The howling of the beagles came and went as the dogs chased the snowshoe hare across the country side. Sometimes their cries were almost indiscernible, other times they were loud and clear….now getting louder as they came my way. I was told the hare would be way out in front of the dogs. Judging by their sounds, the hare should almost be in front of me. So I lifted my 20 gauge a bit and got ready, my eyes straining for a flash of white.

Hunting rabbits and hares with beagles is not a common sport in this part of Minnesota. I had never done it before, so when a friend asked me to join him on a snowshoe hare hunt, I hopped at the chance. 

Snowshoe hares are often called rabbits, a mistake that even seasoned wildlife experts make, kind of like calling a grouse a partridge. Rabbits are born hairless while hares are born with fur and ready to start jumping. Hares also have disproportional large back feet, thus the name snowshoe hare.

Snowshoes, like many hares, go through color phase changes. In the summer they are brown but shed their coats and turn white in the winter. Another name they go by is varying hare. Here in Minnesota they live in thick forest areas and their population goes up and down from year to year. According to my friend, this year was supposed to be good. “There are lots of them out there,” he said, “more than there’s been for quite a while.”

So on a snowy morning we gathered at his home. We were joined by another friend from the Twin Cities who saw our friend and his beagles when they were featured on Ron Schara’s Minnesota Bound television series. Two other friends with their own beagles showed up later, too.

We hunted on a plot of land that was interspersed with trails cut through the woods. Later I would find out how helpful the trails were. After a brief walk, they unleashed their dogs in a spot where all suspected hares were resting through the day. Snowshoes are largely nocturnal or active at night. During the day they settle in protected spots and rest.

Within a few minutes, the dogs jumped a snowshoe and were howling away. The hunting cry of beagles is a long drawn out howl punctuated by barks and yips – a sound that is music to a hunter. The hotter the scent, the louder and more excited they become. Many hound dog owners don’t even bring a gun while out, they just sit back and listen to the dogs.

We scattered out along one of the trails. My friends told me the idea was to listen to the progress of the dogs and hope they chase the hare your way. If you calculate it right, you can move ahead of the dogs and be in position when the snowshoe runs by. I discovered that can be tougher than one can imagine.

One of our friends and I were in the right position to set up an ambush on the hare. The bawling of the beagles was getting closer now….a white hare had to be there somewhere. Then my friend shot once. “Heads up, Jeff,” he called. It’s coming your way!” Having a snowshoe hare heading for you is not as much of a heart pounding experience has having a deer coming down on you, but it is exciting. Boom! He shot again … and again. Then silence.

I peered through the brush for the white blur of a hare running for its life; but none appeared. Then he whooped “I got them both!” Harvesting two hares together is pretty rare, from what I was told. Snowshoes tend to be solitary animals that rarely spend anytime together except during the mating season.

Snowshoe hares have soft fluffy pelage that is almost all white with some underlying gray, which makes them difficult for predators and hunters to see in the winter. Their ears are short with black tips. Their large rear feet make it easy for them to run across soft fluffy snow.

The determined little beagles did not rest long. With their nose to the snow they trotted off for more hares to chase. These little dogs got their start in England where they were the favorite of such royalty as Henry VIII. Beagles became a favorite in America because early hunters liked their small size, yet they were big enough to cope with heavy cover where small mammals and game birds would hide. I quickly saw their small size was an advantage because they could scoot under brush that bigger dogs would have to fight through or go around.

According to our friends, beagles naturally take to rabbit hunting without a lot of training. “I usually just let the young dogs run with the older ones,” he said. “At first they tend to hang around me, but once they get confident, they’ll take off with the other dogs and find rabbits.”

One reason my friend chose to raise and hunt with Beagles is because his property is conducive to training the little dogs. The land around his home has good rabbit and hare habitat, which is surrounded by hay fields. Rabbits and snowshoe hares don’t like to cross the open fields and stay on his land. He can let his beagles run and train for rabbits or hares knowing that they’ll stay on his property. His first beagle was from Michigan. He bred his dogs and produced his favorite two hare hunters, the ones he uses now Minnie and Sadie.

