Grouse in Emily/Outing Area

[DewDropper89]

Hi All -

This will be my first year hunting with my first bird dog (7.5 mo old GSP) and I want to ensure that I get him some decent wild bird exposure. I am considering hunting the Land 'O Lakes State Forest up north of Outing, and some interspersed county owned land (Crow Wing/Cass). I have hunted a lot of county land just south of this area the past two years, but with very little success. Can anyone tell me if generally this should be a decent place to hunt? Has anyone had success in the area over the past several years? Any comments or experiences at all would be helpful. Although this SF is convenient for me to get to, I will consider traveling further if it means getting my dog off to a good start. Any comments or thoughts on this area would be much appreciated. Thanks!!

[Riverratpete]

Have hunted the area for years and a rabid grouse hunter..all i can say is there are birds...you may have to work for them and search for prime habitat but they are there. its been my experience that you find patches of them and most of the hunters I know are pretty tight lipped about covey areas...kinda like a hot panfish spot...best advice is get a map for up there and strap on the hiking boots and hit the trails.. good luck

[jbdragon17]

Another thing to look at for a first year dog is to try to find some woodcock. They sit a bit tighter than a grouse. They seem to be pretty plentiful lately too.

I have not hunted the area that you talk of, but there are pretty good areas as close as McGrath and McGregor. I bought a MN Atlas that highlights all the State/Federal lands as well as WMA's. I would suggest that you pick something like this up and just try places out. Can never hurt getting your dog out in the woods with you. That will give you both the necessary experience of working together if nothing else.

[DewDropper89]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have a Delorme Atlas/Gazeteer and also other maps detailing a lot of the public land in the area. All I needed to hear is that if you work hard at it, you will move birds and it sounds like that is the case. I look forward to opener...Thanks!

[gorrilla]

I've been bear baiting lately and seeing some pockets of birds. Although they aren't bad right now, keep an eye out for deer ticks. They are usually disgustingly thick in this neck of the woods. Make sure your pup has the lyme's innoculation. My GSP got lymes last summer and he was on Frontline at the time. We were halfway through his shots when he was lame one morning and only wimpered when he tried to stand up. Dirty rotten tick...

[DewDropper89]

Thanks for the tip. My dog has been innoculated for Lyme's, so I guess I'll just worry about getting Lyme's myself!! That would put a damper on the hunting season. Anyway, how did that play out with your dog, were they able to cure it or did it lead to permanent damage/lameness?

[gorrilla]

Of course it happened on the weekend and our usual vet was closed, so we travel to the Baxter Vet. He did a quick test to verify it was Lyme's and then gave him a shot to treat the arthritis like pain and prescribed a anibiotic which cured him in no time. 50% speed in day one, 100% by day three.