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Grouse Hunting

Grouse, gun and dog

There's more to Minnesota than 10,000 lakes. Try 11 million acres of public hunting land, 528 designated hunting areas in the ruffed grouse range covering nearly 1 million acres, 43 designated ruffed grouse management areas and 600 miles of hunter walking trails.

Minnesota offers offers some of the best grouse hunting in the country. Even in down years of the grouse population's boom-and-bust cycle, hunters in other states still envy our flush rates and hunter success rates remain high.

Grouse already know Minnesota is the perfect place. It's time you did, too.

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09/14/13 - 11/30/13

 

Sharptailed Grouse season

Hunting Seasons

What you'll need

Not counting a sturdy pair of boots, a blaze orange hat and vest and a shotgun, all you need to hunt grouse in Minnesota is a valid small game license.

Hunters seeking woodcock must be HIP-certified (done when you purchase your Minnesota license) but do not need state or federal migratory bird stamps. Shotguns may not hold more than three shells unless a plug is used.

If you're not on your home turf, you'll need a place to stay, something to eat and a souvenir or two. Communities such as Grand Rapids, Ely, Duluth and Bemidji offer a wealth of options.

Where to hunt

Whether you follow the footsteps of famed grouse researcher Gordon Gullion in the uplands of the 34,000-acre Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area, traverse the hunting trails of the 1.6 million acre Chippewa National Forest or try your luck in the far northern forests bordering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Lake Of The Woods, Minnesota grouse won't disappoint.

 Grouse range

What to hunt

Minnesota's most popular upland game bird population is past the peak of it's 10-year cycle. Although we're on what the downward side of that peak, hunter-to-drum counts continue to be favorable and hunters harvested an average of 4.3 birds in 2011.

You're also likely to find woodcock in the same habitat. These birds are beginning their migration south for the winter. Come spring, they'll return to cuts in alder and willow brush, where they find nesting and feeding habitat.
Grouse

Ruffed grouse drumming

movie icon Ruffed grouse drumming
(52 seconds)

More helpful information on Grouse