A heavy snow started to fall upon us as we listened to the beagles scare up another hare. The howling hounds seemed to be working south and the dogs sounded very excited. So I headed down the trail to where I thought a rabbit would try to cross. My plan was accurate, but I was several seconds late. Up ahead, on the outside range of a shotgun, a gray white form ghosted through the underbrush. The hare stopped and listened, undoubtedly trying to figure out these dogs. I lifted my gun to take a bead and the hare took off. My shot harmlessly rattled the empty spot. The speed and acceleration of a snowshoe hare is impressive – not much different than trying to hit a grouse planning through the trees. 

So, I need to be a little faster. Judging by the direction the dogs took, I hustled up to another trail that appeared to be ahead of the speeding snowshoe. Again, my plan was right, but the hare decided to double back and cross the first trail where I had been.

So I learned that hare hunting with dogs is somewhat of a guessing game. Do I run ahead and try to position myself, or do I sit and be patient – the same thing as any other kind of hunting or fishing.

For the next few hours, we strategized and second-guessed ourselves. Sometimes we were right, often I was not. If one could dine on glimpses of racing hares, I would eat like a king. One friend seemed to have a knack for waylaying snowshoes. By the afternoon he had five in his game pouch.

Hunting rabbits and hares does not require special equipment. A typical shotgun used for waterfowl and upland birds is just right. I chose to use a lightweight 20 gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. The other hunters used 12 gauge shotguns. Either #4 or #6 lead shot works fine. Snowshoe hares and cottontail rabbits will weigh about 2 pounds or more, so they are a little stouter than most game birds.

My only other experience with snowshoe hares was hunting with scoped .22 rifles. Groups of hares moved into a recently logged over area to eat the tree tops that were lying about. We would slowly walk through the brush piles and watch for hares moving ahead of us. When we saw one sitting for a safe shot, usually at a fairly long range, we would take careful aim and fire. It was different than hunting with beagles, but very fun.

Perhaps the most challenging way to hunt snowshoe hares is with a bow. Serious archers will move through good hare cover and hope for a close shot.

For good companionship and non-stop fun, hunting with dogs seems like the best way to hunt hares. Even when there’s not much shooting, listening to the dogs as they chase them through the woods is exciting. Not that many hunters get the chance to hunt with trained beagles, so it’s a rare treat to try this unique Minnesota hunting.

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Rabbit season runs all the way to February 29 (’12 is a Leap Year). Cottontails, snowshoe hares and jackrabbits can all be found in good numbers in the state. Cottontails prefer hardwood forests and lowlands, while snowshoe hares are most common in coniferous forest areas. One type of habitat both species love is recently logged over areas. The remaining brush piles offer both food and cover.

Hunting for these rabbits doesn’t require any special gear, except maybe a pair of snowshoes or cross country skis. Most rabbit enthusiasts make do with their favorite shotgun, or if they’re sporting, a .22 rifle.

Hunting jackrabbits is another story though. These long-legged speedsters prefer wide open prairie country with some brushy spots for cover. This type of terrain and the jack’s eyesight make it necessary for hunters to use flat-shooting, scope mounted guns, such as a .22/250 or similar rifle. However, your deer rifle with lighter loads can work just great.

The most challenging winter hunting is for red and gray fox; these critters didn’t get the reputation of being wily for nothing. Minnesota has an open season on fox that runs until February 29 (Leap Year) and there is a limit of seven. Whether they be red or gray, fox like rolling farm lands with mixed sections of field and woods. Getting permission to hunt on farmer’s property is usually no problem if you are courteous and very careful.

There are basically two ways to get a fox in your sights. One is by sitting quietly and using a varmint call to bring them to you. Varmint calls are not hard to use and are available in most sporting outlets. Practice on your new call until you get the hang of it, and then find yourself an area with plenty of fox sign. Locate a spot with a good view of the countryside and start calling. If nothing shows after 15 to 20 minutes, move to a new spot; eventually one will come looking for you.

If you are energetic, you may want to strap on a pair of snowshoes or cross country skis and take off on a fresh set of fox tracks. The idea is to keep watching as far ahead as you can and see the fox before it sees you. You might just catch one napping on a sunny hill side.

Badger and opossum season runs until mid March, while the season of bobcat hunting ends on January 8th this year.

