Grouse on public land

[bean357]

South of Roosevelt in the Beltrami forest

[eyes4life]

bean357 wrote:
South of Roosevelt in the Beltrami forest

I haven’t been up this year but have hunted the area since I was eight and I’m now thirty and have never seen numbers fluctuate a whole lot it’s always better later in the year there has been some years where there were low numbers but unless your willing to put on the miles on your shoes and not your wheels your not going to have the success you desire plain and simple there are just to many people driving around looking for the easy birds find good looking trails and head off of them in the woods I like walking the trails until I find some god habitat then it’s off the beating path from there in a dry year like this look for water and swamp edges with good cover especially low cover my mom raises free range chickens and when it’s dry they drink tons of water the grouse donthe same

Awaiting the next bite...

[Joehere]

Reading drumming survey results, best place per the 2017 report to find birds will be the northeast arrowhead. Northwest and Central hardwoods populations still rising. Although my thought would be same as others,wait for the leaves,brush to drop,hit the swamp,river edge. Boots on the ground,,,that’s why they call it hunting. Good luck and be safe.

[Shortline]

IMO, drumming counts are only a SMALL portion of the puzzle. Spring nesting conditions are the #1 determinant of fall huntable populations. Grouse have 10-12 egg nests…… good conditions = lots of birds.

Yes, there are trends/cycles/drumming counts, but overall, I do not believe there is a more significant factor than spring nesting conditions. (Plus clear cut logging practices…..damn the selective cut mindset up north!!!!!).

We didn’t have a great spring.

It's better to be in the boat with a drink on the rocks than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.......

[Joehere]

Shortline wrote:
IMO, drumming counts are only a SMALL portion of the puzzle. Spring nesting conditions are the #1 determinant of fall huntable populations. Grouse have 10-12 egg nests…… good conditions = lots of birds.

Yes, there are trends/cycles/drumming counts, but overall, I do not believe there is a more significant factor than spring nesting conditions. (Plus clear cut logging practices…..damn the selective cut mindset up north!!!!!).

We didn’t have a great spring.

I’d be inclined to agree with that SL,,,in theory but,not being a wildlife expert one can only go on personal experience and or opinion. It’s a big state,my view from here (LSF) being limited,all things considered,I’m gonna wait for awhile before calling it another down year.

It would be interesting to revisit this after deer season with a few more reports. Thanks for sharing

[bottlebass]

I’ll do my own count while sitting in the deer stand and let you know whether numbers are up or down from last year ” title=”” class=”bbcode_smiley” />

[eyes4life]

Was up yesterday mostly looking at land that’s for sale and didn’t hunt hard but did see a fair amount of birds and didn’t have to work very hard for them only went for two walks the first produced nothing and my brother got one on the other all the other birds we saw driving slow and looking in to the woods on the way too and from home ended up getting three more doing that and saw ten or so total was trying really hard to get my daughter her first but she is still a little hesitant and was not setting any speed records getting her aim down lol if she wouldn’t have been along we would have gotten a few more but I wouldn’t change a thing it was a blast seeing her get so excited and now she is more determined then ever to get her first bird time to chit the range and aim with her this week and maybe get back up next weekend

Awaiting the next bite...

[Oldstar]

I’ve been out 4 times from Moose Lake to Remer and I have got 1 bird and only seen a few more. Others hunters reporting the same. Any good reports? Looks the DNR was way off this year.

[PikePetersen]

I was in the Moose Lake area last weekend. Saw fewer birds than last year, even though we hunted more days. Lots of leaves still up on the trees. I’ll hopefully be trying again before deer season opens, but it didn’t seem like bird numbers were up significantly per the DNR report.

[Bobb-o]

Was between Marcell and Bigfork this weekend, and didn’t even see a bird. Talked to other groups, sounds like it was that way for everyone.

Remember, the most important thing you can give is your time.

[eyes4life]

From Roosevelt to four town has been good for us

Awaiting the next bite...

[LoganFish]

Was just north of moose lake on Monday because of being off for fall break from college. I flushed 5 birds the whole day and I did not have a dog. Keep in mind too I was by myself. Got two of the five I flushed Like others said you have to hunt not just walk on open logging trails. Get dirty go in thick brush and low lying areas. If I wouldn’t of left the logging trail I wouldn’t of flushed anything. That being said having less leaves on the trees always helps a lot too. Good luck everyone

[Crappie1984]

Grouse hunted public land up near Lake Vermillion last weekend. Saw around 20 over the three days, ended up with 4 in the bag. My gun ejector spring is messed up so i essentially had a single shot all weekend. Just glad to see some birds. 3 were gray and 1 was a nice Red Phase colored grouse…pretty cool. ” title=”” class=”bbcode_smiley” />

[Oldstar]

I have been out 4 times and have 1 bird to show for my efforts. Probably the worst year I can remember. Hunted mostly Moose Lake area. DNR was sure off on their counts, not the first time……..

[Bigfatber]

Got out this a.m on public land superior national forest , saw 4 grouse from 8:00-noon , shot 3 and really should of had the 4th bird. It seems the birds are finding more of a need for gravel as of late .. what a gorgeous day it was for October 19th , at almost 70 degrees .

[Author]

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