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Going to be hunting north of Cloquet this coming weekend...

Not looking for spots, as I have plenty that I hunt on a semi-regular basis, but have not been in the area yet this year.

Just want to know if people are seeing a fair number of birds. I have heard of people seeing very few birds in areas west and northwest of the Cloquet area. I hunted the Brainerd lakes area this past weekend and saw lots of birds, with there being a goode mix of juvenile and mature birds.

Thanks for the help!

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Was out in that area yesterday. I saw a few more than I had been seeing earlier, but they still seemed to be in groups, to a certain extent. Very few flushes along trails, had to push brush to find decent numbers of birds. Wet out there, too. Hope that helps.

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That sounds a lot like it was when I was up there last year. We found some birds, but there were very rarely on or near the trails...we had to get out and bust some brush to find them. The ones that were near the trails were very jumpy and almost impossible to get close enough to shoot. I just hope there are more birds than last year, as seems to be the case in many other parts of the state. I have a 5 month old german shorthair that I would love to get on some birds...

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a gun question for you...right now I shoot an 870 Express 12ga 26" barrel. I know it's a "utility gun", kind of heavy and I wonder if I'd be more successful in the brush with something shorter and lighter. Been looking at a few options in 20ga and I wonder if a half-pound of weight and 2" shorter barrel will make a world of difference or not so much. I'm relatively new to the sport and I guess this could go in the hunting forum but since we're here...

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I have two shotguns that I use for grouse hunting, but I definitely favor one of them. I used to hunt with an 870 Express, and while it is a bit heavy, I always liked it. Now, I have a Browning Gold 12 ga. with a 26" barrel, it handles quite nicely and is relatively light to carry, but my favorite to carry through the woods and brush is my 20 ga. It is a Stoeger Condor Over/Under with a 26" barrel. Despite the same length barrel, it is definitely shorter and is nice to use in the brush. On top of all of that, you can get them pretty cheap. I got mine at a small shop in the cities for $429, but I have seen them in ads at the bigger sporting goods stores for as little as $279. Hope this helps!

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yeah that's great, thanks a lot. I think I was actually looking at that Stoeger and was wondering why they are so affordable? Maybe I've heard too much about "classic" O/U guns that run into the $thousands that I somehow figured that was the ballgame. I'll check out the Browning, too. Good luck out there - I hope your shorthair finds more birds than my Heinz 57 does, which is not a lot but we do allright, considering. tongue.gif

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I was out the last two days and finally started seeing some birds. We only got a handfull over the weekend but saw a bunch. We worked from island lake to two harbors.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

There are some fair pockets of Grouse here and there. Birds started dispersing so that area you hit before might have grouse moving in.

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Went out today down the echo trail.. saw one grouse, shot that one grouse.. this one was bigger then i ever shot before. No ticks at all on me to Hunter.. Hunter did super with the gun too, didn't bother him one bit. Will post pic later

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Thanks for the info, guys...hopefully I will be able to find a few birds myself. I really hope the ticks aren't too bad. The last two weekends I have been in the Crosslake area, and the ticks have been HORRENDOUS!!! I have never picked so many ticks off myself or my dog. For every trail I walked, I would end up pulling 30-40 ticks off of me and at least that many off the dog. Now, factor in that we would walk 10-12 different trails a day, sometimes more, that adds up to a LOT of ticks.

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Went out yesterday afternoon, we flushed 11 and shot 10. We busted the brush alot only one was taken near a trail.

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Yukon

When i shot it, he ran over to it.. i told him to heel but he was to excited and didn't listen.. He picked it up and carried it over to me and drop it before me, then he saw the feet were kicking a bit after he drop it and then it became a game to him. He grab it and didn't want to give it up.. After 4 "drop it's", he let go, and and sat there watching my every move, His face got all wrinkled and his butt/tail couldnt stay still... i think it went really good for his first grouse, he still needs training on staying and letting go with a bird, he does with everything else tho, but i think he did great.. Hunter is 3 months and still has lots of time for training.. What do you think?

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Not gun shy, brings back the bird. Does not sound bad to me. Does he have a soft mouth? Boy I miss hunting with a dog

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Yes he doesn't bite down hard, expect for my hands lol.. puppy teeth ouch!!! but as soon as i say ouchie he lets go..It's his first one, and i am not sure what he thought of it all yet..He brought back the grouse once, so we will see as time goes on.. Today took him out for a few hours, not hunting just in the woods, and he had a blast, I shot off the blanks and tossed the dokken grouse and he was all over it, He looked to the sky when i lifted the pistol and he sat there, legs shaking till i gave him his command " OK" and off he went and brought it back to me.. We just have a good time me and him... being buddies

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I got my first today with my Bow on my way back to my truck smirk.gif. My 2nd with a bow what a great day grin.gif.

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A great day

a double header.. yay

thats what i like to see.. i used to use bow too but after this move back here to ely, i don't have much left. I had to sell a lot for medical for my daughter and myself and the move back, but its all ok, i will slowly get back what i had.. I have my shot gun .. my dog..and my fishing pole and gear i am happy..I cant wait to get me another bow.. i miss bowing hunting so much

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