I didn’t flush another one for an hour and a half and I finally connected It was about 20 yards from the truck and right next to the trail…finally an open shot!

Having forgotten my boots at home I spent most of the day hopping from high spot to high spot trying not to soak my feet! Note to self, double check stuff next time and hunt all the way back to the truck!

I was going to head to the nearest cafe for lunch and noticed a forest road with no vehicles so I tried it and flushed a couple more birds. I was pretty hungry so I stopped for lunch. They had a plat map book showing all the tax forfeit land in the county. That land is also open for public hunting. I found some new spots to try in the future.

After lunch I hit a familiar trail and scored 2 more for tonights dinner The funny thing is I busted brush for an hour and a half instead of walking the trail. I never flushed one??? I was kind of turned around (even with GPS) and stumbled onto the trail from way back in and walked it for awhile. I flushed 3 right next to the trail…go figure.

I made it back to the truck and decided to hit the second trail again and flushed several more birds. I think they were roosting up for the night and were very skittish. A rabbit even flushed one after I kicked him up!

I ended up with 21 flushes from 9:30 am until about 5:00 pm.
It was my highest # of flushes in 15+ years even though some were flushed twice. They didn’t seem to mind the endless array of ATV’s cruising down the trail with deer stands in tow I don’t think they were bird hunting??? It seemed like they were just pushed 20 yards or more off the trail.

I saw a Pine Martin or Fisher or black fur bearing animal cruising for a meal to top off the day.
It seems like the birds are thick in some spots while there’s nothing 30 miles away??? All 3 of my birds had greens in their crops.

What an awesome day to be in the woods with a shotgun!

Ferny.

For the most part this year the birds I have seen have been about 20 yards into the woods.

I havent seen a lot right on the trails directly, but I have been on a lot more heavily traveled trails as I have been into Wisconsin a lot more this year.

What part of the state were you in?

For the most part this year the birds I have seen have been about 20 yards into the woods.

I havent seen a lot right on the trails directly, but I have been on a lot more heavily traveled trails as I have been into Wisconsin a lot more this year.

What part of the state were you in?

North East state forest.
Ferny

North East state forest.
Ferny

I was in Chislom up in the Superior Nat’l forest last weekend; saw about the same numbers of birds there as I have across the state and into eastern Wisconsin. Figure a flush every 45 – 50 min or so.

The birds I was seeing are singles mostly on or at the edge of the trails.

When I can find clover patches and bare dirt around dense brush or pines we find the most birds. Other singles are scattered around, but I have not found a lot of covies.

Talking with the other grouse hunters and bough cutters around that I have seen out and about I am pretty much calling this year somewhat of a bust or at least it is a disappointment. There are birds and out there to be found, but it’s nothing to call home about.

All the birds I have shot except one this year have been a season old or older, (beaks don’t bend), which leads me to believe the hatch across the state was pretty low despite the reports the DNR issues to entice people to buy licenses.

For me last weekend was pretty much the last weekend for grouse in MN until November is over as the deer hunters add too much excitement to the woods for me when I have the dogs with.

Off to Wisconsin with me! Hopefully the birds there are not getting tired of watching me walk by.

I did hear the wardens were out off the Sturgeon river trail in Chislom with a robo-grouse looking for road hunters. I didn’t see ‘em but one of the guys I spoke to sounded like he got a hefty ticket for road hunting.

I was in Chislom up in the Superior Nat’l forest last weekend; saw about the same numbers of birds there as I have across the state and into eastern Wisconsin. Figure a flush every 45 – 50 min or so.

The birds I was seeing are singles mostly on or at the edge of the trails.

When I can find clover patches and bare dirt around dense brush or pines we find the most birds. Other singles are scattered around, but I have not found a lot of covies.

Talking with the other grouse hunters and bough cutters around that I have seen out and about I am pretty much calling this year somewhat of a bust or at least it is a disappointment. There are birds and out there to be found, but it’s nothing to call home about.

All the birds I have shot except one this year have been a season old or older, (beaks don’t bend), which leads me to believe the hatch across the state was pretty low despite the reports the DNR issues to entice people to buy licenses.

For me last weekend was pretty much the last weekend for grouse in MN until November is over as the deer hunters add too much excitement to the woods for me when I have the dogs with.

Off to Wisconsin with me! Hopefully the birds there are not getting tired of watching me walk by.

I did hear the wardens were out off the Sturgeon river trail in Chislom with a robo-grouse looking for road hunters. I didn’t see ‘em but one of the guys I spoke to sounded like he got a hefty ticket for road hunting.

I can’t speak for MN grouse hunters but the numbers in WI are excellent. I spent last weekned in Winter/Ojibwa area and we flushed birds at every stop. We ended up between two of us shooting five birds but we missed a lot of those rockets with feathers. Even riding the back logging roads there were a lot of birds.

I can’t speak for MN grouse hunters but the numbers in WI are excellent. I spent last weekned in Winter/Ojibwa area and we flushed birds at every stop. We ended up between two of us shooting five birds but we missed a lot of those rockets with feathers. Even riding the back logging roads there were a lot of birds.

I think the numbers of birds get a little better as you head towards the east. I was in a around the Minong area again last saturday and pulled a couple birds out of the woods. I dont think this is a great year, but there are birds in the woods.

The birds I shot last weekend were eating the clover greens and a the millipeds or what ever those little brown bugs with millions of little legs are.