It’s no secret that last year was generally a pretty lousy year for grouse hunting.  Around home here I only went twice, and saw a grouse once.  It was a wily old bird.  I was walking a woodland road that had a thick carpet of clover growing on it.  It was in the last half hour of legal shooting when grouse come out to dine on things like clover, so all conditions were right.
The old cock grouse showed itself up on a hill when I was still many yards away.  Though far away I was, the bird made me.  His neck was stretched out in that funny pose they assume just before running into the brush or thundering into the air.  I quickly stepped off to side to let the bird make it’s move – and it did: a fast sprint into a jungle of inch-thick aspen. I moved up with my still naive’ but “still learning” dog to see if he could move the bird for a shot.  Bandit found the grouse quick enough, but not a feather I saw as the wise old bird flew deeper into the woods.

Obviously that grouse had a keen sense of survival like so many of the grouse that live in this area.  Mid-Minnesota grouse are very wary birds in most cases.  But not all grouse are like that.  A week or so after the afore mentioned grouse evaded me, I went to the  province of Saskatchewan to hunt waterfowl.  A local fellow who befriended us said he had just flushed a bunch of those dummy birds we call ruffed grouse down in the states.  “Stupidest birds I’ve ever seen,” he said.  They are not that dumb I thought and told him they were considered a pretty cagey bird down home.
A few hours later we were sneaking through a row of brush towards a small pond with a bunch of mallards in it when I heard bird sounds all around me.  And, no kidding, there had to be ten ruffed grouse walking  right at me like so many chickens looking for a little feed.  The darn things wouldn’t even jump when I moved!  Fortunately for them I had three friends creeping up on some mallards who would not appreciate my sudden grouse hunting.  Later I returned to bag two single grouse that let me get within a few feet before flushing.

So what is it that makes birds with the same biological make-up wind up at opposite ends of the intelligence spectrum?  Charles Darwin’s theory of  natural selection where the strong and smart prevail while the infirm and stupid end up as dinner is a partial answer.  Down home here there are hordes of hunters chasing grouse from September to January.  Every grouse that doesn’t learn to beat it when a hunter approaches doesn’t survive long, and it’s genes wind up in someone’s garbage.  The smart grouse live to perpetuate themselves, and theoretically produce a population of smart birds.  Apparently in that part of Canada,  the grouse had few hunters to pare down their numbers, so more inept birds survived.  I believe the same difference occurs here between grouse closer to metropolitan areas and those in the far northern part of the state.

Granted, this is not the total answer.  Habitat,  population cycles, and all sorts of things affect the number and survival instincts of the ruffed  grouse.  One thing is for certain, however, I sure enjoy running into some of those dumb ones now and then.

Share/Bookmark

“How far to lead a bird” is a question that invariably arises anytime two or more shotgunners get together.  Everyone has different opinions on this matter, but one thing that is always certain is most birds are missed because the bird was always going much faster than you allowed for when you pressed the trigger.  Most experienced wingshooters agree that underleading or bad follow through accounts for probably 90 percent of missed birds.

Most birds can really zip along when they want to.  However, their flight speeds don’t seem that great when given in miles per hour.  For example, a mallard passing over the decoys may be going 55 miles per hour ( actually, they can fly faster, but this is an average).  A duck moving along at that speed isn’t exactly loafing, but that rate of speed doesn’t sound nearly as fast as 75 feet per second, which is the same thing.  It seems remarkable that a mallard flapping away at that speed will cover eight feet in the mere moment it takes a shot charge traveling at 1,000 feet per  second to catch up to the bird at 30 yards range.  It starts to put things in perspective, doesn’t it. Some other facts you might also find interesting are:  a ruffed grouse will reach about 30-mph in flight, a ringneck pheasant can travel nearly 50- mph, and a canvasback duck may burn by your blind at over 60-mph!

