This past weekend hunted in the Ely, MN area.
All predictions say more grouse which also means more grouse hunters. There were more people out this weekend than I saw on the same weekend for the past two years combined.
I did see some decent numbers of birds.
Saturday was cloudy and about 45 degrees. Hunting before lunch saw 10 shot at 4 and got 2.
The 2 that I missed were easy ones that I should have had. The other 6 were in the thick leaves which haven't really started to come down yet.
Saturday evening went out to another spot but a bow hunter was heading to his stand which was in the area that I wanted to hunt so I went the other way which isn't as good. Ended up going to another spot and saw another hunter starting to pull out. Drove around the area a bit and then went back to that spot and tried to hunt it. Didn't get a flush and Marge, my setter, wasn't even that birdy.
Sunday was a nicer day. Sunny and 45- 50 degs. Returned to the same spot from the first day. Saw 4 and got 2. Another group was in the same area and got 6 birds out of the area that I got my two the day before. The joys of public land. Ended up just hunting until lunch.
The dogs did a good job and paid attention and worked hard. Fergie the pointer has come up lame. The odd part is that she was fine when I put her into the travel kennel for the trip home. Off to the vet tomorrow. Hopefully it isn't a big deal.