Most hunters in Minnesota do not participate in these winter hunting seasons, but the hunt is challenging and rewarding. The fall hunting season is intense, although it doesn’t last very long once it’s here, so make why not make it last as long as you can.

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So if you can get a mental picture of this: My 2500 HD Silverado (dual exhausts) is rumbling behind me, I am about 20 yards from the edge of the woods, every move I make is casting shadows from the lights of the truck behind me, I have my camera in my left hand and my now loaded 45 in my right. After standing there for about 2 minutes the unthinkable happens. Despite all the noise I made getting to that point that hog comes strolling out about 20 yards away and stops. I was certain at that point that my last task of the night just changed from setting up the camera to cleaning this hog. I raised my gun, took aim, and fired! I was not real surprised that the pig didn’t drop on the spot although that was surely what I was hoping for. What I was surprised about is that it did not even squeal, it just ran away. I managed to sling one more round into the woods before it slipped out of sight. And then I realized…there was no blood trail, I had missed. Now it makes sense to tell you I am deadly at 20 yards at the range. My targets do not come home with a center section, so what happened?

Once again I had been diagnosed with Sight to Shot Syndrome. There is a beginning (Sight) and then there is an end (Shot) and regardless if it is only a few seconds or several minutes there are more times than I would prefer to count where I can not for the life of me remember what happened in between. In this situation the hog did everything right and I managed to do everything wrong. I know how to handle my 45 but not one technique I use at the range was displayed in the field that night. How do you bring yourself down to a level of normal brain function in the heat of the moment? How do you tune out the increased heart rate, the adrenaline flow, even your ego already spinning the tale of victory when you get back to camp. Maybe it is practice, maybe experience. My buddy says using your weapon needs to become second nature. I will tell you one things for sure there is nothing second nature about looking eye to eye with your prey you are about to take down. I only hope one day I am lucky enough to get a second chance.

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Although, late season duck hunting is not a bed of roses. Below freezing temperatures can chill you to the bone. High winds make boat handling and decoy setting tough and picking up frozen decoys will numb a macho man into a Nancy.

The key to enjoying yourself is keeping warm and dry. In fact, I don’t think you can dress too warm. Always start off with long underwear. Longies made of polypropylene or thermax are light and keep you warm without bulk. Over this wear wool pants or lined pants. If I am hunting on shore I wear navy coveralls designed for sailors in theNorth Atlantic. You can get these quite cheaply from army surplus stores.

This time of year I leave my usual canvas hunting coat at home and switch to an insulated coat. Companies like Columbiaand Cabela’s have coats that are warm yet have game pockets and shell loops.

Foot wear is important because it needs to be warm yet not dangerously heavy if you over turn in a boat. Insulated rubber boots are sufficient in most conditions. On those last few days when winter has arrived, stay on shore or in shallow water and wear felt-lined boots. 

If I ever go to hell, I will probably be eternally subjected to the most horrible chore on earth….picking up wet, frozen decoys in freezing temperatures. The only thing that makes this chore bearable is thinsulate gloves lined with gortex. These gloves keep your hands warm and dry and are the best there is for late season waterfowl hunting. I suspect that even these gloves will get wet if you pick up a large number of decoys.

Another thing, wear a stocking cap. I continually see hunters wearing the typical Jones style hunting hat even when temperatures are just above zero. Leave those caps at home until next September.

Besides being cold, inadequate gear can be dangerous. More hunters die from overturning into the frigid waters than from gunshot wounds or over exertion and heart attacks. Every duck hunter that drowned over the years was not wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). I used to think I didn’t have to wear one if I was in a canoe or boat that would float even when it was full of water. All I have to do is hang onto the boat, right? Wrong! When I finally did tip over in frigid waters my hands quickly became so numb I couldn’t hold onto anything. Fortunately I had enough training to right the canoe and get back into it. Never again will I go out in the water without a PFD.

Late season hunting is fun, but only if you use common sense. Nothing is worth risking your life over.

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Although the numbers were predicted to be down according to some experts in the pheasant world, we harvested a little better than what they and we thought. By no means a record setter or crazy roosters beyond belief, but a solid take. The hens sighted were probably normal to what we have seen. We jumped a couple of deer and treed a raccoon, which was new this year for us. Most all of the corn was out so the hiding spots for the roosters was somewhat limited, but they find them and stay hidden when they can.

