Gun Dog Forum

Im heading up to the clam lake, wi area next week for 3 days of hunting. I have never hunted this area but will be hunting the chequamegon national forest. Anybody hunted this area recently? Recent bird numbers? Any info would be appreciated to help out this novice grouse hunter. Thanks

Okay, so nobody replied to my first post, no big deal. We left the house this morning around 230 am and hit are first hunt area around 830, we hunted 4 different areas throughout the day. We quit about 4pm. Snow was falling most the day with about 3" on the ground. In total we had 9 flushes only 2 of which I actually got a chance to put my eyes on. Had one chance to unload my double with no luck. All the birds we saw were in conifer trees. Gibby had several good points but the grouse always flushed away from me. Gonna hit it hard again tomorrow. I have no idea how you die-hard grouse hunters get it done, definitely a humbling hunt, much respect to you guys. Also found out the new boots I bought from gander mountain on black Friday aren't exactly waterproof.

Grouse can be a very humbling hunt. Anytime you have rain or snow grouse will use the pines for shelter. When the snow stops and the sun pops look to open edge . Edge of young slash , trails, roads, open sunny hill sides. Grouse will be out catching rays. Glad to hear Gibby handled a Few.

I read an article once about a well known grouse hunter in the UP who tracked his numbers for like 20 years and he figured he shot about 35%. I think that's about right. They're fast and fly through lots of cover which protects them.

The other poster is right about snow and rain driving them into pine trees. I would add I have noticed they also seem to get out of the trees later when snow is on the ground. They like to sun themselves first.

35% is a great average. Mine here in the WNC mountains is more like 8%.

It was 35% he shot at, not that he saw. I might be a bit off on that number too, might have been 25%. I was waiting to get a haircut and skimming. In my experience that's about right. Usually hit one in three or four I shoot at.

a lot of times you only get to hear the bird flush and ive been in such thick cover you cant swing on the bird for the limbs 3 out of ten thats preety good shooting and about right

My buddy in Ashland keeps telling me he is seeing more grouse this year than ever before. He's had 40+ flushes in one day and routinely is getting 20 or more.

That's like a dream IMO.