Any ruffed grouse hunters?

W

WhiskeyJack

New member
Please forgive me if it seems inappropriate to ask about grouse on this forum. I was just wondering if anyone has been hunting them in northern MN or WI.

I did in Sep in the Cook/Orr area and didn't see nearly the birds I did last year. I have heard it's real spotty.

Has anyone done any good?
 
My home base is up in Northern MN. I grew up hunting Ruffs, and seen some good hunting. Sorry, don't mean to be bad news but, hunting Ruffs has not been good, Why? I have theories. Don't see good Ruffed Grouse hunting anytime soon.
 
When you say, anytime soon, how long are you talking?

I read in the Star Tribune recently, that the DNR claims something happened to the broods this year, and the peak is expected to hit in 2010.

I have bow hunted for bear and deer for the last few years up there and rarely saw grouse. Then last year, they were everywhere. That's what prompted me to get my pointer, a new shotgun, and to start bird hunting again for the first time in 8 years after leaving North Dakota.

I hunted up there for 2 weekends in Sep and killed 6 grouse, only one was a juvie. Four days of HARD hunting and flushed maybe 15 birds. Everyone else I know claims they haven't seen hardly any birds this year, and lots last year.

What's going on?
 
My area was better last year. Our habitat is perfect with all the new growth poplar 10-20 years and mixed regrowth. On my afternoon hunts I would see hear 3-5 birds up from 0-2 previous years.

My problem is, I remember the 80's. when 20-30 birds per hike was common. And always weight in the game pouch walking home or to the truck.
 
I have been out a few times this year and I dont think it has come back yet and personally dont think it ever will.Flushed a few more birds than last year but not like it was 6 -7 years ago.The Wisconsin DNR(Department of NO Reason)claims that grouse numbers are up and woodcock are on the decline but I have found just the oppisite.I have flushed and shot more woodcock this year than any other year that I can recall.
 
Great! We're losing our CRP (bye-bye pheasants), and the grouse numbers are in the toilet. Maybe it's time to take up bowling. How depressing.
 
Whiskey, NO! don't resort to that:eek: Still lot of opportunities for those that want to work at it. Takes time, but all public land, and no fees except the license.

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I hunted ruffs and woodcock this season in Mercer, WI and the Watersmeet and Gogebic areas of the U.P. We flushed birds all over the place. Most of the grouse flushed in groups of 2-4 at a time. I know it has been spotty in some areas but we got 24 grouse in three days between 2-4 hunters (some in the group arrived later). I shot my first double on woodcock that trip. I don't know how the birds are right now but we were thinking about another outing before the season ends.

Anyone else?
 
Northern Wisconsin

The grouse numbers here are better than last year. Been out around 10 times and flush about 4 to 5 birds an hour. Should be better next year.:cheers:
 
No food for the Ruffs. I saw Ruffs this year but it was on private land with a lot of Autumn Olive bushes. With our woods get older here in the North and less clear cutting and fewer sources of food for the Ruffs I have seen the numbers go down. There are fewer young aspen trees with buds that the Ruffs can feed on. You want ruffs back cut some of that old growth and plant good hardy brush like the Autumn olive. Promote the growth of aspen trees. You plant it they will come. Note that the MI DNR sees the Autumn Olive as an evasive species.

I want to add its not enough to just clear cut either. Plant species have to be brought back into an area that have been under managed.

http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Landowners_Guide/Species_Mgmt/Ruffed_Grouse.htm

I remember as a kid in Ohio all the public land was surrounded with these huge hedge rows offering food and shelter to the birds, rabbits and other animals. I don't see this kind of management detail any more. Public land is there but I don't see strategic planting of native plants for the benifit of the animals any more. Now they plant trees that can be harvested for timber. The majority of these trees offer nothing to the local animal population. Most people just look at public land and say well it must be healthy it has a tree growing on it.:eek:
 
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