Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game 2022 Season

Michigan opener today. I think WI is soon as well. Good luck to those bird hunters able to get out right away. I hope to hit the woods in a few weeks. By my first real season where I'm trying, specifically, for grouse in MI.

Hoping to get some meat in the pot this year and just keep learning.

The WI opener is in two days, but am heading to Northern Minnesota fishing, so it will be a week or two before I get out after any grouse. It's always nice to get out, but early season full foliage and higher temps aren't as inviting.

Ruffed grouse opens Saturday in MN too. I might get out but have a few other things that need tending to. I'll have a pistol on the belt in case I find one walking or is stupid and flies into a tree or bush to look at me.

I would hunt sharptails but last year the season was closed in my area and has remained closed this year. It is fun hunting sharpies as they hold well this time of year and the short grass lets one see the dogs work. You also only get wet up to the knees from dew rather than the whole body.

Woodcock opens the Saturday after which is when I prefer to go out. I don't mind eating them and that they hold so well makes them great starters for inexperienced dogs. Getting into a recent flight is good times for the dogs, a good covert can see better than 1 bird contact per minute.

South Dakota prairie grouse opens sat as well as ruffed in the Black Hills. Huns open same time as prairie chickens and sharptails...mb

Grouse will have to wait. A friend called and has a half tank of gas in the boat that needs to be used up. Looks like the walleyes are going to be in trouble. Maybe even latch into a sturgeon if lucky.