Grouse anyone

[fishnowworknever]

Looking at taking out a new dog this weekend, but all the areas I'm thinking of trying are in the third weekend zone for gun (deer) season. Think I'll be okay walking trails in Mille Lacs WMA or in Rum River State Forest, or still too many guys that wouldn't appreciate me walking through?

I wouldn't worry what they think, what about yourself? It's public land do what you want.

[jparrucci]

Not always safe when the drunken orange army is out.

[smackem33]

I wouldn't bring my dog in the woods during rifle season ( drunken o orange army lol)

[smackem33]

Its also called respect why would you want to ruin somebodys hunt, if I got out to my stand a hour before light and some tard comes tromping througha half hour after first light I would not be happy... Rifle season is only three weekends out of the year let them hunt it IMO

[tybo]

The woods are open to all hunting not just for deer hunters. Respect is a two way street. If anyone has a problem with it your problem should be with the state that allows it and not the hunter that chooses to do what is legal. The archery deer season is just as long as the small game season so while the rifle season may be only a few weeks/weekends deer hunting isn't limited to just those weeks.

That being said I won't be in the grouse woods because I don't trust all deer hunters and it only takes one to do something bad. I used to deer hunt but prefer hunting birds with my dogs over hunting deer now. That's fine, its my choice but I don't trust some deer hunters. How many even know they can't legally shoot a dog even if it's running deer during the season? Probably not many because that would require reading the regs. I hear lots of people say they'd shoot one if they saw it. That doesn't sound very respectful if you ask me.

I think most hunters are fine but as I stated it only takes one to do something bad and I love my dogs too much to expose them to that. I either stay out of the wood or hunt pheasants in areas where I feel my dogs and I are safe.

[sightfisher]

Some strong opinions here. Thanks for the feedback. I was part of that 'army' two weeks ago; drunken is a pretty broad-brush statement, but all too true - not worth coming across a bad apple. I've decided to head west and look for a pheasant or two; grouse after Thanksgiving!

[tacklejunkie]

Its also called respect why would you want to ruin somebodys hunt, if I got out to my stand a hour before light and some tard comes tromping througha half hour after first light I would not be happy... Rifle season is only three weekends out of the year let them hunt it IMO

+1.

I deer hunted last year but not this year. Didn't take hold, I guess. My youngest got my venison,anyways. But yeah,he would be upset if I and the dog decided to go grouse hunting while he was out there. I thought I would poke my nose out in the uplands after the orange army was done but too cold so I'm hanging the shotgun up for the year and dreaming of getting my boat out this spring

[Pigmeat]

And don't forget muzzleloader season starts this weekend, runs 2 weeks . . .

[ggburke]

Is it legal to hunt forfeit land? If so, where do you get the plat maps of forfeit land?

The season is pretty much finished now, major snow around Duluth. Shame, for a down year it was pretty good. Kind of sad it's over, the dog had a good year. The kind of year where they break away and take it to the next level.

I traveled north on Friday and we flushed a couple. One of the best sights is when a grouse breaks out of the snow, it sounds like a car wreck, its so amazing that you almost forget to shoot, almost. Saturday was such a beautiful day we hunted till dark, but the areas where pretty worked over, no birds.

I'll try to head west and bag a few pheasants before I hang it up for the year, but my true love is grousing.

I hunt the Hunter Walking Trails and had good luck, but am always looking for the road less traveled. So any information on those maps would be great.

Thanks in advance,

[tybo]

Most of the tax forfeited land is legal to hunt. I bought a chip for my GPS that shows the tax forfeited land. I do most of my hunting on tax forfeited land. It should be listed in a plat book but it needs to be current as some land is added and some sold over time. Some counties have the information online but i have never looked to access the information that way since I have the chip for my GPS.

[ggburke]

Public land is just that, public. It belong to everyone. Deer hunter's provide the state with the most hunting revenue. I'm all for giving them their three weeks, but the sense of entitlement they have sets me off.

We were out the day before the opener and were questioned about our right to be there. We were told, we should be careful out there and not to touch anything. Almost like a threat...That's ballsy.

Anyway, enough of my rant...Here's my question. Do you think the deer hunting (rifle) season is more dangerous than Trapping? Wolf trapping makes very little money. My fear is that my dog gets caught in one of those traps. Spent a lot of time and money on that dog. Besides she's family. Why can't the wolf trapping season start after small game? The trapper's only have to check the traps once a week, So,the snow doesn't affect them. Wolves don't hibernate. What am I missing?

[tacklejunkie]

Last year, we had a couple of wamer days in early Dec. that melted the snow and I was able to get out again. This Dec. too much snow and cold.

The good news is it's great roosting snow for grouse and it came before this bitter cold.