A new adventure was had by the boyz. In years past we have shot some clays during the afternoon one day for some practice and bragging rights. Usually with a hand thrower or a homemade chair thrower. This year a member of the hunting party borrowed a Hawk – Pro-Matic for our pleasure. What fun! This beauty is battery powered with a trigger button to release a clay pigeon and a sleeve to hold almost a case of them. You could also adjust for height, speed and distance. We made an afternoon out of shooting clays in style.

All in all a great time with the boyz…can’t wait for part six. 

Prez./CEO at Davis J. Hennes, LLC

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I’ll never forget my first encounter

with deer scent. When I was a youngster just starting to deer hunt I sat on a hill with one of the older members of our party. As we sat down in the high grass he pulled out a small medicine bottle and took the cap off it. Being a naive’ greenhorn I asked him what it was. He explained it was a home concoction of “doe-in-heat” juices and other vile substances that would cover up our scent in case a deer gets downwind from us. Like I said, I was naive’ and bent over to take a good whiff of it. Suddenly my nostrils were filled with such an odor that I almost got whiplash jerking my face away. It was a stench that made a skunk smell like Chanel No. 5. I spent the rest of the evening watching the little bottle to make sure it didn’t spill on me.

Over time, commercial deer scents have become very popular, due partially to the increase in bow hunters. Outdoor catalogs offer seven different brands of scent.

Regardless of the brand, most scents fall in three categories. The most popular are scents made of urine from does in estrus, which is supposed to attract love-sick bucks. Another is territorial scents made from buck urine and musk which will bring in bucks thinking another is moving in on his territory. Then there are the shielding scents that cover up human odor, but have no special attracting power. These scents often are made from fox or skunk urine.

Even though it is not new, more and more hunters are trying antler rattling to attract territorial bucks. I have talked to enough hunters that swear by it to believe it can work. They often tell of rattling for a few minutes and suddenly see a buck trotting towards them with no caution at all. The interesting thing is many rattling experts are using artificial antlers rather than the real thing. Some say the artificial ones produce a consistent sound, unlike natural antlers that will change due to time and humidity. Artificial antlers are available in most hunting stores and catalogs.

Manufacturers have really enhanced the deer calling technique. There are grunt calls to anger territorial bucks, the bleat call to entice curious deer and the snort call to control bucks. An expert hunter will use these calls in various ways to get deer to do all sorts of things.

I don’t believe these tools are completely necessary to bag deer; I’ve always done OK and never used any of these items in the past. That doesn’t mean I couldn’t do better with them or have lots of fun experimenting with them.

Who knows, if I don’t do well the first part of season you may find me walking through the woods blowing on calls, shaking fake horns and smelling like a you know what.

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Minnesota has a limited population of ring necked pheasants, and most hunters have to work pretty hard to just put up a few birds. However, there are some things you can remember to make your pheasant hunting more successful.

You will find pheasants where they can find food. Cornfields, hedgerows with wild berries, and grain fields are some places that attract the birds. These places are only good if you have nearby marshes, woodlots, or hedgerows that provide cover.

As a rule, pheasants leave their roosts soon after daylight, find water and then feed until midday. Then after a short social hour, the birds will reverse the procedure and fly back toward their roosts in the evening. You will do best to hunt these respective places during the day.

Heavy hunting pressure can alter a pheasant’s daily pattern, however. Eventually the beleaguered birds abandon the popular hunting areas and take to the woods where they roost in trees and moodily search for food during the day.

When kicked up in an open field, pheasants will usually head for the nearest woods, if they can. You can take advantage of this by hunting where the woods border fields while a partner, or other hunters, work the fields. If all goes well, you may have your limit fly right to you.

It pays major dividends to hunt with a good field dog. If you don’t have one, get to know some pheasant hunters who do and perhaps they will invite you along.

If you prefer to hunt alone, or without a dog, try working rows of brush separating cultivated fields and work them to their end. Pheasants love to dawdle in hedgerows and will sneak ahead of the hunter until the cover thins at the end where the birds have to flush.

