After describing drumming counts of 57% higher than last year, the DNR has come out and admitted that actual birds-in-hand for typical hunters this season have fallen 30% below last year.
Further, the National Ruffed Grouse Hunt, in Itasca county, run by The Ruffed Grouse Society, has recorded not just fewer birds than last year, both ruffed grouse and woodcock, but the lowest totals ever taken for the event, period.
My take, worth exactly what you paid for it, is, the past spring was wetter, and, colder than normal. But, the previous year saw flood conditions in spring and summer, from the Iowa to Canada border, and had as much to do with what we are seeing this year, as this spring did.
It will be a tough year to be a bird hunter in MN.
Best,
Ted