Now don’t think you can simply convert these figures into feet per second, determine the distance to lead each bird, and deftly pop each one you shoot at.   It’s not that simple.  There are simply too many variables that make an accurate calculation of lead impossible under field shooting conditions. For example, how long does it take your finger to pull the trigger after your brain decided to do so?  A well coordinated individual might do it in as little as two-tenths of a second – and that’s faster than average – while it might take you or I nearly twice that long.  In two-tenths of a second a 50-mph ringneck will fly another 15 feet, and you or I could miss the bird by that much if we failed to follow through and swing while we pulled the trigger.  That one factor alone can mess up any physics formula you want to apply to the art of wingshooting.

What this all boils down to is one thing: you’ve got to realize that it takes a measurable period of time for the shot pattern to intercept a flying target.  The way to compensate for that time lag is to develope a smooth swing, follow through after the shot, and perhaps most important of all, give the bird a little more lead then you think necessary.  Then you’ll begin to find more birds in your bag and shells in your pocket after the day is done.

Share/Bookmark

I had the opportunity to get out of the office a few times in the last couple of weeks to enjoy the great outdoors and splendor of the fall colors in Minnesota. It has been so nice and beautiful out that I just couldn’t help but take a few snapshots of the nature around me!

Share/Bookmark

What a beautiful month of October it has been in Minnesota, just perfect. Cool mornings leading into warm sunny afternoons. Some would say its dry, it has been, but I can also remember a wet summer and in particular a date in July when we received two inches of rain in two hours. Either way, moisture is on its way sometime soon. Meanwhile every hunter is loving life with this weather lately.

Today I got out into the great American wilderness and did some grouse hunting. Now that great American wilderness, near Pillager, MN which is a beautiful place, has civilization somewhat close. The day was another beauty. Temperature was approximately 45-50 degrees with abundant sunshine and a little breeze from the N-NW. I didn’t get the early morning hunt, which I would have preferred, because of some morning obligations. The time was around 11AM when I was geared up and out on the logging road in search of the Ruffed Grouse. This particular logging road is no stranger to me, since I’ve been hunting in that particular area for over 20 years. Yet, it always is a changing landscape. The surrounds are oh so familiar, but with some minor tweeks that lead you to ponder why does that look a little different. The walk was at a slow pace, stopping every so often for a couple minutes to listen in and scan for movement. This leads to a slight off the road scamper every once in awhile also. Since I do not have a hunting dog, this method is one I find effective.

Shortly into the walk I come across some remains of bone, not human I think. Some creature/animal must have gotten a little hungry and pounced on another for a tasty meal, such is the way of the wilderness. The relaxing smell of Fall is settling in, the leaves rustling of leaves in a slight breeze and utter peacefulness. One of many reasons we fellow hunters love the outdoors. As my eyes are surveying the woods, I spot a dark round object in a tipped over pine tree. My eyes dial in on it. The object is a porcupine climbing up the tree, ever so slow and almost gracefully. That captured my attention for awhile. The hunt continued, until I came across some more remains of bone. A trend is starting to develop I thought, no worries because thats where it ends. No more were spotted the rest of the hunt.

There were a few periodical stops for some photo opportunities of the Rod and Rifle Rag in the outdoors, the background was just to tempting to do it.  By this time my shooting stick was itching to get some lead out.  Since I hadn’t came across a grouse to shot at yet, I just threw some out in the woods for pleasure. The shooting stick reloaded and fired fine, had some issues last season and had it into the gunsmith. That made me happy since I’m planning a Pheasant hunting trip at the end of the month and don’t want to have to take into a gunsmith this time of year in fear of not getting it back in time for that trip. Time went by without any worries, spent hunting and gathering thoughts. The grouse were not there for me today, but a great fall day was and I utilized it.

Prez. @ Davis J. Hennes, LLC

Share/Bookmark

Most Minnesota duck hunters just grit their teeth and endure the slow time when teal and wood ducks have departed south and late-season divers are still in Canada.  That’s unfortunate because during these mid-season doldrums is when ring-necked ducks invade the state in earnest and provide excellent hunting to hunters who know how to find it. To get in on the good hunting it is important to realize ring-necked ducks, often called ring-bills or ring-necks, are different from scaup and other diving ducks.  One difference, particularly important to waterfowl hunters, is ring-necked ducks migrate before most other diving species.  According to Todd Eberhart, Group Leader of the Wetland Wildlife Populations and Research Group for the Minnesota DNR, ring-necks are a “calendar bird,” which means they predictably begin their migrations the same time each year. “Some ring-necked ducks are raised right here in Minnesota.  But the flocks moving down from Canada invariably begin arriving in northern Minnesota during the third week of September.  They remain in the area through October until freeze-up.  Big flights of scaup don’t usually arrive until the 20th of October, just when the ring-neck numbers begin to tail off.”