Pheasants like to crouch under small clumps of cover and let hunters walk right by them. So walk slowly and stop by each patch of cover. Birds seem to panic when they lose the sound of an approaching hunter and often burst out right from under your feet.

Shooting behind pheasants is a common error because the length of the tail fools the gunner into shortening their lead. Try to concentrate on the head and forget about the long tail feathers.

Later in the season, you might want to consider using shells with a little more punch to them because season-wise birds flush out much further. Some experienced hunters will use magnum loads with 6 or even 4 shot.

Late season pheasant hunting is a nice way to make the transition from fall into winter, especially for those who just aren’t ready to put the shotguns away for another year.

A safe and harvest filled hunt to all pheasant hunters this weekend. The outdoors is about the adventure…don’t leave it behind!

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In order to get in on the good hunting it is important to realize ring-necked ducks, often called ringbills or ringnecks, 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 the MN DNR, ringnecks 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 ringneck numbers begin to tail off.

Perhaps the best area to hunt ringnecks 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 ringnecks loaf are off limits to hunting.  Flocks of ringnecks 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 ringnecks. Unlike many wildlife refuge/management areas, Thief has a large amount of open water designated for public hunting. There is one public access 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.

Another refuge that attracts ringnecks 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 ringneck areas. But bodies of water in the vicinity of Aggassiz can offer excellent ringneck hunting. Most good sloughs and lakes are on private lands, but a polite hunter can usually find a place to hunt.

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.

Where ever one goes this weekend, the MN Waterfowl Hunting Opener on Saturday, have a safe, harvest filled and memory made experience. The outdoors is about the adventure…don’t leave your Rag behind!

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The Archery Deer Hunting and Small Game seasons will open this weekend in Minnesota. A start to one of the most enjoyable times of the year for outdoorsmen. From sitting in the portable stand to working a logging road over with your dog, all in hopes of harvesting that beautiful buck or a couple of grouse. The peacefulness, the anticipation, the time being spent outdoors, the time with friends and family and the cherished memories we all have and make from the Fall Hunting season is the ultimate.

We here at Davis J. Hennes, LLC want to thank all active Hunters for keeping this rich tradition alive and prosperous. Also to all for a safe, harvest filled and memory made Fall Hunting season. The outdoors is about the adventure…don’t leave it behind!

Prez./CEO at Davis J. Hennes, LLC

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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 the side to let the bird make its move…it did: a fast sprint into a jungle of inch-thick aspen.

I moved up with my still naïve, 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. Central Minnesota grouse are very wary birds in most cases. Not all grouse are like that though. 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 are 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 grouse sounds all around me. 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 in the day 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. In Minnesota 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 smarter birds. Apparently in that part of Canada, the grouse have fewer hunters to pare down their numbers, so more inept birds survived. I believe the same difference occurs in Minnesota 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.

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If there never was a calendar to tell the date, I would know fall is getting closer. I seem to suddenly find more interest in the circling flocks of ducks or geese than the walleyes I’m fishing for. I usually dig out my duck call and see if I can still make it sound like a mallard. Each deer along the highway is closely studied for antlers. My shotgun is removed from the closet, cleaned and brought to the shoulder a few times.

These indicators are not missed by my wife. In our first years of marriage she would declare that it was enough to spend my time fishing all summer, but now this hunting stuff? Lately she just rolls her eyes and laughs at me.

Rather than just dreaming of upcoming shots at decoying blue bills or a monster buck leaping across an opening, start doing things now to make fall hunting even better.

Make it a yearly habit to get your decoys out and give them a thorough check. If they need new anchors, heads replaced or a paint touch up you’ve got plenty of time to get/order the items and complete the job.

Take some early trips to your favorite duck holes or deer stand and investigate some new spots. You will notice where the ducks are plentiful or see some deer sign now rather than on opening day. During these leisurely strolls keep an eye out for grouse coveys.

Shoot a couple boxes of shells down at the trap range or get an inexpensive hand thrower. Dusting some clay pigeons now will help when those first few teal come zipping in over the decoys or the hunting dog flushes up that grouse for the first time. The same goes for your deer rifle. A shooting range is within reach in most areas, so zero in that rifle. Your confidence will be boosted if you know it is sighted in to hit right where your aim is.

