Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

grouse reports


Recommended Posts

how is your season going? I seen nothing opening afternoon, but plenty of other hunters out enjoying the nice weather.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't been up there for a month and a half.  My dog broke off some teeth and needed surgery last time we were up there and he's still recovering.  He's had some infections so it hasn't heeled like it should have.  He still has a couple of weeks left before it HOPEFULLY heals fully.  IF I get out this year, I'll give a report.  I'm not sure that will happen though.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was going to try to hit the trails around the state land this weekend. Also going to try some fishing..guess you would call it a half A$$'d cast and blast! How has the fishing been on BSL? was going to try and do some jigging with some Jigging raps. Never tried it up there so thought I would give it a whirl. How is the grouse hunting in the state land down Loon Ave? I know I see a few people heading that direction this time of year. Just the wife and I going to head out and do some scouting and hunting. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I will be Grouse hunting for the first time in the MacGregor area over the weekend of 10/17.  I'm hoping the leaves have mostly fallen by then! It sounds like my buddies haven't had the best luck the last 2 years but I'm hoping we can find some productive areas to flush some birds.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hunted a little bit friday. Not one grouse, saturday and sunday were focused on ducks.....Shot a few. 

Leaves are starting to drop, however still some that haven't even changed color yet. I am guessing they will quickly change this week with the cooler nights, then after one big wind, they will be down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife and I hunted Saturday mid morning for Grouse. Walked a while before we jumped two. Was able to get one shot off, but the woods still has two grouse living in it! was a great weekend to spend time in the woods and on the water. A lot of vegetation still up. Like mentioned above shouldn't be too much longer for some of that to get out of the way. We did fish BSL saturday night and we picked our night spot for walleyes on the north end and ended up with 10 nice crappies and a slot walleye. I have no clue why the crappies were in the area we were..sand with rock bottom no weeds and was on the leeward side of a point. Im not complaining by any means, but just didn't make sense they were in that area in 14' of water. I wanted to have answers to why they were there! All in all a good weekend up north.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The area we are hunting is on the up swing two years ago was low last two years its up. At least in our area  if we would of put more time into the grouse instead of ducks we would of done really well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did flush 7 grouse the last couple days, no dog. I did miss a couple of can't miss shots. seems as though I always miss them early, but get them late, I hope that still holds true. I have not jumped any groups, all have been singles, which makes me think there was not a good year for production.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am going to duck hunt in the mornings. I may do a little grouse hunting now that the weather has cooled down.  At least you're seeing a few Knoppers, that's encouraging! 

For all the time I have have already spent in the woods deer hunting and checking cameras, wheeling etc., just have not seen many grouse. I haven't had a good grouse season since the late 90's up around big sandy area. I used to go out and always come home with a few, now days, I feel lucky if I see one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my best year was in the late 90's, on one weekend back then, I missed everything on Friday, in fact I ran out of shells. I stopped to get another box of shells which were high brass 7.5 shot, the next day I was 5 for 5 with the 7.5 shot, now that's all I ever will use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Almost hit two of them bombing around dirt logging roads on my Dual Sport bike. But didn't see one in the woods when checking on deer stands and scouting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Knoppers must shoot like me.  We're going up this weekend and will let you know what we find.  Only my second time trying it near Big Sandy, so lots of learning and scouting.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hope to make it up at least for Sunday! But not sure if I want to bring the boat up since last time up we found some slabs! I know we will be up the following weekend with it being MEA for the kids. How are the woods looking? Is it starting to clear up a bit yet?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

finally got my first bird on Friday, only seen one other. lots out hunting on Saturday, not much activity. the understory has cleared out well, all other leaves falling fast.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the info. My wife and I were up yesterday, but we couldn't pull off of the lake. Was just too nice and knowing that was probably it for being on the lake this year. One last boat outing the next weekend as we are heading to LOTW. With this wind it should clear up very nice in the woods! Myself and the boys are heading up on Friday to try for some birds and check an area for deer hunting. Has anyone on here ever hunted the Remote Lake trails for deer? The are looks nice, but wasn't sure of how many go in that area for deer. That is where the wife and I hunted/walked the last time up. Any info would be great! Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Marhshall, back in the day when a guy needed 4x4 to get back in remote, we had stands everywhere, mostly towards the end of the road near the lake. Ever since they made the road like a highway, we stopped going there. Way too many people, people will stand on the ground by a tree 100 feet from your tree. It's just not worth the hassle, there's campers at every little spot, tons of hunters. By the 3rd weekend, there's not many people up there.

Unless you grab a GPS and walk a few miles in, be careful though, not an area you want to get lost.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BSL thanks for the info. I know up on the north end where it goes right to the lake, there were tone of people up there last year. I found a little piece down by the cabin where not anyone else was. I'm more talking the cross country ski trials are. I know you can't drive wheelers or cars back in there so thinking that would keep most people away. I'm going to walk those trails again on Friday with the boys to check some more area's. with that wind from yesterday would think a lot more viewing in the woods now! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

not much seen this weekend, only hunted Friday. many people out, MEA weekend. the leaves are all down now. for you duck hunters, the ringbills have arrived.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, lots of leaves down, still some left on the trees. Wow, what a poor weekend for hunting. Flushed 1 grouse the whole weekend. Walked several miles, rode the wheeler several miles. Was still nice to be out as the weather was perfect for grouse hunting.

Few ducks around but not enough hunters to keep the ducks moving. Lots of ducks rafting out on BSL.

Did not see many deer either.

Looking forward to Nov. 7th! Opening rifle season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Knoppers, any deer sign in the woods? I was up over MEA and didn't see much at all for scrapes or rubs. Just wondering if those bucks are getting excited yet?

 

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have seen no scrapes, seeing plenty of does and fawns in the hay fields. I did see a very large buck a few weeks ago, he will just get bigger as he was inside a city limit.

seen 3 grouse Friday out only about a hour, I was 0-2 shooting.:(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

OK were are the birds? I have been out 5 times and seen only one bird. I hunted 4 different areas. I hope its just because of all the foliage, and I don't have a dog. I am thinking that they had a bad hatch this spring in my area. anyone else having a rough year so far? even when the cycle is at its lowest point, I see far more birds than I have seen this year. this year the DNR claims 57% increase this spring, and also nearing the top of the cycle. I hope this turns around soon, or I will wish I would have bowhunted this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

started seeing more birds, shot at two, got one. everyone I talk to out hunting says there are not seeing much. there seems to be plenty of people out hunting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.