Grouse Hunters

[grouser68]

Got some bad news today.......for me.

Looks like my hunting partner is'nt going to make it this year! Said they are killing him at work and probably wont be able to get the time off.Come hell or high water I will be up there this fall I wont miss another one.It will be a bit different going alone no one to pay half the gas and room.No one to hunt with up there will be the biggest change, always had my P!

 

[Birdman]

Surly you can find someone to fill in.

 

[grouser68]

Surly you can find someone to fill in.

I am already looking. The problem is as I have gotten older I have gotten more particular.I have made 2 trips to the northwoods on about a half dozen occasions. I took two 18 years old boys once, my boss once,and someone who had never been bird hunting in his life.I spent the entire trip up there preaching weapons safety and how to hunt.I have hunted with my ol' partner for 25 years, from Maine to Montana, it just aint the same without him.And of course we did'nt make it up there last fall for the obvious reason.Oh well, life changes guess im just not ready to change with it.

 

[Grouse_Hunter]

I am already looking. The problem is as I have gotten older I have gotten more particular.I have made 2 trips to the northwoods on about a half dozen occasions. I took two 18 years old boys once, my boss once,and someone who had never been bird hunting in his life.I spent the entire trip up there preaching weapons safety and how to hunt.I have hunted with my ol' partner for 25 years, from Maine to Montana, it just aint the same without him.And of course we did'nt make it up there last fall for the obvious reason.Oh well, life changes guess im just not ready to change with it.

I don't blame you I'm the same way I have a couple of hunting buddies I've hunted with for years and it would be hard to hunt without them.

But thank God my buddie is able to head up north this year! I can't wait! Even if I don't get into a bunch of birds its still a great trip just being able to get away and enjoy the time in the woods with my dogs and a good buddie is what I really enjoy and the grouse is just an added bonus!

 

[Birdman]

I know what your talking about.

 

[Birdman]

Does anyone hunt up north in Sept.?

 

[grouser68]

Does anyone hunt up north in Sept.?

I have been there a couple of times during the last week of Sept. it's really green. The grouse are runners when they have that vegetation for cover.Hard to even see a white setter 30 feet away on point.I am hoping for an early killing frost cause I may have to head up the last couple of days of Sept. this fall.When the underbrush is up waste high and the popple leaves are right above your head you don't have much of a shooting window.Sept. seems to be a great time to take a young dog for timberdoodles, they seem to be everywhere.Are you planning a trip in Sept. Birdman?

 

[Birdman]

Not this year, just wandering what it's like at that time of the year. I may take a trip up next year.

 

[KY Grouse Hunter]

Lots of birds, (lots of young birds) very green, little shooting lanes, birds love thier legs that time of year. Found alot of birdsin trees as well.

 

[Birdman]

From reading post on other sites, there's a lot of guys that hunt opening week, but all conplan about the leafs and heat. Sounds like to me like they need to look at opening later.

 

[grousebuster]

I receive the Wisconsin Game and Fish Magazine. There is an article titled "Grouse Galore", in this past month's edition. According to the article, grouse hunters don't want to miss this year and the next. Northern Wisconsin is at it's 10 year peak. If you can locate the article online, I would suggest the reading. It will make you want to clean the gun, and load the truck up.

 

[trust me]

Articles like that are often hyped up to generate a few more tourist dollars. That said, it is the top of the cycle and everybody and his brother are going to be there this year. Last year we encountered a lot of other hunters, sometimes it was tough to find a pulloff that didnt' have a truck in it. I actually enjoyed the down years a little more; there were still enough birds to hunt, but virtually no competition.

Alas, I'm not going this year. My pup is only 4 months old and it isn't as much fun to kill birds over somebody else's dog. Next year she'll be 1.5 years and ready to go.

 

[grousebuster]

Articles like that are often hyped up to generate a few more tourist dollars. That said, it is the top of the cycle and everybody and his brother are going to be there this year. Last year we encountered a lot of other hunters, sometimes it was tough to find a pulloff that didnt' have a truck in it. I actually enjoyed the down years a little more; there were still enough birds to hunt, but virtually no competition.

Alas, I'm not going this year. My pup is only 4 months old and it isn't as much fun to kill birds over somebody else's dog. Next year she'll be 1.5 years and ready to go.

The hype may be true, but the article does back their findings with increased drumming counts, an increase in brooding results, summer road sightings by the WDNR, and a good cold winter with plenty of snow banks. The first week of October is crowded, but if you can go up during the last of October and first of November, you should have the woods to yourself. However, I've been during both time periods and I've never had trouble running up on other hunters in nearly a million acres of grouse habitat.

 

[trust me]

I wasn't trying to imply that the bird numbers weren't up; as you say, it is the top of the cycle and the drumming numbers are good this year. I just know that they draw a lot of money from people like us and they want to make the most of the good years.

Those Wisconsiners are the friendliest folks you'll meet. They want you to have a good time and they want you to spend money every year. The locals love to give tips on where to find birds too. Some of them think it is silly to fool around with dogs and such while hunting grouse, when you can just drive down the road and pick them off in the ditchline.

 

[grousebuster]

Another indicator that the grouse cycle is up will be the number of Kentucky plates parked along the roads.