Grouse distribution question

[ralphbeagle]

I've posted this on one or two other forums and thought I would try here also. I will be moving to Saint Paul this summer with my English Setter.  I am trying to find out how far I will need to travel to get into decent grouse hunting.  I am willing to hunt in either MN or WI.   I'm not looking for anyone's secret hunting spots, just some general advice. I am also curious as to how big an issue wolves might be with respect to the dog.   Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Bobby Bass]

Where are you moving from? Grouse are more of a northern tier bird in Minnesota

[Cody Gruchow]

you can get into some grouse around mille lacs and rather north, not sure of were at in wisconsin because i have never hunted them there, unless your way farther north i wouldnt worry about wolves to much. and lately from the sounds of it the wolves dont care about whos around they will try to lure your dog away and snatch him from you.

[Go Big Red!]

Check out both the MN DNR http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html and WI DNR  http://dnr.wi.gov/ for information on public hunting land.

Western and NW Wisconsin has tons of public land for grouse as well as the Central part of the state.  Yes, wolves might be an issue but I doubt your dog will stray too far and you are carrying a gun for warning shots if needed.

Good luck!  And where are you moving in from?

[ralphbeagle]

Thanks for all the info.  I was looking at the DNR page - does have anyone know about hunting the St Croix or Chengwetana State Forests?  

I will be moving down from the Upper Peninsula (long story).   I'll be keeping my camp up here so if I really have to drive 3-4 hours I may just come back over here and hunt.  There do look to be some decent possibilities in W. Wisconsin within a couple hours though.

The reason I asked about the wolves...I hear a lot about them over here, but don't know of anyone who has actually had a bird dog taken.  A lot of bear hounds have been lost, but no bird dogs with a beeper that I'm aware of.  The conventional wisdon over here is to put a beeper on 'em and keep 'em within 50 yards, and you will not likely have a problem.  Does anyone over there track wolf depredation of dogs?

'612'ers huh?  I've got to remember that one.  On the UP we refer them as trolls.  People who live 'under the bridge' as in under the Mackinac Bridge on the lower Penninsula.

Thanks again.

Ralph

[thunderpout]

Hey Ralph.... welcome to MNO!  Im an avid grouse hunter, and also a English Setter guy... My current Setter's mother is a UP dog.(Ryman-Pinecoble lines)  I guess to answer your question as how far you need to go (from the cities) in MN to find grouse, Id say as little as a half an hour.... Ive hunted grouse in the Isanti/Cambridge area in the past... but the problem is, the closer to the cities you go, the more those areas get hunted (more specific,POUNDED ).... the farther north, or to be more accurate, the farther off the beaten path you travel, the better the grouse hunting and the less skittish/less hunted the birds (and land) are.  As far as wolves go, I've never had a close encounter (yet)with them while grouse hunting, but have friends that have, though I know no one personally that has lost a dog to them.  I have read quite a few articles about grouse hunters having run-ins with them, so it does happen.  I do hear wolves often while grouse hunting, and had a wolf pay a visit to my camp this fall while I was out chasing birds...(had tracks going right up to my tent where he "left his mark" on my tent...) so yeah, it can be un-nerving to say the least... I dont fear them myself.... but I do worry about my setter, who is definatly a dog that if he sees another, he has to go check it out....

[HD]

Chengwetana State Forest...... I've hunted there....

Mostly for ducks, but have grouse hunted it. Shot a few timberdoodles there too....
I wouldn't say it was stellar, but it can be good.
I have not seen a wolf there, not say'in they ain't there...Just, I haven't seen one.

[thunderpout]

Oh yeah.... I've hunted St Croix St Forest, Nemadji St Forest and that area quite a bit... last five years or so its been getting pounded big time by lazy road hunters and atv hunters, you'll even see locals driving their trucks "hunting" on the atv trails quite often .... good grouse hunting habitat though, just need to get in way off the trails and away from the crowds.... good timberdoodle hunting there when the migration comes through cause youre there on the corner of Superior & they funnel right through there on their way south....