Perhaps the best area to hunt ring-necks is near the state and federal wildlife refuges in northwestern Minnesota.  The refuges act as “holding areas” where the birds can find food and rest, which keeps them around for a long period of time.  Being refuges, most areas where ring-necks loaf are off limits to hunting.  But flocks of ring-necks will often move out to lakes surrounding the refuges in search of food and new resting areas.  The key is to scout out these lakes and find which ones the ducks are using.

Thief Lake Wildlife Refuge near the small town of Gatzke holds a tremendous number of ring-necks.  Unlike many wildlife refuge/management areas, Thief has a large amount of open water designated for public hunting.  There is one public access is on the north side of Thief Lake, two on the southern shore, and one on the Moose River leading into the east end of the lake. In the morning when ring-necks begin to move around is the best time to hunt on Thief.  Setting out decoys off points and bog islands usually produces the best shooting.  Later in the day when the ducks settle down, try jump shooting around floating bogs and cattails. Many hunters pitch tents or park RV’s near the public accesses or in parking areas, but it is recommended to talk to refuge personnel first.  You may opt to travel thirty miles to Thief River Falls where more lodging options are available.

Another refuge that attracts ring-necks is Aggassiz National Wildlife Refuge just south of the town of Thief Lake.  Most of the surrounding public hunting is limited to firing lines along roads and fields, not good ring-neck areas.  But bodies of water in the vicinity of Aggassiz can offer excellent ring-neck hunting.  Most good sloughs and lakes are on private lands, but a polite hunter can usually find a place to hunt. Camping is not allowed in the refuge, but a few primitive campsites are available on nearby state wildlife management areas.  Motel lodging is found 23 miles to the southwest at Thief River Falls.

Further to the south near Detroit Lakes is Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.  This refuge is located in a prime waterfowl area and is surrounded by a maze of small lakes and waters that attract ring-necked ducks.   The hunting options are tremendous.  Many lakes and rivers in and around Tamarac are open to public hunting, and boat landing sites are plentiful.  But because public areas can be crowded, consider investigating new hunting areas away from the refuge.  Lakes and ponds outside of Tamarac receive less hunting pressure and offer quality hunting. Camping is not permitted at the refuge.  Motels, private campgrounds, and restaurants are available at Detroit Lakes 18 miles southwest of the refuge. The reason ring-necked duck hunting in this areas is good is because of the refuge system.  Diving ducks that can eat and rest unmolested will stay around and continue to offer good hunting.  Wildlife officials in the area caution hunters to respect this waterfowl resource and be conservation-minded to maintain quality hunting.

Share/Bookmark

This tale was emailed to me recently and it was just too juicy to not pass on to our fellow hunters in the Rod and Rifle Community…there are always other critters around in the outdoors!

This is freaking scary. As you know I was alone when I downed this elk in ND. I was using my camera’s timer attached to my shooting stick to give me enough time to get into the picture. I knew there were a lot of cats in the area but had no idea they would come in this close to people. He had to be within 10 feet of me and I didn’t even know it. I about crapped my pants when I looked at the pictures the next morning and saw he was there.

Share/Bookmark

We tend to pride ourselves with providing more for our kids than we had, so I took our fancy camera out into the fish house while I brought our 3 year old on his first fishing expedition. After the holes were drilled, camera set up, and heater was turned on we started out fishing. I know that having all the bells and whistles kind of “takes away” from the learning curve that many of us learn on our own, but fishing is something that will never change in our family. It is just fun to watch a child catch their first fish!

Read More of the Story…

Share/Bookmark