I figure a thread about how things are going in the woods around the state would be good for others planning and trying to get out grouse hunting. If you have a report, post away.

It is still pretty thick around the Princeton area. I took these today:





Lets hope for no rain and cold temps to get some of these leaves to drop and ground weeds to die. Plus also kill off those deer ticks

I don't have any pics, but I was in the Aitkin area this weekend and we "heard" a lot of birds, but didn't see many...it was still very green and very thick in the woods

Thanks.

Ya, you do not need any pics. I just had some and threw them up. Just give a shout out of what the ground and tree cover is like in your area.

Thanks for the Aitkin update.

Looks like my hopes of a trip up that way might be pushed back a week or more.

Thanks!

All the ferns are dead in the Bemidji area, leaves are falling, it's getting easier to see the birds now. Hopefully this rain will knock down some of the dead ferns.

I'll be around Aitkin this coming weekend for a wedding, I should have a report for that area as well next week. Nice to read that you heard some birds, I hunted around Aitkin on opener and only saw 1 bird, and didn't hear any. The weather was pretty poor though.

That would be cool, thanks!

Ya, you do not even need to be a grouse hunter to give a report. Just tell us where you are at and what it looks like still out your back door or down the road.

Thanks

Thursday Huntersville 1 bird leaves 85% up still
Friday

Whoops
Friday
Paul Bunyan 0 birds leaves 75% and falling rapidly
Badoura 0 birds leaves 85%
Secret Spot 3 birds bagged leaves 80% Just glorious w/maples, oaks, birches, chokecherry, dogwood, etc!
Put on about 6 miles Friday lot's of barren ground and one mile with six flushes and two bird's bagged.

7 grouse 1 woodcock and 3 gigantic crows. seen alot of deer also. more and more leaves were falling everyday but still thick.

Leaves are starting to fall around Brainerd, but still kinda thick. I've been out a few times anound the area haven't seen many around yet. My BIL has been out a few times in Cass Co and seen quite a few but only harvested a few.

2 Weeks ago we bagged 6 north of Grand Rapids but we flushed around 45 in 3 days we couldnt really see or shoot at since it was very thick. Was up by Leech this weekend and walked a little for grouse with no luck. Still awefully thick, not much changed from 2 weeks ago imo.

Leaves are droppin in and around Grand Rapids. Prolly 65% of leaves still on though. Lots of undergrowth. have been hittin the spruce groves pretty hard for that reason. Me and my buddy have put 11 grouse down since opener. Will keep you posted. The weekend of October 18th should be the start of good grousing in this area.

Hunted around Mcgrath Sunday, leaves starting to drop.......3 hours....20 flushes.....5 birds.. 3 ruffs 2 doodles.. I cant believe how dry it was compared to the soggyness of last fall..Bring water for the dogs!!!! This rain today should help, I hope. Gettin out this weekend again...can't wait...uplander

Yesterday drove from Lake of the Woods to the cities. The leaves are in full peak color the entire drive to just south of Mille Lacs. Still plenty of them on the trees. They should start to fall shortly.

We are starting to see some change arond Princeton 10/10/2008:

Was up Grouse hunting North of Orr over the weekend. I'd say the leaves were at their peak as far as colors go & are starting to fall. There is still a lot of tall grass & under cover out there though. With all the rain over the weekend the leaves should start falling a little faster.

Four of us hunted Thursday through Sat. Got 6 thursday, None on Friday, & 11 on Sat. Saw quite a few that ran back into the woods never to be seen again.