2024 UP Grouse Camp

[Birdbander]

I'll continue the grouse camp theme that TheGreek started, but fair warning, this one might not have the same high quality.

Our MN grouse camp was a bust both in bird numbers and below average lodging. To top that week I started having car troubles north of Duluth which became worse by Ironwood and I barely made it to Marquette.

The cost & time to repair the car ate up the travel & incidental money for my trip to Maine, so canceled that.

I talked my friend & his son from Indiana into a UP Grouse camp, bought a new car and received permission from a friend to use his cabin.

We arrived yesterday afternoon late, enjoyed an evening of conversation with our host and rested from the drive.

This morning we hit a nearby cover moving several grouse and WC. My friend and his son each shot a grouse, and each of us shot at least one WC.

We hit a few covers throughout the day, only one of which didn't produce and bird encounters. We typically don't find a large number of birds per day so the 12 grouse snd 13 WC found was a good day.

Total numbers of birds for the day killed was 3 grouse and 6 WC.

Tomorrow we're going to take a road trip to the western end of the UP to start the day then work our way back.

 

[Birdbander]

Day 2 of grouse camp wasn't very exciting.

We took a big swing driving a couple of hours west to try some new ground. Unfortunately the locations we chose to put boots on the ground didn't offer up any birds.

After lunch we found a couple of small patches holding some WC. We only shot two and enjoyed some dog work.

The last cover of the day produced one beautiful red phase grouse that's going back Indiana with my friend.

Hunting closer to camp tomorrow and will try to remember to take photos.

Grouse seen in covers: 5
Road birds (none shot at): 4
WC seen: 3

 

[Birdbander]

Day 3

We hit our best producing covers to start the day as my friends will be leaving for home tomorrow morning.

By lunchtime the dogs had pointed or we'd walked up over a dozen grouse and a few WC. Truth be told we didn't keep accurate count but had a good idea of numbers.

We drove around a little mid-day to see what places might be worth hunting in the future.

For our evening hunt we went to a cover that was mature oaks on the ridges and 12 - 15 year old aspen mixed with pine in the draws. We moved half a dozen birds. The highlight of the day and trip for me was seeing my 1.5 yr old Llewellin Setter have a couple of honest & true points on grouse. He'd regressed some since the end of last grouse season despite doing well with training pigeons.

I'll be hunting in the morning and afternoon solo.

Lowlight of the day was our combined poor shooting, but that happens.

Friend's son pictured with one of the days birds he'll be taking home to mount himself.

Grouse killed: 2
WC killed: 2

 

[Birdbander]

Day 4

Final day of grouse camp started early at 0500. Friends got up, loaded their Suburban and started their long drive home to southeast Indiana. The dogs and I laid back down

Hit our most productive cover with the young dog hoping to get him on grouse quickly to keep the idea of actually pointing birds firmly planted in his head. Worked perfectly! Within minutes he locked up, I moved flushed and thankfully knocked the bird down.

The next & final cover belonged to the older dog. Unfortunately the swirling wind did him no favors nor fave me any warning and no birds were harmed.

All packed and on the road home to the Lower Peninsula

 

[Tuckman]

What is with the lodging that made it below average? Looks like a sweet setup to me.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Man I really am sad I didn't get to the UP this year. Living vicariously through you! Thanks for taking us along.

 

[Nicoli7153]

I'll continue the grouse camp theme that TheGreek started, but fair warning, this one might not have the same high quality.

Our MN grouse camp was a bust both in bird numbers and View attachment 346195View attachment 346196View attachment 346197View attachment 346198View attachment 346199View attachment 346201View attachment 346202View attachment 346203below average lodging. To top that week I started having car troubles north of Duluth which became worse by Ironwood and I barely made it to Marquette.

The cost & time to repair the car ate up the travel & incidental money for my trip to Maine, so canceled that.

I talked my friend & his son from Indiana into a UP Grouse camp, bought a new car and received permission from a friend to use his cabin.

We arrived yesterday afternoon late, enjoyed an evening of conversation with our host and rested from the drive.

This morning we hit a nearby cover moving several grouse and WC. My friend and his son each shot a grouse, and each of us shot at least one WC.

We hit a few covers throughout the day, only one of which didn't produce and bird encounters. We typically don't find a large number of birds per day so the 12 grouse snd 13 WC found was a good day.

Total numbers of birds for the day killed was 3 grouse and 6 WC.

Tomorrow we're going to take a road trip to the western end of the UP to start the day then work our way back.

Nice looking camp!

 

[Birdbander]

Nice looking camp!

I agree!
It's owned by retired MDNR CO friend.

 

[crock239]

Awesome! Considering a UP grouse and waterfowl trip in the next year or two.... This just adds fuel to that fire.

 

[Birdbander]

What is with the lodging that made it below average? Looks like a sweet setup to me.

That was in reference to the lodging we rented in MN at the beginning of October. The cabin pictured in this thread is owned by a friend and exceeds our wants & desires

 

[Birdbander]

Awesome! Considering a UP grouse and waterfowl trip in the next year or two.... This just adds fuel to that fire.

Get Onx and think timber company land that's open to public access