Grousing about...

[Pat]

Does anybody have a hint on where we stand with this year's grouse population? I have been "up north" off an on this summer, but haven't heard much, if any, drumming back in the woods.

I can already smell my well intentioned, yet delicately Frenchified "grouse au vin" a simmerin' away!

[westberg]

Does anybody have a hint on where we stand with this year's grouse population? I have been "up north" off an on this summer, but haven't heard much, if any, drumming back in the woods.

I can already smell my well intentioned, yet delicately Frenchified "grouse au vin" a simmerin' away!

I have not heard anything yet, maybe I should have read the last Outdoors News more carefully. This weekend I will be up at our farm west of Sturgeon Lake (after the steel shoot) maybe I will be able to report something after that.

[lumbering.buffalo]

Spoke to some grouse hunters two weeks ago. The surveys say that Ruffed Grouse are substantially up. So it appears we are on uptick for a couple of years.

[bensdad]

Sorry guys. All the grouse got sick and died. They got Lyme's disease... no, bird flu... no, chicken pox. Yeah, that's it, chicken pox. Anyway, they're all gone. Don't even bother hunting grouse this fall. Stay home and watch football. Plus, you have to get that new grouse stamp. It's like $800. Yeah, just skip it.

Here's the real answer: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildl ... Grouse.pdf

Looks good.

[Srigs]

I can't wait to take a walk in the woods next weekend. Should be fun season. I will be taking lots of walks in the woods this fall.

[westberg]

I can't wait to take a walk in the woods next weekend. Should be fun season. I will be taking lots of walks in the woods this fall.

The smell of the woods on a fall morning.........

[DeanC]

Temps in the mid-30's this AM north of the iron range. It's almost time.

[nyffman]

Not that I'm an expert on the subject, but isn't drumming part of the mating thing? If so, you'll only hear it early in the spring, not now. However, my son did go to an undisclosed location last spring and was encouraged by the amount of drumming and birds he saw/heard.

[westberg]

Not that I'm an expert on the subject, but isn't drumming part of the mating thing? If so, you'll only hear it early in the spring, not now. However, my son did go to an undisclosed location last spring and was encouraged by the amount of drumming and birds he saw/heard.

Is that near Over There?

[nyffman]

I guess I should have sworn you to secrecy. Now everyone knows. Thanks!

[westberg]

oops, sorry.........

[bensdad]

It's funny/sad how we all think we have our secret grouse coverts/haunts, then one fall you show up to your special place and it looks like a 4-wheeler convention. Years ago I thought I had the super road north of Effie all to myself. Now, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a "biker gang" (more than 3 ATVs in a group).

Still, I'm chompin at the bit. I'll find a few new places. "Up north" is still pretty darn big.

[nyffman]

actually, I'm not sure exactly where he was. somewhere around Mille Lacs, probably on the west side somewhere. About 15 or so years ago, I hunted in some of the state forest land out that way and was moderately successful in spite of my lack in experience in grouse hunting.

[gunflint]

This is my favorite time of year. I don't hunt much anymore but everyone else does and that means I have the lakes to myself. I caught about 15 walleyes today in about 3 hours before work and it just gets better until ice up. Of course after last nights frost that could be next week.

[Spearhead]

Well the season is here, anyone having any luck?

I went up opening morning to said "secret haunt" in central MN (too close to the Cities to mention ) In 2 hours we kicked up 7 and dropped 2 before the rain started. I'm going to head up there this weekend to check out a couple more areas. Some friends have been hunting the Aitkin area and have been seeing quite a few. We could be in for a good couple years.

BTW...Dean, the DNR states that when taking small game only one article of clothing above the waist needs to be blaze orange. Not the whole van