Pass Along PDJ
September 2009

arly field reports from hunters in the Great Lakes region seem to indicate good to very good numbers of ruffed grouse, but a disappointingly low number of woodcock.

Michigan hunters are moving more grouse than woodcock, the reverse of the norm of recent seasons. A cold, wet spring was expected to limit the numbers of both birds, even the grouse, which are at or near the peak of their 10-year cycle, but at this point, indications are that woodcock were impacted more than their bigger covermates.

How good are the populations of grouse? Experienced hunters with good dogs hunting good cover in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula are moving six to eight grouse per hour, which is two-to three-times the best averages of down-cycle years. As of this writing, the grouse are still in their family broods, and when you find one bird in a cover, you’ll find them all. Later, as the “fall shuffle” takes place, the birds will disperse and there will be fewer “feast or famine” situations.

Look for grouse in clearcuts that are in the 6 – 15 year-old age class, with more mature aspen nearby for winter feeding. Look for stands of dogwood, autumn olive, blackberries, and wild grapes in or very near the cuts.

Some hunters feel that the recent dry spell of nearly a month in the region has caused woodcock to shift their home range to wetter habitat – along streams, swamp edges, seeps, and stands of alder and young clearcuts near such areas. Hunters report that the birds they are finding seem to be in the dampest spots available. Recent rains as of the last week could move the birds again, however. In low-population years, there is some anecdotal evidence that woodcock flights take place earlier than normal.

The thick cover, of course, makes seeing birds difficult and the shooting, as always, is a poke-and-hope proposition. Experienced hunters go to wide-open chokes – cylinder or skeet – if possible. Double-gun shooters often opt for cylinder and improved cylinder. Any gun capable of throwing ¾ ounce on up of No. 7-1/2 or 8 shot is suitable this time of year; and while the 20-gauge is the grouse and woodcock standard, the handy little 28 gains more fans each year.

Weather reports for the upcoming week of September 27 – October 3 seem to indicate that autumn will arrive all at once in the upper Midwest, and the temperatures in the mid-70s that marked the early days of the season will give way to wind, periods of rain, and daytime high temps in the 50s, which should get leaf fall in high gear and make seeing birds – and the dog – a good bit easier.

Speaking of dogs, northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan all now have growing populations of Eastern timber wolves, and there are documented reports of bird dogs being attacked, killed, and in a case or two, eaten. It is strongly suggested that you run your dog with a beeper set on “run” mode so it beeps at regular intervals, rather than in the “point only” mode, whereby the beeper is silent until the dog establishes point. And remember, depending upon the state, there is almost no recognized reason to legally shoot a wolf unless your own life or someone else’s is in danger, and there has never been a documented case of an unprovoked wolf attack in the upper Midwest.

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