Be on the lookout, via online or by visiting your nearest outdoor retailer, for registration dates to apply for antlerless deer permits and any other special licenses that require preregistration.

One of the greatest benefits of early preparations in the woods is it gets you in shape. Many people do nothing to prepare for rigorous hunting, yet attempt to romp through the woods like the deer themselves. Heart attacks from over exertion are a major cause of deaths during hunting season.

Fall hunting is a super time of the year; why not make it more enjoyable and safer by preparing now!

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This conflict of behavior exhibited between these birds of a feather is most likely due to the age of the grouse. The grouse that are skittish and flush out of range are likely mature birds that have learned by experience to get out of hat as they fill themselves. Birds that sit trustingly as you stroll within range were likely born only months earlier and have yet to encounter a hunter. Either way, they will probably act the same on opening day.

So on one hand, opening day hunters have the advantage of encountering young foolish birds. On the other, even young grouse have a thick cover of early fall leaves into which they disappear quickly and efficiently. Often they are not seen, only heard as their broad powerful wings beat the air.

When any one of us attempt a fruitless snap shot at a glimpse of a grouse, young or old, that bird is now a veteran that likely won. Often they are not seen, only heard as their broad powerful wings beat the air.

There are a few things one can do to put opening day odds slightly more in your favor. Considering there are some young birds out there, but may be hard to get in thick cover, think about hunting in open spaces. Areas where thick cover borders cut-overs, old logging roads and trails along open sloughs are good examples.

Grouse that are jumped in these places often fly in the open just enough to give you a good shot. Do not count on there being as many grouse in these areas as there are in thick cover. In fact, hunters that beat the thick aspen and alder swamps will probably jump more birds, but that doesn’t result in getting more shots off.

So whether the grouse you encounter is old or young, these are a few ideas that can help you dine on grouse the first night after opening day.

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The hunters who suffered the most were those who carefully observed the bucks only law, yet would never see a buck. Some people went for years without being drawn to receive an antlerless deer permit, while others got them quite regularly. Very unfair, but now that the DNR records who gets permits and when, the permits are spread out evenly.

The bucks only policy still comes under fire for various reasons. One reason is that everyone is shooting the large, genetically superior bucks that have big, visible racks. The bucks that survive the season are smaller ones with little racks that are harder too see.

A deer hunter in the western part of the state said the number of bucks are down so low that the herd is starting to suffer from inbreeding. They have the local deer herd starting to exhibit weird traits like does with antlers. He would like to see more doe permits issued to let more bucks survive.

Another complaint is that bucks are pushed too hard when they are supposed to be courting and breeding does. Just when Mr. Buck is getting somewhere with a doe some guy comes along with a gun and breaks up the date.

The bucks only policy may have adverse effects on our deer herd in isolated instances, but on a large scale I don’t think the complaints already stated are valid. In the last few seasons I know of several large bucks taken, indicating herds are not stunted. The large number of does and fawns in recent years shows that bucks can successfully breed does, even when being pursued by venison-happy hunters.

I know that the bucks only policy has forced us to be better deer hunters. Now you just can’t shoot any deer that comes along. It is necessary to get close up to the deer, or wait until it gets close enough, to determine if it has antlers or not.

Some of the concerns are valid, but most of them sound like sour grapes to me. Whitetail deer hunting is a sport and should be treated as one.  Harvesting the first antlerless deer that walks under your stand gets you your meat, but learning to stalk carefully, being patient and working hard for a buck is much more rewarding. It’s what whitetail deer hunting is really all about.

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Towards the end of summer my arms are more used to casting a fishing rod than handling a shotgun. If you don’t believe that go grab the old scattergun from the closet and snap it up to your shoulder a few times. Chances are your swing will be creaky, your eye dim, and the gun won’t come up as smoothly as it did the last time you shot it.

Smooth, accurate gun handling results from muscular coordination that only comes through practice. One way to regain mastery over your gun is a simple, yet effective exercise. First, make absolutely sure your gun is unloaded. Then stand in one spot and pick a target, it may be the clock or picture on the wall. Fix your eye on it and quickly point your gun at it. Now close your left eye (or right eye if you shoot left-handed) and sight along the barrel. Most likely you will find you are pointing a bit over, under, or off to one side of the target. Correct your hold and try again-several times. Soon you will be on target every time. If you feel sort of foolish taking shots at Aunt Miranda’s picture on the mantle, remember that many of the country’s top skeet and trap shooters spend hours “dry-pointing” to hone their shot gunning skills.

