MN Ruffled Grouse

In reading a book, it was stated that MN is probably the top grouse state in the union. The birds have really died out in the Appalachian region, and New England has had a big drop in numbers as well. It made me feel like I should try it next fall. I think I’m gonna camp up by grand rapids and give it a go around 3rd week of season. I hope to bring the golden with if she’s feeling up to it. I realize people say it’s easier to get one without a dog, but it’d be nice to share the experience with the dog who taught me how to hunt. Hopefully I can find some areas where we don’t get harassed by lazy hunters driving around on 4 wheelers. I’m not gonna shoot one on the ground or out of a tree I know that. Either way should be a fun trip, and if we bag our first ruffle that’s just icing on the cake.

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In reading a book, it was stated that MN is the top grouse state in the union. The birds have really died out in the Appalachian region, and New England has had a big drop in numbers as well. It made me feel like I should try it next fall. I think I’m gonna camp up by grand rapids and give it a go around 3rd week of season. I hope to bring the golden with if she’s feeling up to it. I realize people say it’s easier to get one without a dog, but it’d be nice to share the experience with the dog who taught me how to hunt. Hopefully I can find some areas where we don’t get harassed by lazy hunters driving around on 4 wheelers. I’m not gonna shoot one on the ground or out of a tree I know that. Either way should be a fun trip, and if we bag our first ruffle that’s just icing on the cake.

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I’m in the north central region east of hinckley/sandstone and our numbers were supposed to be WAY up last fall and I had the worst hunting I’ve ever had.

The season before was much better. Just my observation. Main reason I go, though, is to give my dog the time of her life, and she gets that regardless

crawdaddy wrote:

In reading a book, it was stated that MN is the top grouse state in the union. The birds have really died out in the Appalachian region, and New England has had a big drop in numbers as well. It made me feel like I should try it next fall. I think I’m gonna camp up by grand rapids and give it a go around 3rd week of season. I hope to bring the golden with if she’s feeling up to it. I realize people say it’s easier to get one without a dog, but it’d be nice to share the experience with the dog who taught me how to hunt. Hopefully I can find some areas where we don’t get harassed by lazy hunters driving around on 4 wheelers. I’m not gonna shoot one on the ground or out of a tree I know that. Either way should be a fun trip, and if we bag our first ruffle that’s just icing on the cake.

Lazy hunters riding around on four wheelers harassing you? Come on man, really? So I’m lazy because I enjoy spending time with my family and do what we all enjoy doing? If people are harassing you so badly why don’t you call them in for Hunter harassment and see how far that gets you. The public lands and trails are everyone’s to enjoy however they want within the laws. If you’re so against ATV’s and UTV’s why don’t you just stay home and hunt pheasants?

Lazy hunters riding around on four wheelers harassing you? Come on man, really? So I’m lazy because I enjoy spending time with my family and do what we all enjoy doing? If people are harassing you so badly why don’t you call them in for Hunter harassment and see how far that gets you. The public lands and trails are everyone’s to enjoy however they want within the laws. If you’re so against ATV’s and UTV’s why don’t you just stay home and hunt pheasants?
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I was thinking the same thing, or hunt areas with no atv or sxs access. It always amazes me when folks hike around atv trails and then complain about the atv traffic.
I don’t hunt from a machine but I sure don’t shun those that do, I know a few older guys who that’s their only option, crazy to call them lazy. But I’ve noticed especially within the grouse community, some really hold them selves way up there.

Spent some time in that general area last weekend scouting for turkey. Was encouraged by what I saw for grouse along the roads. And out of around 1/2 dozen trails I stopped at I heard drumming in at least 4 of them. You should have no trouble finding state forest trails that don’t allow motorized traffic. Even then I spend most of my grouse walks off trail and feel I see more birds that way.

