Grouse Reports ! ! !

Let us know where youre finding the birds, what were the conditions, what type of terrain.

Lets here some good dog stories as well.

Can we attach pictures in this forum now?

Flushed 6 today in wet woods. 2 hr walk. Should be good when the sun comes out but it’s going to warm Fri-Mon.

Got out last weekend iron river mi area.  Flushed around a dozen while out. One shot and miss. Lots of foliage still , normal for this time of year. Nice to get out.

Short 45 min walk this morning resulted in 3 flushes. Swamp edges. I would really like some cooler weather.

Hunted the past 2 days. Monday flushed 8 grouse and 1 woodcock. 2 shots, misses.
Today I went out about 9 to a different area but similar habitat where I flushed 6 of the birds yesterday. Today we put up 10 grouse. I got 3 shots and killed one. 
I have been getting my flushes on thick edges near oaks, there is a decent acorn crop this year. 
It appears the birds had a good hatch. I’m very pleased w/ the numbers I have seen so far.

I’ll report back after this weekend. Weather doesn’t look great temp wise, but should get out a couple of mornings. Might turn into more of a fishing trip. But I’ll be out 4 out of 5 for the coming weekends with a full week in middle October. 

Any opening weekend reports (WI or MN)?

Of course!

Anyone venture into the woods for the opener?

I don’t put too much thought into the drumming surveys. 2018 saw a statewide 34% drop in drumming counts. It was my second best season in my life. They are going to be there. Just maybe not in their usual haunts.

The population cycles are not uniform across the regions. Different areas experience cycles at different times

Minnesota spring drumming counts are up 30% for 2023. Hard to explain how two adjacent states have such different results. We will learn more in September I guess. 

Well I am not going to be alarmed by a 11 % drop, not yet.  Historically the drop from peak to trough is as much as 85% in some locales.

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/80861

A little more information. 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/columnists/paul-smith/2023/07/21/wisconsin-ruffed-grouse-population-down-dnr-drumming-survey-indicates/70430180007/

Looks like a decline from last year. Not through the bottom of the cycle yet. 

Birdy, I think that report normally comes out around the 1st August.   ?