Grouse Opener Michigan's U.P.

[ACP230]

It was a fine day. Mid sixties, sunny, breezy. I had a new box
of 20 gauge No. 6 shells and nothing to do but hunt grouse till I got
tired.

Got to the woods at 10:27. There is an apple tree that sometimes
holds grouse around then. Not this year. The road down to the creek
is badly eroded now. In a few years I think it will be unusable. Then the
trees will grow back in. There were deer, wild turkey, and large canine tracks (wolf?) on it. No grouse today, however.

Across the creek I got cussed by two red squirrels. Heard a couple of
grouse-like noises but saw none--for a while. Just before the spot I had
picked to turn around one jumped up from a sidehill. It flew right to
left but at an odd angle. I shot at it and didn't hear any more wing beats.
So I climbed the hill slipping and sliding, holding onto trees and bushes. Rain in the days before had slicked everything up.

I had made it to the area where I thought the bird might have fallen and was looking around when my phone rang.
It was my wife who was picking apples near where we'd parked.
"A dozen turkeys just walked past the truck." she said. I had a fall turkey
license but wasn't in the right place--again. Jumped a couple late one
afternoon last year. They make a lot of racket taking off.

Supposed to rain for the next two days. If we get a break I'll try the
another part of the area. If not, it'll be Sunday before I get out again.

 

[Roadtrash]

Sounds like a good day even though no birds. Sometimes just the going is worth it.

 

[carpriver]

25 years ago there were a ton of grouse in southern Marquette country off Co rd 557 down parrin brothers rd, hunted the edge of a hard wood cut cut area. There was a lot of birds, some years were good others years not so much. Good luck on your guest.

 

[ACP230]

Roadtrash:
That has been my feeling for a long time.
Fall is my favorite season and I appreciate the days I
can get out and hunt.

carpriver:
When I went to NMU (back in the dinosaur era) I hunted between Marquette and Big Bay and out by Deerton. There were quite a few
grouse near Deerton then.

 

[Peak53]

Sounds like a typical day in the woods. They are all good. Keeps you coming back for more.

 

[BruceM]

According to the Wisconsin DNR, Ruffed Grouse are at the bottom of their population cycle right now plus all the heavy rain early this summer has cut into repro rates in the state. I would suppose the situation is similar in the UP as it is where I used to hunt near Florence, WI. This isn't to say that there are no birds-just fewer. Having all the leaves currently still on the trees doesn't make things easier either. Finding and especially retreiving birds in the early season is a tough gig without a good dog.

Good luck and hunt safe.

Bruce

 

[chud333]

Sounds like Heaven on Earth.

Nothing like a cool crisp Fall day with a shotgun over
your shoulder.

Have fun and Good Luck.

Chuck

 

[ACP230]

BruceM:
The MDNR is predicting a bit better season this year.
Last year it took nine days for me to find one bird.
I figure this year has already started out better for me.

 

[Jebus35745]

Sounds like a great time spent with a favorite gun. Nothing like a walk in the woods during the fall, wish I could get out more like I used to when younger. Enjoy, Larry

 

[ACP230]

It took till the 21st for me to get out again.
We had rain, wind, and then I had a tire problem with my truck.
Finally got that fixed Tuesday and hunted Wednesday.

Parked the truck just before 11 am and walked a small road that had been on my mind. It was sunny, breezy, and warm. High blue sky with just a few wisps of clouds. Lots of green leaves still on the trees. I saw
one small maple leaf on the trail. It was completely turned and dark red.
Didn't see any more. There were deer tracks on the road but I didn't
see any canine tracks. No turkey tracks, or turkeys, either.

The trail runs into a cedar swamp. I've flushed grouse right before it
but not in it. So, I was thinking about turning around before the swamp.
Since I am a trout fisherman as well as a grouse hunter, I usually walk
in till I reach a small stream, then turn around. Usually don't see any
grouse after the cedars start.

This time one jumped up just before the stream. Loud flapping and squawking ensued. I got the gun up and sort of on the bird as it flew behind some cedars. When it came out it was over the creek (fuller than usual due to recent heavy rains) and using every cedar tree across it for cover. At one point I thought I was seeing the bird's shadow crossing the trees rather than the bird itself. I didn't fire.

Walked from the truck to the spot where I jumped one on Opening Day.
Things were quiet there except for some snowbirds and chickadees
flying around. I had another spot in mind but a guy on a four wheeler
got there just before I did. So, went home.

 

[da gimp]

I sure miss hunting quail & pheasant over good bird dogs & pass shooting doves from a stand. How you guys find any grouse without having a good dog amazes me... & then finding the ones you do hit are even tougher... wounded birds hide well with their built in camouflage..

But as they say any day spent out in the fields hunting or fishing beats the heck out of anything else... Be careful... but enjoy your days afield & you might think about getting a nice shorthair, Brittany or English setter... heck all of the breeds are great dogs....your bird hunting will improve & you'll have a good friend that will love you & forgive you no matter what for years to come...

 

[ACP230]

I had a Springer once. Good on grouse and even better
with woodcock. Still miss that dog. Would see, and get,
more grouse if I had one. Allergies put a stop to that.

But, I've hunted the same ground since high school and have
a good idea where grouse might be on any given day.
Then I go there. Sometimes I'm right. Sometimes they
surprise me and show up in different spots.

 

[Bill Bates]

Nothing beats a Fall day bird hunting. We do need some photos.

I'm with Da Gimp...you have to add a good bird dog.

Hunting grouse without a bird dog is kind of like sex without a partner. You can get the job done but it just isn't near as enjoyable.

 

[ACP230]

I have mostly given up taking a camera out hunting.
I can shoot pictures, or try and shoot grouse, but can't do both
at once.

 

[Bill Bates]

I'm lucky, my much better half carries a camera these days instead of gun. It is rare she doesn't go hunting with me.

I do the still photos.

She does the action shots

 

[ACP230]

Very nice work.
I would like to have taken any of those.

 

[ACP230]

Went out to the same area today but saw no grouse.
Sunny, breezy, mid-sixties, a nice day to be in the woods.
I don't think a dog would have found any either. Some days
they just seem to have disappeared.

The color is starting to come on. Saw one small maple that
had gone totally red. My wife got some more wild apples for
the freezer, for applesauce, for pie, and maybe for cider.

 

[marvin the martian]

Roadtrash:
carpriver:
When I went to NMU (back in the dinosaur era) I hunted between Marquette and Big Bay and out by Deerton. There were quite a few
grouse near Deerton then.

Hey a fellow Wildcat! When were you there? Class of '96 here.

Wife and I were up at Tahquamemon this week, flushed 2 (maybe the same bird) along the river trail between the falls and dang near hit a third on a dirt road near the rivermouth campground. The DNR may have some issue with hunting within the State Park though.

 

[ACP230]

marvin:
About 20 years before you graduated I did.
Back in the dinosaur era, eh?

Have not hunted the eastern U.P. at all.
Did chase grouse in the Porkies for a few years in the late 1970s.
That state park is open for hunting most places.

 

[ACP230]

Another quiet day in the woods. More and more colored
leaves although where I'm hunting there is less color
than out on the highway.

Saw large canine tracks, three together. Family of wolves
maybe?

Found turkey tracks but no turkeys. Saw several'' flickers that impersonated grouse for the first few seconds of flight.
Jumped no grouse and heard no geese flying over.

First day with some sun after three days of rain.
May get out tomorrow, or on the weekend. Might change
areas to see if more grouse are hanging out elsewhere.