Naturally, the best way to regain your shot gunning prowess is to go to a trap range and shoot several rounds of skeet. Your gun will feel great in your hands again, and the stock will begin to come up to your cheek just right. Most areas have local trap and skeet clubs that are glad to help out.

If you can’t get access to a trap or skeet field. Pick up an inexpensive hand trap and take turns throwing clay pigeons with your hunting partner. A case of clay pigeons are not expensive, nor are the low base shells that most clay pigeons shooters use.

If by chance you still can’t get out to shoot some trap, or your wife won’t let you fake shoot the pictures off the wall, go into the back yard and dry-point song birds. Slip a dead shell or commercial snap cap into the chamber to protect the firing pin, and dry fire at flying swallows and robins. You’ll know if each “shot” would have been a hit or miss, whether you shot over or under or behind the bird. You will even find you can improve your follow through and lead while doing this little routine.

Don’t wait until the opening day of upland bird or waterfowl season to shoulder your shotgun again. With practice you’ll be able to start hitting birds cleanly right away and more importantly, have no cripples to escape. Besides a little summer shooting is fun, especially when the fish aren’t biting!

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Let me give you an example. Last year I decided it was time to go collect a ruffed grouse for the table. Ruffed grouse, or “partridge” as most Minnesotans refer to them, are perhaps the best eating game bird that flies. Beside being delicious, this brown bombshell of a bird has a way of bursting out of cover with a roar of wings that will unnerve even the most composed wing shooter; all in all, a very sporting bird.

Even though Minnesota is bursting with good grouse hunting, I, like most people, have to drive at least one hour before I hunt. There is an absolute rule that hunting can never be good close to home.

This particular area always had a good population of grouse. What made it even better were the cross country ski trails that split the swamps and stands of hardwoods. During the summer and fall, these trails grow a lush crop of clover, one of ol’ ruff’s favorite foods. During the last few hours of light the birds will come to trails to fill their crop with the tender leaves.

While hunting ruffed grouse, you have to have lightning quick reflexes and a nerves of steel. Perhaps that is why special forces military men, SWAT team members, politicians, and morticians make some of the best partridge hunters.

As I came to each turn in the trail, I would cautiously peer around the corner to see any feeding birds that hadn’t been alerted by my approach. At one hotspot there was a huge mud puddle in the trail with a single ridge of soft clay running down the middle. As I balanced along the treacherous ridge, I was poised and ready for anything, certainly there were birds just around the corner. I was like a coiled spring, a steel trap, a deadly grouse killing machine. The time was right. Just as the moment was reaching its climax, a bird jumped. Not out front like I had anticipated, but right out from under my feet. With a thunderous roar of wings the grouse rocketed out of a clump of grass, up by my leg and narrowly missed my hat. Instantly my inner spring uncoiled, the trap snapped, and this deadly grouse killing machine spun to intercept the bird.

There are a lot of rules that go along with proper bird shooting. Not quickly spinning around in the middle of a  mud puddle while shooting is one of those rules. My feet slipped just as I pulled the trigger, and the combination of a soft punch on the shoulder and simultaneous loss of footing was enough to send me reeling.  The puddle was only six inches deep, but that will get you just as wet as six feet if you land in a prone position.

Being demoted from a self-ordained wing shooting expert to a muddy, cold boob in a few seconds is a humbling experience. Trying to retain my composure, I started back for the truck, my mind grasping for excuses, but none seemed to quite fit the moment. I was a beaten man. As I rounded the last corner and could see my truck up ahead I quickened my pace with the thought of turning on the truck heater as fast as I could. Suddenly there was a sound that froze me in my tracks. There was the soft “kwit-kwit” of a partridge getting ready to fly. Up flew my gun as a covey of six burst from the oak scrub brush. At the report of my gun, one dropped from the group and landed upon the carpet of leaves.

As I picked up the plump bird I admired it’s beautiful plumage and thought for a moment at the recent turn of events. Yes, hope really is a thing with feathers!

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