Thought I would start a new thread. How is your season going so far? I have been out hunting upland birds all over northern Minnesota. It’s been a great fall. Weather has been nice, colors were great, and having fun chasing birds in the variety of habitats in the northern 1/4 of the state.

We got out for a weekend of grouse hunting. Not as successful as last year, but still enjoyable. Weather was actually rather hot for late October. Not sure if that had an affect.

Did you grouse hunt canoe country? If so which side?

Started MN Pheasant on 10/15.








Then will hunt IA Pheasant every weekend for the rest of this year, starting 10/29.

timatkn: "Started MN Pheasant on 10/15.








Then will hunt IA Pheasant every weekend for the rest of this year, starting 10/29.

"

I plan on heading down to southern MN next week. Has the pheasant hunting been good?

Sorry missed this. The hunting has been great in MN, but each experience is all about the weather, habitat, and some luck. From what I’ve heard MN is better than Iowa these days.

Where I hunt in MN is public land near the Twin Cities. Often I am the 4th person/group to walk the field that day so the birds are tough. They run out, don’t hold for my pointer, but I adapt by keeping him in closer, so when flush wild I have a shot…maybe :)

Southern MN there is more land and less people so better, but the drive is longer for me than heading to Iowa where I grew up so once the IA season starts I am down there.

Any grouse hunting updates? I’ve hit a few spots in and around the BW and have had some good luck. I’ve bagged mostly spruce grouse.

I’ve been been out 3-4 days a week in and near the BWCA. I’ve been having pretty good luck.

Great weekend of grouse hunting over 3 days, daily limit on 1 day and possession limit in 2.5 days (7 ruffed, 3 spruce). Lots of grouse this year.

Nothing near the BWCA/Q but just back from an epic snow/ice/cold hunt in NW SD for Hungarians, Sharpies and Ditch Chickens. Best bird numbers I've seen in 20 years of hunting the Dakotas.

Also tagged a giant MN buck about 8 days ago.

Starting a SD hunt today. Hopefully I have similar luck.

Came home from East BEARskin in early October without a bear.

Walked four miles with my bow the day before firearms season opened and never saw a fresh track. Woods were thicker with grouse than I've ever seen.

Walked six miles last Saturday with my levergun and saw a single yearling deer track. Woods were thicker with grouse than the previous outing.

Checked in the vicinity of one of my stands today and saw no evidence that any deer (or even wolves, now) ever inhabited the area.

OTOH, a 12-point buck has taken up residence on our non-huntable lot in Duluth.

Don't ask again. ;-)

Finnboy: "Starting a SD hunt today. Hopefully I have similar luck."

Shot some roosters in SD.
Doing a little deer hunting now and then back to bird hunting.

Wow! Last weekend was great grouse hunting in and around the BWCA. In one area I flushed 8-10 grouse but couldn't hit any! My head was spinning.

egknuti: "Wow! Last weekend was great grouse hunting in and around the BWCA. In one area I flushed 8-10 grouse but couldn't hit any! My head was spinning. "

It was a great weekend to be out! Do you drive a black Crosstek?

Yes!

egknuti: "Yes!"

Pretty sure I saw you parked at a couple of spots. I was out hunting and was surprised to see someone else out who looked like they were bird hunting.

Finnboy: "

egknuti: "Yes!"

Pretty sure I saw you parked at a couple of spots. I was out hunting and was surprised to see someone else out who looked like they were bird hunting."
Last year I was skiing! With the lack of snow I thought I’d go hunting. How did you do?

egknuti: "

Finnboy: "

egknuti: "Yes!"

Pretty sure I saw you parked at a couple of spots. I was out hunting and was surprised to see someone else out who looked like they were bird hunting."
Last year I was skiing! With the lack of snow I thought I’d go hunting. How did you do?

"

I did well. Limit one day and should have had my limit another day. Haven’t gotten skunked this year.

With the lack of snow I headed out for grouse and they didn’t disappoint. Flushed over a dozen and managed to get my limit today.

I was out Christmas Day grouse hunting. Beautiful day. Eerily gray out. I’ve seen three great gray owls in the last month while grousing. Fun to see.