Grouse numbers drop
- Thread starter jeffstally
- Start date
I would defer to MNMT's expertise on this (and have in the past) but I think there will still be birds to be had if you are willing to get after them. If I may steal from MNMT's previous posts, find the cover and find the birds. When hunting with good dogs you will get opportunities regardless of the cycle. Maybe MNMT can give us a little ``inside baseball'' on finding that perfect scenario of habitat, feed, water and other conditions. Or he could just give us GPS coordinates
.
On the bright side, this kind of story absolutely crushes the spirits of the fair-weather grouse hunter. Let them stay home and watch the Vikings (Lord help them). I am going to be kicking through the hazel brush and spruce.
Ignore the reports and get in the woods. A bad day hunting birds beats... Just about everything.
.On the bright side, this kind of story absolutely crushes the spirits of the fair-weather grouse hunter. Let them stay home and watch the Vikings (Lord help them). I am going to be kicking through the hazel brush and spruce.
Ignore the reports and get in the woods. A bad day hunting birds beats... Just about everything.
mnmthunting
Banned
These negative reports do tend to keep a lot of hunters out of the woods. Daisybuck, your right about the habitat. The areas to the North and East of where I'm at in Hubbard County are now in prime Grouse habitat. Aspens are logged and regrown so there's everything from new slash to 40 year old groves. and done mostly in small acreages at a time, here and there. Good stuff for grouse and deer. Get into this type of habitat and there WILL be grouse.
I doubt the heavy rains through the North Country had ill effects. In the heavy woods and brush country there is a lot of shelter. Such as dead falls [everywhere] So easy for Ma Grouse to hunker down under with the chicks. And those spruce and Balsam are better then umbrella's.:thumbsup:
I doubt the heavy rains through the North Country had ill effects. In the heavy woods and brush country there is a lot of shelter. Such as dead falls [everywhere] So easy for Ma Grouse to hunker down under with the chicks. And those spruce and Balsam are better then umbrella's.:thumbsup:
Downtown Bang!
Member
My experience is that during the bottom of the cycle you need to find and hunt the best habitat. Places where food sources and the best cover exist in abundance. You also have to get off the trails farther. Birds are there to be found.
During the peak of the cycle young birds especially get pushed into less desireable habitat and the trail hunting (especially at prime times) can be quite productive even into mid-season.
During the peak of the cycle young birds especially get pushed into less desireable habitat and the trail hunting (especially at prime times) can be quite productive even into mid-season.
I predict I will see as many shootable birds this year as I have the last few years. Note I said see shootable birds, not bag them, that is my problem to sort out.
We may be on the bottom of a cycle but that happens. At least there is a promise of a better stage coming. I worry more about finding wild phez in the years to come.
Aaah, those days when you could shoot a limit a day on grouse... Admittedly, you also shot a box or two in shells, but they are crafty buggers.
MNMT: Good words as always about cover and shelter. I was a little worried about the recent rains' impact on ``our'' birds, but that sounds promising. Plus no shortage of ticks and other crawlies for them to forage. God, please tell me they eat ticks...
We may be on the bottom of a cycle but that happens. At least there is a promise of a better stage coming. I worry more about finding wild phez in the years to come.
Aaah, those days when you could shoot a limit a day on grouse... Admittedly, you also shot a box or two in shells, but they are crafty buggers.
MNMT: Good words as always about cover and shelter. I was a little worried about the recent rains' impact on ``our'' birds, but that sounds promising. Plus no shortage of ticks and other crawlies for them to forage. God, please tell me they eat ticks...