WELCOME TO THE LOWER 48'S GROUSE HUNTING CAPITAL 

There are 528 designated hunting areas in the ruffed grouse range covering nearly 1 million acres. Jerry Havel, owner of the Pine Ridge Grouse Camp in Remer, says he’s had customers from all over the world at his camp.

“The biggest thing is really the millions of acres of public land that are actively managed for young forest aspen and regeneration — that is perfect for grouse and woodcock.”

The sport of grouse hunting is steeped in tradition, he adds. “It’s been romanticized since the turn of the century... the English setters and pointers, the guns, the old stone fences; there’s a lot of history to grouse hunting that other upland birds don’t have.”

It’s also the thrill of the hunt. Grouse are unpredictable, and can be difficult for seasoned bird dogs to handle. “They outsmart me half the time,” laughs Havel. “You might think you have the perfect shot, and your bird gets out behind a pine tree...there’s just so many variables that need to come into line to harvest a Minnesota grouse.”

He also points out that even in states known for grouse hunting — Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Maine — their habitats can’t compare to Minnesota. “I get a lot of customers from out east,” he says. “They just don’t have the birds and the cover that we have. It’s really all about that habitat and the public lands. We are so fortunate to have that here.”

WHERE TO HUNT DIFFERENT BIRDS THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA

Unlike some states, where habitat is similar throughout, Minnesota’s landscape is highly diversified. In fact, it is so diverse that it harbors not only prairie species but iconic symbols of the north — some for hunting, some not — such as moose, elk and wolf.

So, first-time hunters should review aerial images of potential hunting locations to get a feel for the landscape. It pays to “plan your hunt and hunt your plan,” and these days a lot of that planning can be done in the comfort of a living room with the aid of a computer or smartphone.

Mourning Doves

Mourning doves are found throughout Minnesota except in the far northeast. Doves are one of the most common birds in the United States. However, hunters should hit the first part of the season, since the later season's colder weather will drive them south.    

Pheasant

Most pheasant hunting occurs in southwest and west-central Minnesota. The Montevideo, Marshall and Fergus Falls areas are popular destinations.

Prairie Chickens

Prairie chickens are most common along the beach ridges of glacial Lake Agassiz in northwestern Minnesota. This species was re-opened to limited hunting in 2003. About 120 prairie chickens are harvested annually.

Ruffed Grouse

Most ruffed grouse hunting occurs in the state’s central and northern forests. Good grouse hunting exists from central Minnesota all the way to the Canada border, but hunters need not go that far. In less than two hours a hunter can travel from Minneapolis-St. Paul to the aspen and mixed forests of Pine, Kanabec, Mille Lacs or Carlton counties, areas known for good grouse hunting.

Ironically, many popular fishing destinations — Brainerd, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Walker, Duluth and International Falls just to name a few — are also popular ruffed grouse hunting destinations as they are within the forested part of the state.  

Sharp-Tailed Grouse

Sharp-tailed grouse are less common than ruffed grouse but savvy hunters can find them in far north-central Minnesota and portions of east-central Minnesota. Minnesota’s spruce grouse are found in the extreme northwest, throughout the north-central portion of the state and across the northeast.

Waterfowl

The northwest is blessed with an abundance of small waters and wetlands yet also features big lakes that draw-in diving ducks. Chief among them is Thief Lake near the town of Middle River, which bills itself as the Goose Capitol of the North and hosts an annual festival to celebrate this area’s waterfowl hunting heritage. Thief Lake covers some 7,100 acres and is one of the state’s important waterfowl production and staging areas.

Leech Lake is another migratory stop for diving ducks. Leech is the state’s third-largest inland lake at 103,000 acres. Its western shore abuts the tourist-friendly community of Walker. Good duck hunting exists in the Baudette area, too. Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort on Lake of the Woods, Sportsman’s Lodge on the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods are all good contacts for local and Northwest Angle hunting information.

Woodcock

The woodcock, one of Minnesota’s smallest game birds, is typically found wherever ruffed grouse are found. That means central, eastern and northern Minnesota more than to the south and west.