[Go Big Red!]

The UP.... Love it.  We have family and summer homes, etc. in Hurley so if you're ever up in that vicinity, let me know.  We've shot grouse outside of Montreal, Hurley, Gile, and Kimball. 

I also have access to private land as well.  My cousin is one of the bigger contractors/blacktop crews in that area.  His company has the pink and black trucks and equipment.  I'm sure you have seen them around.  They have 500+ acres I can get access to.

[corny13]

More wolves in Minnesota but in Wisconsin its bears you need to watch for.  A friend of mine from minnesota a few years ago was hunting grouse in wisconsin with his setter with a beeper on and he heard it howling in the woods, thought it was stuck in a snare or something.  It was a bear shaking his setter by the neck.  He unloaded his double and the bear dropped the dog and attacked him   He broke his stock of his model 21 on the bear getting it off his leg!!! He didnt have time to reload!

[thunderpout]

Yeah....bears HATE dogs!  Someone told me a friend of theirs lost a dog to a bear... dog had a beeper on him... the owner thought the dog ran off on him but they heard the collar, but had a hard time figuring out where the beep was coming from... bear dragged his dog into its den, they called the DNR, who shot the bear.... dog was still alive but they had to put it down cause it had a broken neck..... Bears....Wolves... Porkies... skunks....   just be glad we dont have snakes to deal with up here.... Id quit bird hunting.... naw it'd made me think about it though....

[Merimac]

Yeah....bears HATE dogs!  Someone told me a friend of theirs lost a dog to a bear... dog had a beeper on him... the owner thought the dog ran off on him but they heard the collar, but had a hard time figuring out where the beep was coming from... bear dragged his dog into its den, they called the DNR, who shot the bear.... dog was still alive but they had to put it down cause it had a broken neck..... Bears....Wolves... Porkies... skunks....   just be glad we dont have snakes to deal with up here.... Id quit bird hunting.... naw it'd made me think about it though....

Yep, I know whos dog that was.   Thats a pretty sad story.   

[deadeye]

I've heard of coyots and wolves killing hunting dogs, but never a bear.  Kinda scary.  I guess you have to keep an eye over your should while hunting. 

[grouse dude]

Worse thing I have run across grouse hunting is a bull moose who decided that I was in his territory and charged me and my dog.I ran the other way with my dog hot on my tail.I hunt the Vermillion river area by Crane lake.Haven't had any run ins with wolves yet but they are getting heavy up there.I have seen them during deer season but not earlier.I have found their tracks following me when bird hunting so I never let my dog get too far out of sight.
                                      great hunting to all.
                                          grouse dude

[thunderpout]

Years back, BHWD, (before hunting with dogs ) A buddy and I were hunting south of the Echo Trail, on the Norway Trail(goes into the BWCA) we split up on two sides of a big ridge to cover ground... kept hearing somthing following me, every time Id stop, Id hear a few steps... thought my buddy was messing with me... stopped for a minute, heard a yelp then a deep howl that lasted for a looonnng 10-15 seconds, and really close behind me!  Almost wet my pants!   Kind of eerie being hunted while youre hunting....   Its unbelievable grouse hunting up there in the "northern rainforest" but even though its beautiful, peaceful and etc, since then, Im not always at ease like I used to be in the woods chasing grouse.... when it gets really quiet, it can be a bit unsettling at times... makes ya feel like youre being watched.... and you are!

[UplandObsession]

Never had any problems with wolves up where I primarily hunt but I know they are there. My Old mans cousin that lives right outside of Boy River, MN he has had some Wolves meandering around his house prolly smelling his 2 brittany spaniels (Two of the best dogs I've hunted behind)One of the first times I was ever out hunting Dumb Birds (west of pine river) I remember the trail we were walking down had come to a swampy area so we turned around and walking back I looked down and there was a massive canine print right over my little boot print (I was around 6 or 7 yrs old). That dog wasn't far behind us and that makes it very eary knowing that and I still get uneasy at times walking though the woods because of that one lone wolf...