Fall is an excellent season to fish Lake of the Woods, but for Joe Henry there are three species of grouse in the region just waiting for hunters to take their limit.

When we think about fall around Lake of the Woods, most outdoors folks start thinking about big walleyes putting on the feedbag, aggressive muskies or even slab NW Angle crappies. Others, though, prefer to mix it up a bit. The thought of a beautiful walking trail in the woods, the instant adrenaline rush of a flush, and the smell of the fall forest all add to the allure. It is ruffed grouse season, and for many, a special time to target Walleye Capital grouse.

Lake of the Woods doesn’t have overpriced hunting lodges, but rather a variety of public hunting habitat that supports good populations of grouse, and is ideal for hunters who enjoy getting out in the woods and having the opportunity at some nice birds.

“The forests around Lake of the Woods are amongst the best in the state for grouse,” explains Scott Laudenslager, the Minnesota DNR Area Wildlife Manager in Baudette, Minn. “The key to having good populations of grouse it to have the right habitat, and good weather conditions. A low-snow year can be hard on grouse, as they burrow under the snow for warmth and security. If they use up too much energy trying to stay warm, it is hard on them. A wet or cold spring is also bad for survival rates. Luckily, the past few years have been pretty good.”

There are actually three species of grouse that call this region home. In addition to the ruffed, which is the most sought-after and tastes the best, there are spruce grouse and sharp-tailed grouse.

Spruce grouse have a very red meat, and many hunters say they taste gamey. For this reason, they are not as popular. The taste is partly because of their diet: jack pine needles, black spruce needles, white cedar and tamarack. These birds tend to prefer stands of pine mixed with hardwoods.

Sharp-tailed grouse prefer more agricultural settings, tall grasses, etc. They are in good numbers, but as one hunter told me, “There is so much land, it helps to know what areas they are targeting, and of course, the need for permission to hunt on private agricultural land.” Sharpies also live on pieces of public land, but will not be as readily available as the ruffed and spruce grouse.

Planning leads to success

As with most hunting trips, things will go smoother if you create a plan. If you haven’t hunted these parts, there is a ton of public hunting land. Hundreds of thousands of acres, to be exact. Much of the land has roads, ATV trails and designated walking trails.

It is very helpful to target some areas using a map. Maps can be located online by Googling the state forest or wildlife management area you want to hunt, and typically resourcing the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website. Lake of the Woods Tourism in Baudette is another source. You can stop by, email them or give them a call and they will mail you a map.

Where do ruffed grouse live, and what do they eat?

Habitat is key to success with ruffed grouse. Knowing what grouse prefer, and what they like to eat, can help break down large patches of land into smaller key areas. Ruffed grouse love aspen areas with 5- to 20-year growth; in terms that are easier to understand, aspen that are about the circumference of a broom handle, up to 4 inches. They also like edges—specifically the edges of jack pine stands.

The ruffed grouse diet consists of a variety of vegetation and insects, if available. Aspen and hazel buds, dogwood berries, insects, clover (which is why grouse will hang out on and around trails) and high bush cranberries are all desired by grouse.

Fall behavior patterns

Have you ever noticed when you are hunting grouse early in the season, you will kick up small groups of grouse. But as the season progresses, often times you see singles and doubles? The reason for this, according to Laudenslager, is “the broods break up. In late September to early October, young grouse find themselves in new areas, and on a variety of land that simply isn’t occupied by other grouse. As they mature, they often times learn to gravitate back where the best habitat is, and start to live more in the areas we think of as productive grouse areas.”

There are plenty of options when deciding where to hunt in the area. Three that will provide more land than most could hunt in a lifetime are Beltrami Island State Forest and Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, Pine Island State Forest, and Lake of the Woods State Forest. Information on hunting these areas is available online or by contacting the Minnesota DNR.

Cast and blast opportunities

There are a variety of dog-friendly hotels and resorts in the area. In addition, a new kennel just opened this year. Fall in these parts is full of outdoor opportunities. With the fishing so good, other great opportunities, such as grouse hunting, often get missed. For those who have experienced grouse hunting around Lake of the Woods, it is often times the fishing that ends up playing second fiddle.

Why not try something new this fall? You’ll find plenty of suggestions in the fall issues of MidWest Outdoors, available the first full week of each month at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.