Fox Collectors

Saturday (14 SEP) was the 2025 MN Grouse Opener. It was unseasonably hot (85 deg F) here in northern MN, and the mosquitoes and flies were "bloody" thick.

Miss Ruby and I got out in late afternoon of the opener for an hour, and she worked 3 ruffed grouse. I had a marginal shot at 1 bird and missed; the other 2 birds gave me no chance for shots, due to the heavy cover. The understory was extremely thick, and leaves have just started to fall.

Warm weather has continued this week, and Ruby and I got out again yesterday for an hour, and she worked 2 grouse. The first bird made the mistake of flushing in a small open area, and I winged it -Ruby was on it quick, picked it up, brought it to hand, and on her way to find more birds. The 2nd bird flushed in heavy cover and did not give me a shot.

Thus, we have hunted 2 hours so far, and Ruby has worked 5 grouse. We look forward to cooler weather and full leaf fall, as there seems to be good numbers of grouse this year, in the areas we hunt.

Oh, and the Grouse Tacos for supper last night were excellent!


(Please click on the photos to re-aligned correctly)

Sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun this Fall.

Scaupman,
Same type of weather here in MI as well. Our opener was Monday and by noon it was 80 degrees. We hit three coverts in the a.m. and then quit. Scouted new coverts in the afternoon. Looks like Ruby was enjoying it just the same!