Joe Jarl wrote:

Spent some time in that general area last weekend scouting for turkey. Was encouraged by what I saw for grouse along the roads. And out of around 1/2 dozen trails I stopped at I heard drumming in at least 4 of them. You should have no trouble finding state forest trails that don’t allow motorized traffic. Even then I spend most of my grouse walks off trail and feel I see more birds that way.

That’s how we do it. Off the beaten path, far more birds and no atvs. Or you could hunt a atv trail and complain about the atvs

I’d suggest going once most of the leaves are down. Third week of season is kind of hit or miss for that. Depends on the fall weather.

Definitely bring the dog. A good dog that stays close will increase birds in the bag. Typically a pheasant dog has no trouble transitioning to grouse.

There should be some woodcock around then. Great eating little bird contrary to what some say. Darker meat and I suggest cooking them like a duck rather than how you would cook a grouse or pheasant.

I sent a PM with some helpful info. Good luck!

MN indeed has some of the best grouse hunting in the country. Without a doubt. We have great habitat along with extensive logging cuts providing the diverse forest mixes needed for grouse to flourish.

Regarding ATVs, I’ve found it doesn’t matter if you are hunting trails that are not designated for ATVs… If an ATV can get down a trail, they will. You just have to live with the fact that there are more road hunters than walking hunters out there. I don’t think its very sportsman to drive around with a drink in the cupholder and fly around corners to try to try to get on a bird before it knows whats going on, jump out of the rig and blast a bird on the ground. But if thats hunting to you, whatever floats your boat. I wonder if those same guys road hunt deer too.

The guys doing the road hunting thing are the same ones tossing Busch Light cans in the ditch. Seeing Fins stick up for them is all I needed to see to never change my mind

ganderpike wrote:

The guys doing the road hunting thing are the same ones tossing Busch Light cans in the ditch. Seeing Fins stick up for them is all I needed to see to never change my mind

Ya that’s exactly what I’m doing. Out getting drunk driving around with my 5 year old. You’re an idiot. If your so certain that’s what’s going on why don’t you call in every atv and utv you see. You’re a big talker but that’s about it because you know damn well that’s not the case.

Great grouse hunting in MN. Never hunted that area but im sure you will find some birds.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

MN indeed has some of the best grouse hunting in the country. Without a doubt. We have great habitat along with extensive logging cuts providing the diverse forest mixes needed for grouse to flourish.

Regarding ATVs, I’ve found it doesn’t matter if you are hunting trails that are not designated for ATVs… If an ATV can get down a trail, they will. You just have to live with the fact that there are more road hunters than walking hunters out there. I don’t think its very sportsman to drive around with a drink in the cupholder and fly around corners to try to try to get on a bird before it knows whats going on, jump out of the rig and blast a bird on the ground. But if thats hunting to you, whatever floats your boat. I wonder if those same guys road hunt deer too.

I don’t experience that where I hunt. Not even a little bit. I have before, but then realized if I changed spots then that would go away, which it did

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

MN indeed has some of the best grouse hunting in the country. Without a doubt. We have great habitat along with extensive logging cuts providing the diverse forest mixes needed for grouse to flourish.

Regarding ATVs, I’ve found it doesn’t matter if you are hunting trails that are not designated for ATVs… If an ATV can get down a trail, they will. You just have to live with the fact that there are more road hunters than walking hunters out there. I don’t think its very sportsman to drive around with a drink in the cupholder and fly around corners to try to try to get on a bird before it knows whats going on, jump out of the rig and blast a bird on the ground. But if thats hunting to you, whatever floats your boat. I wonder if those same guys road hunt deer too.

You think they are getting off the ATV?!
I see some wild stuff up by Kab and Crane, but I am aware I am likely on the more extreme end of the spectrum and know not everyone is like them.

ganderpike wrote:

You think they are getting off the ATV?!
I see some wild stuff up by Kab and Crane, but I am aware I am likely on the more extreme end of the spectrum and know not everyone is like them.

