High hopes for Iron County this year.  Reports of lots of drumming and females on the nest.  I'm already excited.

Lots of drumming in Sawyer County too!

Up in the Iron river mi area this weekend on our land. Non stop drumming all weekend. 

Was in western UP first week of May. Saw quite a few birds and heard lots of drumming. Even caught drumming on a trail cam.

They are almost non existing in central Waushara Co. I used to see a few, or at least hear drumming.   But nothing in the last 15 years or so . Too many coyotes,  not enough snow for warmth, eaten by turkeys?  

Every year I plan to get up north for the end of the season. Just one more hunt. Then the holidays and work creep in and ruin my plans. 

I am haunted by the birds I missed in familiar cover in the fall that I 100% planned to follow up on in December. 

Well. Only ten more months to go….

Got out today for one last hunt for this season. I got up no birds, saw no tracks and not surprisingly, no other hunters.  I have not hunted this woods in a couple of years, but in the past, I have always got birds up in this woods at this time of the year.  

While woods get older, Wood County has done a good job of cutting it and creating varied year classes.  Plenty of aspen if different year classes. Evergreens for winter cover.  I wasn't expecting getting a limit, but at least a flush as I have always gotten at least 1 if not a couple of flushes.

A couple of days left, I think I will go hunting pheasant hunting. 

Fritz

Fritz,  north west Vilas co., Crab lake area. This is also the same area that I contracted viral encephalitis. Most likely from a mosquito 

samfox,

would you share what county you were in with the EEE grouse?

Thanks,

Fritz

It;s been a very good year hear in Central Wisconsin.... I made it up to the Willow Res a few times this year with poor results.... Mostly hunted around home where "There are no birds...."  and managed to scratch out 16 grouse and 6 phesant with a very energetic 1 y/o Britt. "Swampy"