Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire E. Minnesota / W. Wisconsin Grouse

I will be moving to Saint Paul this summer and will be looking for places to hunt grouse within (hopefully) a 2 hour or so drive. Anybody have a feeling for how far I need to go to get into some decent grouse huntng with a dog in either MN or WI? Any other advice you can share? Thanks in advance.

I grew up in NW WI but now live in WA. I return every year to bow and grouse hunt at home. Do a search for public land in NW WI . 1000's of acres and plenty of birds. As you know grouse populations are cyclical. Usually will see some woodcock too.
PM for more detailed info

Grouse and Timberdoodles are both at a population peak right now, so you're in luck. 2.5 hours can get you into a lot of prime territory in both states. Good hunting on public lands in Chippewa, Taylor, Rusk, and Price counties in WI. On the MN side you're probably going to have to travel a little further north. The Blackduck area of Chippewa National Forest has some really good grouse hunting. For mixed bird field hunting, think south. Fillmore, Mower, Olmstead counties.

Could you explain what you mean by 'mixed bird field hunting'?
Thanks.

I should have written that better..
Weekend hunts where you can hunt field terrain for ringneck pheasants and woods for ruffed grouse and woodcock.

I think the whitewater area by rochester,mn would be one place to go,although rather crowded.
Almost anywhere up north in the forested region of minnesota is good for grouse and woodcock,but there are fewer pheasant there.

Chippewa national forest in mn is a great place to go to see grouse,plenty of room to hunt.. Blackduck area is good but further of a drive... I think for some decent hunting area you might have a 3 hour drive from St.Paul....

pm me if you want i hunt by Longville maybe can help you out...

aaahhh yes, the famous east/west grouse, gang battles.



I've hunted both areas. Most years I'll give it to MN, but I've seen quite a few more birds in WI the last couple. That is not the norm for me.

I hunt by Whipholt,about 10 miles from Longville.

Fluffy.
The wife and I spent our honeymoon up there. Had our first dinner out as a married couple at Patrick's in Longville.

I love that area.

Head up to Superior National Forest for the weekend. Lots of motels to stay at or camping grounds. Get the printed map from the USFS here.

Superior National Forest

This some of the best ruffed grouse habitat in the USA and it is practically all public land.

Damnit! you're giving away my spots.

That will be about a 5 hour drive, but if you stay for a weekend, it will probably be worth it. You'll get more birds if you walk the trails instead of drive like most of the 612ers that go for the weekend.

They'll be less spooky if you walk too, atleast in the Superior Nat. Forest.

Thanks for all of the info. Does anyone know anything about hunting on the state forests over by the St Croix River (I believe the St Croix and Chengwatana State Forests). Also, I intentionally didn't ask this in the original post to see if anyone would bring it up, but how much is there to worry about with respect to wolves going after dogs? This seems to be an issue up around Grand Rapids (MN). On the UP (Michigan), the conventioal wisdom seems to be put a beeper on 'em, keep 'em within 50 yards and you're not likely to have a problem. There have been a lot of bear dogs taken, but few if any bird dogs with a beeper on 'em. Any places you would avoid because of wolf issues? Thanks again.

If you go up to Bayfield or Douglas counties in NW WI there has been quite a few grouse the last couple of years & a good bit of public land, too. Wolves are a real concern. Keep the dogs close. Bear hunters are losing a BUNCH of dogs.

You surely don't have to worry much about the dogs jumping many deer...

mn dnr grouse info

If I was going to hunt with dogs,I would definitely want them trained well enough to stay close.The thing with bear dogs is,they range pretty far away from the hunters.

The bear dogs is where you'll have the most trouble because of the distances they cover, and they're running right through the woff's house.

You should be a lot closer to the bird dog. Not to say it won't happen, as we know it certainly can. Reports I've heard are that the Grand Rapids area is not nearly as good for grouse as it has been in the past. I can't give an accruate report though, I've never hunted it.

I had (almost)free range of the area between Walker and Longville when I was a youngster,damn near the entire 15 x 10 miles of national forest between Hwy 371 on the west and Longville on the east,Leech lake on the north and 84 on the south.
It's kind of spoiled me on hunting small parcels of land anywhere else ,we used to,and still do,roam over hundreds of acres every day,whether grouse hunting ,or deer hunting,or even fishing,there must be dozens of lakes to chose from in that area.Hackensack used to advertise 120 lakes in a ten mile radius.

You don't have to worry about wolves going after your dogs or you getting attacked by wolves. Plenty of deer around to keep them busy. My family has had a place about 30 miles north of Two Harbors since 1962. So, I am very familiar with the area. I have seen wolf sign occasionally but have never seen one myself. They tend to avoid people in that area. I have walked to and from my hunting stands many times in the dark and never had a problem.

Three million acres is a pretty big hot spot.

Unfortunately, many Twin City hunters have the same idea as you.

My Brother-in-law lives in Woodbury, MN and believes the 3 hour drive to Prentice, WI in Price County is worth the drive to hunt Ruffed Grouse. I agree and drive 4 1/2 hours to meet up with him.