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fitgers1
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Haven't seen any nor have I heard much drumming this year at all. I think I had two drummers - a mile apart from each other, one on my land and one on my dads. Looks like I'll be doing some state forest grouse hunting the next couple years.
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PINETREE
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quote fitgers1: "Haven't seen any nor have I heard much drumming this year at all. I think I had two drummers - a mile apart from each other, one on my land and one on my dads. Looks like I'll be doing some state forest grouse hunting the next couple years."
Had a few drummers while we were by Duncan lake this spring and a about 2 drumming while turkey hunting this spring.
Been out in the woods a lot this summer in the Mille lacs area and it does not look good for grouse. Turkey broods are quite common now. My brother was up on lake three this past week in Ely and seen a small brood at there island campsite.
I will do a September stream brook trout and grouse hunt by the Finland area. It is just fun to get out there.
I use to be big into duck hunting but now buy a duck stamp,but put little effort into it.
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rockinrod12
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Hunted land o lakes state forest yesterday and today and didn't one. Neither did other hunters we talked to. It was still nice to walk the woods though.
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PINETREE
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quote rockinrod12: "Hunted land o lakes state forest yesterday and today and didn't one. Neither did other hunters we talked to. It was still nice to walk the woods though."
The colors are awesome up there now where you were.
A friend was up close to where you were,seen a half dozen turkeys and no grouse. Really weird.
I am heading up to the Finland-Isabella area mid week if the weather breaks. Suppose to be a rainy week.
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rockinrod12
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I'm headed to the Outing area Oct12th to grouse hunt and check out land o lakes state forest for deer hunting. Me,my son and bro-in-law are planning on camping near there for the deer opener. Anybody have ant opinions on that area. Sorry if im hijackin the thread:)
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fitgers1
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I walked 100 acres of what is usually good grouse country and didn't see one bird. It is going to be a tough one. I'll have to start walking some public land.
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PINETREE
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Maybe one trip next to the BWCA for one more grouse hunt. They taste so good.
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Pinetree
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2015 broods soon?
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PINETREE
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quote 1BigPaddle: " 
last week"
Good for you. Talked to different hunters,not seeing a real lot,but are seeing broods with a fair number. Haven't seen that in years. So maybe we have hope.
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PINETREE
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Colors are peaking.
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PINETREE
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Nice report.
The grouse are way down in much of north central Minnesota.
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fitgers1
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I was out hunting saturday and sunday. I have always liked grouse hunting in December with a little snow on the ground. Well, had about a foot and a half of snow and the temps Saturday were hovering around zero and very windy. Not sure what the windchill was. I didn't look because I probably wouldn't have gone out. Wasn't so bad in the woods though. Sunday I went out in the mid morning and it was -9 degrees with less wind. I got back to the house and it was -6. I was out about 4 1/2 hours each day covering 5 different 40 acre parcels. I only jumped/flushed one grouse. He's in the freezer and the tail is drying out. I didn't wander off the trails too much. If I did, I probably would have jumped a few more. I'm sure they saw me and held tight in their little snowy burrows under downed trees. It was a little too cold and too much snow to be covering the entire areas.
It was a cold one but it was nice to be out. I may be able to get out a day or two next week as well. Hopefully I'll have better luck. It is easy to tell they are at the bottom of the cycle. Normally I would have seen a good dozen or more in two of the 40's I walked through.
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PINETREE
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quote rockinrod12: "Hoping I see some near Outing in a couple weeks. "
Good luck I was west of Outing about 10 miles yesterday and did not see a bird. I think northeast of Outing a little better area. I was more in the Wabedo lake area and that area has been slow for about 20 years. Go back to the early 90's and it was awesome hunting there.
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PINETREE
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Got a couple ruff grouse for a good meal up close to the BWCA.
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PINETREE
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One of my favorite activities is grouse hunting up next to or in the BWCA. Hope there will be some grouse. Heard a few drumming while camping this spring.
Just wondering if anybody is seeing any broods and how big of a brood.
Note: Found a nice little brook trout stream with a ton of small brookies just right size to eat. Season closes Sept. 30th on the streams and a trout-grouse combo before than, is hard to beat.
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inspector13
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I think it is at or near the low population stage for grouse in the area of my cabin. I’ve heard no drumming at all this year.
One odd off topic thing though. Back on July 12th I saw a group of 5 female turkeys with chicks off Lake Co. Hwy 2 near Christianson Lake. (About 2 miles outside of Superior National Forest.) Two years ago I saw a small group three miles south of there at the intersection of Wales road (Co 14) and Hwy 2. I thought maybe those had escaped and wouldn’t last the winter. Now I think there is an established population.
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PINETREE
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quote Arceneaux: "Heard a heck of alot of drumming on my spring canoe trip in the Clearwater/West Pike area - also have seen quite a few this summer while scouting my deer hunting grounds northwest of Longville - hoping it will be a good fall hunt."
The snow was extra fluffy this year for roosting so the grouse came thru the winter very good. Now it is all about brood size from hopefully a good hatch.
We hunt deer southwest of Longville about 6 miles. The grouse there have been low since the mid 90's. Before that it was awesome. Now you can hunt all day and maybe see 2 birds.
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rockinrod12
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Hoping I see some near Outing in a couple weeks.
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1BigPaddle
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We ran into a few grouse with chicks mid-july on a BWCA trip just west of ely. Sure are tasty little birds!
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1BigPaddle
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last week
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PINETREE
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quote Arceneaux: "I think I will be trying the Longville area next weekend, so I will be sure to relay some reports for the area."
Hunted south of Longville 4 hours Saturday,seen one brood of about 6 birds,otherwise that was it. Yes they are all alive,lots of leaves when they flushed.
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PINETREE
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quote Arceneaux: "I will be north of there up along the Woodtick trail - hopefully see a few more - I've had good luck there with Woodcock early in the season, so maybe I will get lucky there."
Nice area.
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inspector13
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There were lots a grouse seen on the forest roads between Sawbill Lake and the town of Isabella this past weekend. Lots of hunters too.
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PINETREE
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2014 is here already,new spring new broods anybody?
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PINETREE
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I missed one last year while bow hunting for deer.
Grouse numbers are still down,but what I see,which I have not seen for years is some big broods. I seen two different broods of 10 birds(close to the BWCA) about 2 weeks ago and they were of fairly big size. I have not seen broods of good numbers in decades.
North central Minnesota which I also hunt birds are almost non-existent.
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PINETREE
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RUFF
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1BigPaddle
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got this one this past weekend.
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PINETREE
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Let us know how your doing this year with Grouse opener coming up. Interested if seeing any. You don't have to give your hot secret location.
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PINETREE
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Two weeks to opener. I think it is going to be slow this year.
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PINETREE
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Season opener less than 2 weeks away. Love hunting the birds around the BWCA. Also chance to see a moose etc.
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PINETREE
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Well how is it going?
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