What is the best way to find good Grouse hunting in Wisconsin? Any of you guys want to give away some possible locations. I went to Maine last fall and had a great time but I would like to find somewhere a little closer to home.

When is the next "up cycle" supposed to peak?

Thanks and God Bless, Louis

I can't give you any good advice as to good grouse locations in Wisconsin. I was never there and all devoted ruff hunters keep such locations a very deep secret anyway. (I heard about Wisconsin for ruffs when I was a teenager and I assure you I'm long past being a teenager! - but you sure picked a good state for ruffs! Fact. I am sure you will find people who can give you good advice. ( I promise you (from everything I ever heard) hunting ruffs in Wisconsin will make you foreget you ever tried to hunt ruffs in Maine. Make sure to go. I always regretted that I didn't)

Well Gerry you should just meet us there and then you could quit regretting! My dad is 67 years young and he'll be going. Would be glad to have ya.

God Bless, Louis

Last year was fairly good.....Chippewa County forest is one place to try.

Also much of the area around Winter is paper company land and treated much like public lands.

Truth is they are where you find them.....and predicting where is something requiring an Oracle!

Lots of federal, state, county and paper co land to hunt in the Northern 3rd of the state. Park Falls claims the grouse capital and lots of available land to hunt around there. If you go in October you can also find woodcock.

Last year the DNR said the population level was increasing. Have not read a report about this year yet. Check www.dnr.state.wi.us/

BigB

Anywhere between Park falls and Hayward and you'll be in good bird country, Last 2 years population has been going up, So far this spring I've been seeing a lot more birds than I normally do, Hope this helps. jim

Hey Jim, Welcome to the forum! And thanks for the info. I haven't spotted a Grouse since season closed here. Do you Grouse hunt?

God Bless, Louis

Yes I hunt grouse, I hunt at least 3 to 5 days a week for them during the open season, Right now it's the beginning of spring so I take my dogs in the woods and let them find the grouse it's good training some are just starting to drum so I go to the sound and watch the dog sneak up and point them then I walk up and flush them and shoot my pistol into the ground, lots of fun for them, I've been seeing about 2-3 birds per hour of walking so I expect a good fall hunt this year. jim

I've done well around the Town of Gordon in the Chequamegon.

I've done good there to, I live about 20 miles from there.

I grew up in Antigo (Langlade County) hunting grouse. The northern portion of Langlade is mostly county land, then north of that is the Nicolet. There's a lot of good grouse country just about anywhere you look IMO. I'd suggest calling local Chamber of Commerce or the DNR stations. Plenty of birds to go around most years.

youngoutdoors:

Many thanks for your gracious invitation. (I'm afraid I have a few years even on your dad. 80 in about 12 days) I heard about Wisconsin from guys who had hunted ruffs there -and I can,at least, claim to have driven through what my eye told me was ruff country. (sunlit slopes with hardwoods and firs) Anyway, again, many thanks for the invitation. You made my day!

Gerry my invitation still stands if I get to go. The current economic situation may keep me at home if things dont start looking up. I'll contact you via PM when I have a few more details.

Happy Early Birthday!
God Bless, Louis

quote:

Originally posted by jim sev:
I've done good there to, I live about 20 miles from there.

My father grew up in Glidden, my step-grandmother was the postmistress in Clam Lake for fifty years.

Get a free hunting map of Price county. There is an 800 number you can call & they will send you one. Get that & maybe a current plat book & away you go. Just look for the proper cover & start walking. Just don't plan your trip during the firearms deer season, like a guy I knew did. Not that you can't do it, but opening weekend with your hunting dogs, a little much for me.

I am 11 miles west of Park Falls, and commute through the Flambeau River State Forest and also the Chequamegon National Forest to get to work in Winter.

The Grouse population made it through the winter in good shape around here. I have been seeing a lot of grouse on the road and flying across the hiway. Lots of road kills also. Yesterday morning one was struttin' his stuff right on the edge of the road on the way to work. He stayed right there and I made it around him fine. With a little luck we could have a bumper crop for harvest this fall. Spring weather will tell.

If anyone is looking for specific spots that are birdy, just PM me late this summer and I will get back to you.

Jim

For those that want to hunt grouse in Wisconsin with a dog, may I recommend a healthy spray of Frontline"

Ticks and mosquitos at times can be beastly.

Thanks guys - really helpful information here.

Jim: I'll PM ya later in the year if I get to go.

Thanks again all and God Bless, Louis

Any time Louis.

Here is one from a few weeks ago. Without the snow there is no way I would have seen it, let alone get a pic.

Jim

Grouse are where you find them lots of public land here I find that popple clear cuts about 6 to 20 year old to be the best areas.

My best year I killed 97 good dog lots time hunting them. Nothing like a good fall day a good 20 ga SXS and a buddyfun fun fun.

p dog shooter, Pretty good year I'd say!

God Bless, Louis

It was a great year lots and lots of birds haven't had another one like it.

I generally only grouse hunt until pheasent season opens, mainly to help get the dogs in shape. Although I've been up to Price county once, I usually only go as far North as Langlade county. Even though the population seems to be creeping up a little, it sure doesn't seem to be as high as years ago, and they seem to be smarter and flush wild, instead of holding to point.

The ticks last year were NASTY! Even with Frontline on my dogs, several ticks still buried themselves in my dogs. My vet gave my some Frontline spray to put on the dogs this year, in addition to the stuff that gets poured on their backs.

Thanks for the tip RH45. I will be sure to take a few extra tick precautions if I get to go.

God Bless, Louis

RH45

I read your post with interest (seeing as you are from Wisconsin) -particularly that you used grouse hunting to warm up (so to speak)for pheasants. In my neck of the woods, it was opposite. We,in NY, always had a brief season for ringnecks (opening about mid October for about two weeks) but a long season for grouse (through end of February and the season only opened around November 1)) so the idea of ticks really caught my eye about your post. Does Wisconsin have ticks that late? Just asking.

Our tick season usually starts in April, and depending on how cold it gets, can go the rest of the year.

Even in the fall/early winter, after a good frost, if it warms up out, the deer ticks seem to come out.