Visiting Minnesota

S

setter_slayer

New member
Hello folks,

My name is John I am from Utah/Idaho (i live about 50% of the time in each). I am planning on being in Stillwater around the time of the grouse opener to visit family. I would love for the chance to get on some great lakes ruffs if possible. If I understand it correctly the grouse opener starts around 9/19?

Wondering if anyone out there is willing to take me out or at least point me in the correct direction? I would be willing to hunt a lodge or preserve as well if there are good ones?

I am an experienced grouse and chukar hunter. Over here we primarily hunt blue grouse but ruffs as well. We also hunt a lot of wild chukar. Once a year I will also hunt pheasant/gambels quail/ptarmigan/huns. I can return the favor if you wanted to get on any of these birds over in my neighborhood.

Thanks in advance.
 
Good question. I have an english setter. He is steady to wing and shoot. He does occasionally bump grouse but that is hard not to do here. He never bumps chukar. He honors other dogs. He retrieves some of the time but I don't insist that he does. I try to encourage him to do it though. He is about 5 years old now. Good grouse dog. He has a great nose.

It is unclear if he will be joining me or not. I haven't worked out all the logistics yet but I should be in Minnesota for about a week.

By the way...seems I screwed the dates up. I won't be in Minnesota until early October...not September. Looking at October 10th-20th timeframe.
 
10/10 is MN pheasant opener FYI. There is a lot of good info on the Dnr website. Also lots of logging trails to walk. I don't do a lot of grouse hunting but if it gets closer to the time you will be here and don't have any good ideas were to go I'm sure I can make a few calls.:thumbsup:
 
Any help will be appreciated. I love hunting pheasant as well. I just don't do a lot of that out here. Out here it is hard to get access to private property where all the pheasants are (unless you know someone). Utah has a few walk in areas that are ok...but they get slammed on opening day.

It turns out it is easier (and cheaper) to just go to the local preserve for pheasants. Buddy of mine goes to ND every year and gets a limit everyday.
 
Unfortunately, it's been over 20 years since I lived there, and my memory is terrible. But a few areas closer to Stillwater that I do remember, would be the snake river state forest, and st croix state forest to the north. I think I hunted both a few times. Hunt the edges of popple slashes, but early on will be tough. St croix might have some more open areas if I remember right. You can catch Smallmouth and walleye in the snake River. South a bit was the whitewater wildlife area down by red wing. A few grouse there also, and may not be as much thick popple. That was hunting ridges below crop fields. Lots of up and down. Further north you may also want to inquire on wolf situation. Not sure what that area is like for wolf packs. Be prepared.
 
Tilkut said:
Unfortunately, it's been over 20 years since I lived there, and my memory is terrible. But a few areas closer to Stillwater that I do remember, would be the snake river state forest, and st croix state forest to the north. I think I hunted both a few times. Hunt the edges of popple slashes, but early on will be tough. St croix might have some more open areas if I remember right. You can catch Smallmouth and walleye in the snake River. South a bit was the whitewater wildlife area down by red wing. A few grouse there also, and may not be as much thick popple. That was hunting ridges below crop fields. Lots of up and down. Further north you may also want to inquire on wolf situation. Not sure what that area is like for wolf packs. Be prepared.
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For a day trip there is good information in the post above with Snake River & St. Croix Forests. Nemadji State Forest could be done in a day as well.

If you have two days I would really recommend an overnight trip up I-35 & Hwy 61 to the North Shore area. Plenty of lodging options and good hunting in the Superior National Forrest and the adjacent State Forest's. Getting some Lake Superior views in along the way is a great bonus.

Some locales a guy could base out of would be Beaver Bay/Silver Bay, Illgen City/Finland, Tofte/Lutsen & Grand Marais. This area is a bit of a tourist magnet in the fall (leaf watchers etc.) but a big majority those folks rarely venture more than 10-15 minutes north or west of Hwy 61.

As for hunting I'd just walk logging trails until they intersect good cover and then hunt that area. Good cover for me being young aspen/popple stands & alder swamps. The trails will produce a few birds too especially later in the day when the birds come to get grit or greens.

The October dates you mentioned are practically prime time. Good number of young & uneducated birds still around. Leaves gone or close to gone. Usually see comfortable weather and it is in the ballpark for the peak of the Woodcock migration.
 
I heartily agree with downtown. It would be a great bonus to see the north shore, all the way to Thunder Bay is nice. 25 years ago we hunted somewhere west of split rock. Lots of birds on public land. Sorry, but I don't remember what it was called. Can you tell us if wolves are a concern in Northern MN.
 
Tilkut said:
I heartily agree with downtown. It would be a great bonus to see the north shore, all the way to Thunder Bay is nice. 25 years ago we hunted somewhere west of split rock. Lots of birds on public land. Sorry, but I don't remember what it was called. Can you tell us if wolves are a concern in Northern MN.
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I don't worry about wolves much. Although I see a good amount of sign I have never encountered one on the ground while hunting and have only seen a couple while traveling in the truck. I still believe wolves to have a healthy fear of man in general and suspect they do their best to avoid notice or contact. Friends who have gotten wolf tags in past years back that up & always seem to complain about how hard it is to fill it.

I would probably be more careful if hunting a wide ranging pointy dog (I hunt FBECS) and keep closer tabs on the dog along with not being shy about noise and announcing my presence in the area.
 
Downtown Bang! said:
I don't worry about wolves much. Although I see a good amount of sign I have never encountered one on the ground while hunting and have only seen a couple while traveling in the truck. I still believe wolves to have a healthy fear of man in general and suspect they do their best to avoid notice or contact. Friends who have gotten wolf tags in past years back that up & always seem to complain about how hard it is to fill it.

I would probably be more careful if hunting a wide ranging pointy dog (I hunt FBECS) and keep closer tabs on the dog along with not being shy about noise and announcing my presence in the area.
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Yep. Bells help you keep track of the dog, but also can scare off bears and wolves. Simple solution to a minimal problem.
 
Apparently there is a bunch of public land just North of St. Croix falls in Wisconsin. I'm being taking there for the first time on 9/19 by a co-worker. I wouldn't feel comfortable asking these guys to take someone I don't know especially the first time they take me. Figured I'd at least point you in a direction. It isn't to far from Stillwater ( less then an hour) and they say there is a fair amount of birds there.

Good luck!
 
There is a plenty of public land north of St Croix Falls, WI ... but in reality it is further north towards Grantsburg.

Take a look at the map and that "bulge" that pushes into MN with the curve of the St Croix river is where most of the public land is. Lots of oak and scrub oak. Some aspen. This area is rather desolate and much more remote than the MN side just across the river.

Pay attention to the roads you are on. The roads are only "adequately" maintained so be careful. I would advise a 4x4 truck in many situations especially if it has rained.
 
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