New to Minnesota

pilotpmx

pilotpmx

New member
Well, here I am.. new to MN with the season opening in the next couple of weeks....

I've taken a ride to many of the WMAs south/southwest of Minneapolis and the dog has put up a handful of birds, but I'm still not really sure where to go once the season actually opens.

Can anybody give me an idea which public hunting areas in southern MN (I'm including anywhere, down to the Iowa and SD borders) where the dog and I may see a few birds and not be wandering aimlessly?

I'm at a point in life where I'm happy just getting out and letting the dog have some fun. I'm not looking for anybody's favorite hot spots here, just some ideas where I won't be completely wasting my time.

Perhaps I should be asking which WMAs I shouldn't be going to?

Anyway, thank you for your suggestions, I really appreciate any help you folks could lend me!
 
Pilot,

I agree, check the DNR pheasant forecast. Generally the SW and WC part of the state are pretty good. There will be tons of people out for the first two weeks of the season and then it will die down a lot as guys switch and go deer hunting. If you stick with it though and go after the deer season you can pretty much have your pick of WMA's when you get out there.

Good Luck!!
 
I would recommend getting your hands on the atlas they sell at gander mountain. I use it constantly to find public hunting land. It lists just about every road and all the different types of public hunting ground. I have notes all over mine as to the type of cover in each section of land. There are three versions I believe.... Good luck and if you just pound the ground you will kick up a few here and there.

I think I'm going to take some advice I've been reading about and start hunting later in the day once everyone else has headed home to see if I can kick up a few that are working there way back.... Just a thought. Good luck!!!!!!
 
By far the best atlas that I have come across for not only hunting, but all types of outdoor activities is the "All outdoors Atlas" : http://www.sportsmansconnection.com/atlases/ I think they have 3 different regions for Minnesota. I have the southern Mn region and use it religiously.

Very detailed and will list what type of cover each has. As stated you can get them at Gander mountains and probably many other places that have a outdoors department such as camping stores etc... REI is probably another one.

Check the Pheasant density map from the DNR and pick an area and try one. I've had some areas that produced one year and didn't the next so you'll have to experiment a little. It wouldn't hurt to at least try to knock on a few doors for private land if you see a particular piece of cover that looks good. You may get on or you may not, doesn't hurt to try.

The one other important thing to keep in mind is that weekends there are going to be a lot of guys out hunting in the first month or so of the season. If you can possibly sneak away mid-week for a day or two your much better off. You won't be competing with anyone and you may have a better shot of getting a good area that would normally be occupied with others during the weekend. NO real easy way to put it other than to log some miles. Good luck.

P.S. Sometimes it helps to pick an area in the good pheasant range that has several if not many WMA's or WPA's in close proximity so you can hit a bunch within a relatively short time.
 
Last edited:
I agree, the first couple weeks can be hard with crops and all the people out. just pick a spot and try it. move to a differant area as the season goes along if your not seeing birds. Just being out there is half the fun.:thumbsup:
 
Thanx for all of the suggestions and I'm proud to say that I picked an atlas up early on and it's come in really handy for finding a lot of the WMAs here. My wanderings so far have been through the south of Minneapolis, down toward the Tyler area. I have a lot of time of through the week so I haven't seen much in the way of hunting pressure.

I'm beginning to understand that the birds have so much cover with the crops and early season pressure that my lack of seeing birds on public land is normal and will improve through the season? I'm from the northeast (Maine to be specific) so both myself and the dog are geared for grouse, woodcock or stocked pheasant. This is completely new to me and I'm trying to get a feel for what's to be expected.

After 35 plus years of bird hunting the other way, this is a completely new adventure for me and I'm really excited about it! I'm feeling bad for the dog with all the false points and running birds, she's getting a little better, but right now I'm just trying to give her the best opportunity possible.

Thanks for all the help folks, and any tips on how to increase my opportunities would be appreciated!

Oh.. and one last thing... I'm just happy to enjoy it out here and my days of counting success by how many birds are in the freezer are long past... I'd just like the old girl to earn her keep so she can rest in the sunshine in front of the window all she wants in the off season!
 
Last edited:
Bad news, guys! I was traveling Minnesota last week and seen a dead rooster on the side of the road. All I can say is good luck finding the other one! :D
 
I'll just go to South Dakota and buy one for $300.00 like everybody else:D
 
I am luck enough to live in SWMN (Martin Co) and have a very, very flexible weekday schedule so I've been out almost every day since opener and have seen plenty of birds. I have a 7 month old irish setter that I'm training and even with a very inexperienced dog I have yet to come home without a limit bag. The vast majority of the land I've been hitting has been in and around Martin, Watonwan, Brown, Jackson and Cottonwood counties. It has been an unbelievable harvest down here with nearly 30 straight days without rain until this weekend and a huge amount of crop is out of the fields. I have almost entirely quit hunting in the mornings unless I am hitting one of my "honey holes" because the evening hours (3-6) have been incredibly successful on almost every occasion. On a hunt this past Tuesday in Brown county I was in and out of a field with my two roosters in under an hour and when I turned out of the lot of the wma there were 7 more birds standing on the road getting their fill of gravel for the evening. Not sure if I've just been incredibly lucky thus far this season but I am going out again today in the overcast/fog so we'll see if the luck continues. If you want a more detailed descriptions of some of the pieces I've been on, send me a message and we'll chat.
 
Thought I'd attach a picture of Toby and his birds after one of our evening hunts

69817_10100337701161100_13923637_65820999_973515_n.jpg
 
Excellent Kal, We will be down that way this week. I can't wait to share some time with a friend I haven't got to hunt with in a number of years.
 
Thanks, Jeff. Was all set to move on a Vizsla (my old man always did, and still does, hunt beind Vizslas) when my wife sent me an add for a Golden Setter. Started doing some research about the hybrid and fell in love with the idea of having a dog as loyal/smart as a Golden and with the drive/stamina/retrieve instincts of a Setter. Went up to Pine River Stables just northwest of Brainerd to meet the sire/dam and brought home the pup that day.
 
Kal said:
Thanks, Jeff. Was all set to move on a Vizsla (my old man always did, and still does, hunt beind Vizslas) when my wife sent me an add for a Golden Setter. Started doing some research about the hybrid and fell in love with the idea of having a dog as loyal/smart as a Golden and with the drive/stamina/retrieve instincts of a Setter. Went up to Pine River Stables just northwest of Brainerd to meet the sire/dam and brought home the pup that day.
Click to expand...

That's interesting. I'venever heard of that. I will have to investigate. Do they point or flush?
 
Kal

Nice reports. Good to hear. I didnt get blasted on my first post so I figure you knew I was kidding
 
Last edited:
Jeff, I'll copy my response to your question that I posted on another board:

I've watched him work birds 3 ways already...
1) true point
2) straight flush
3) true "set". he will actually set all the way down on his belly and then crawl to flush... very, very fun to watch.

I guess I'll know more as the season goes on which one he "prefers"


Dewey:
My little intro post wasn't really in response to your post, was just the first place I decided to make a comment after signing up. You should go across the border to Butterfield, Odin, Slayton, Ruthford area and do some hunting since you're so close.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top