By Isabella I’ve seen a Jeep passenger sitting sideways, with their feet on the running boards, holding their gun while they slowly drive down the forest roads

Kind of unrelated but has anybody been to Stony River Cafe before it closed? The owner Tom was hilarious. One time I was eating breakfast and a family of ATV riders came in and the kids were bragging about all the grouse they got. Tom asks “Oh yeah, you shoot ’em out of the air”? And they all said “well…” and he just grunts and walks away from their table before they even finished

We used to hunt that same area by crane. It was like a parade of atvs, this was before sxs became the latest and greatest. I bet it’s even worse. But breaking off the path and walking the woods always paid off up there.

Grouse hunting is a lot of fun, and for sure bring the dog. As long as it stays close it will help you both in getting birds in the air and finding them if you drop em in the thick stuff. I primarily hunt a State Forest that has a ton of ATV traffic and don’t have any issues with them. Just hunt where they can’t go, where I’m at that is gated old logging trails and the woods. A fall morning grouse hunting and then an evening on the water is about as good as it gets imo.

ganderpike wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gitchi Gummi wrote:</div>
MN indeed has some of the best grouse hunting in the country. Without a doubt. We have great habitat along with extensive logging cuts providing the diverse forest mixes needed for grouse to flourish.

Regarding ATVs, I’ve found it doesn’t matter if you are hunting trails that are not designated for ATVs… If an ATV can get down a trail, they will. You just have to live with the fact that there are more road hunters than walking hunters out there. I don’t think its very sportsman to drive around with a drink in the cupholder and fly around corners to try to try to get on a bird before it knows whats going on, jump out of the rig and blast a bird on the ground. But if thats hunting to you, whatever floats your boat. I wonder if those same guys road hunt deer too.

You think they are getting off the ATV?!
I see some wild stuff up by Kab and Crane, but I am aware I am likely on the more extreme end of the spectrum and know not everyone is like them.

That’s like the OHV Mecca of Minnesota. We ride there a lot in the fall and I’ve never even considered bringing a gun. There’s always an absolute pile of people enjoying the scenery and fall weather but I can honestly say I’ve never seen anyone do what you describe. Even with all the people there’s endless trails and trails off of trails to get away from people. I know lots of the people from that area are extremely butt hurt that it got promoted so much and so many people enjoy it but get over it. It’s great for the economy of the area and it thrives because of it.

Some guys only pursue Grouse in the air. Others harvest them any way thats legal and for the best table fare. No need to exclaim your style. Have fun.

ATV road hunting is the FFS of grouse hunting

Wow this thread ruffled a few feathers.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

ATV road hunting is the FFS of grouse hunting

So when you go hunt the atv trails and whine you see atvs, do you do the same at the lake ?

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

ATV road hunting is the FFS of grouse hunting

Never done it but I’d be shocked if hunting off an ATV increased your success rate.

Joe Jarl wrote:

Never done it but I’d be shocked if hunting off an ATV increased your success rate.

Of course it does, you cover so many miles and see birds standing in the open instead of flushing in the trees.

I only drive a few miles to my walking spots and have seen up to 9 or 10 on the road in just that time. If I was popping them from an ATV, which is what many are doing, I could get limit before even making it to my first spot.

Just re read this title and I dont think there are any ruffled grouse in mn some ruffed grouse though

Youbetcha wrote:

Just re read this title and I dont think there are any ruffled grouse in mn

Idk we might have a ruffled grouse if you drop your snow blower off in his driveway the first big snow storm in November that was broken from last year.

John Rasmussen wrote:

Idk we might have a ruffled grouse if you drop your snow blower off in his driveway the first big snow storm in November that was broken from last year.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Gitchi Gummi wrote:</div>
ATV road hunting is the FFS of grouse hunting

So when you go hunt the atv trails and whine you see atvs, do you do the same at the lake ?

Those guys that use FFS must be the guys that litter and leave all their beer cans at the landing going by his thinking.

In my experience ATV’s are FAR less of an impact than trucks. They can both use the same roads and there are many more trucks than ATV’s along with it being more convenient.