Thursday, August 26, 2010
12:36 PM
Ruffed Grouse populations tend to rise and fall on a 10-year cycle and populations are surveyed by counting the number of male ruffed grouse heard drumming on established routes throughout Minnesota’s forested regions.
LOCAL OBSERVATIONS - RUFFED GROUSE
2009 was an excellent ruffed grouse hunting year. Based on our observations and in our opinion, the ruffed grouse hunting season for 2010 should be at least as good, if not better than the 2009 ruffed grouse season.
Our opinion is based on personal observations plus conversations with various UPS drivers, food service & beverage delivery drivers and others who drive almost all of the local roads on a continuous basis. Pretty much everyone that is frequently on the back roads, in the Gunflint Trail area of northern Minnesota, says that they are seeing more ruffed grouse than they did last year, which as an excellent grouse hunting year.
Keep in mind that our prediction is based on the actual observations of ruffed grouse and is not based on spring drumming counts, which are used by the Minnesota DNR to estimate the ruffed grouse population in northeastern Minnesota.
MN DNR RUFFED GROUSE ESTIMATES
According to the Minnesota DNR, ruffed grouse drumming counts were significantly lower in 2010 than they were in 2009, across most of their range.
The Minnesota DNR claims that ruffed grouse drumming counts decreased 31% compared to those in 2009 in the northeast survey region, which makes up the core and bulk of the grouse range in Minnesota. However, even though the DNR estimates a decrease in ruffed grouse, the numbers are still closer to those at the high end of rather than the low end of the 10-year cycle.
WHO TO BELIEVE
Due to the fact that the Minnesota DNR ruffed grouse spring drumming counts and our own late summer observations of ruffed grouse conflict, it will be interesting to see if 2010 goes down as an excellent ruffed grouse hunting season.
Keep in mind that the MN DNR prediction is an estimate based on spring drumming counts and our prediction is based on actual late summer observations of ruffed grouse by local people.
Only time will tell how good 2010 turns out for Minnesota ruffed grouse hunters.
GROUSE HUNTING AT HUNGRY JACK LODGE
The Gunflint Trail area of northeastern MN is one of the best (if not THE BEST) ruffed grouse hunting areas in the Untied States. As a result, Hungry Jack Lodge, located on the Gunflint Trail, is the temporary home to a fairly large number of grouse hunters during the MN grouse hunting season. Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground offers everything that grouse hunters want or need.
Small game hunting licenses are available at Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground. Lakefront log cabins and cottages are available for rent at our Gunflint Trail resort and we also have campsites that will accommodate tents up to large motor homes.
Do your own cooking or enjoy breakfast and dinner in our new lake view main lodge. The Loggers lounge in the lower level of our lodge offers beer, wine and full liquor service along with multiple TV’s, pool table, darts and video games.
For more information about grouse hunting at Hungry Jack Lodge visit the Minnesota hunting page of our website at www.hungryjacklodge.com/hunting_bwca.htm Information about our lakefront rental cabins can be found at www.hungryjacklodge.com/deluxe-lakeside-family-resort-cabins.htm and for information about our northern MN lakeside campground visit www.hungryjacklodge.com/camp.htm
LOCAL OBSERVATIONS - RUFFED GROUSE
2009 was an excellent ruffed grouse hunting year. Based on our observations and in our opinion, the ruffed grouse hunting season for 2010 should be at least as good, if not better than the 2009 ruffed grouse season.
Our opinion is based on personal observations plus conversations with various UPS drivers, food service & beverage delivery drivers and others who drive almost all of the local roads on a continuous basis. Pretty much everyone that is frequently on the back roads, in the Gunflint Trail area of northern Minnesota, says that they are seeing more ruffed grouse than they did last year, which as an excellent grouse hunting year.
Keep in mind that our prediction is based on the actual observations of ruffed grouse and is not based on spring drumming counts, which are used by the Minnesota DNR to estimate the ruffed grouse population in northeastern Minnesota.
MN DNR RUFFED GROUSE ESTIMATES
According to the Minnesota DNR, ruffed grouse drumming counts were significantly lower in 2010 than they were in 2009, across most of their range.
The Minnesota DNR claims that ruffed grouse drumming counts decreased 31% compared to those in 2009 in the northeast survey region, which makes up the core and bulk of the grouse range in Minnesota. However, even though the DNR estimates a decrease in ruffed grouse, the numbers are still closer to those at the high end of rather than the low end of the 10-year cycle.
WHO TO BELIEVE
Due to the fact that the Minnesota DNR ruffed grouse spring drumming counts and our own late summer observations of ruffed grouse conflict, it will be interesting to see if 2010 goes down as an excellent ruffed grouse hunting season.
Keep in mind that the MN DNR prediction is an estimate based on spring drumming counts and our prediction is based on actual late summer observations of ruffed grouse by local people.
Only time will tell how good 2010 turns out for Minnesota ruffed grouse hunters.
GROUSE HUNTING AT HUNGRY JACK LODGE
The Gunflint Trail area of northeastern MN is one of the best (if not THE BEST) ruffed grouse hunting areas in the Untied States. As a result, Hungry Jack Lodge, located on the Gunflint Trail, is the temporary home to a fairly large number of grouse hunters during the MN grouse hunting season. Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground offers everything that grouse hunters want or need.
Small game hunting licenses are available at Hungry Jack Lodge and Campground. Lakefront log cabins and cottages are available for rent at our Gunflint Trail resort and we also have campsites that will accommodate tents up to large motor homes.
Do your own cooking or enjoy breakfast and dinner in our new lake view main lodge. The Loggers lounge in the lower level of our lodge offers beer, wine and full liquor service along with multiple TV’s, pool table, darts and video games.
For more information about grouse hunting at Hungry Jack Lodge visit the Minnesota hunting page of our website at www.hungryjacklodge.com/hunting_bwca.htm Information about our lakefront rental cabins can be found at www.hungryjacklodge.com/deluxe-lakeside-family-resort-cabins.htm and for information about our northern MN lakeside campground visit www.hungryjacklodge.com/camp.htm
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
2:34 PM
This year there is a new attraction and activity on the Gunflint Trail which is ideal for those not so perfect weather days, when the weather happens to be a little too windy and the lake is rough or if it is raining. The 50 acre Chic-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, located near the end of the Gunflint Trail was opened on July 4th.
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is being run by the Gunflint Trail Historical Society and offers a number of interpretive and interactive displays, videos and photos, all of which describes the natural and cultural history of the Gunflint Trail. In addition to the inside displays and activities at Chik-Wauk there are also picnic areas, overlooks and a number of interpretive hiking trails.
Though we have not had the opportunity to personally visit Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center we have heard from others that it is very interesting and informative, especially for those who not aware of or want to learn more about the rich history of the Gunflint Trail.
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is located on the southeast edge of Saganaga Lake near the end of the Gunflint Trail. To reach Chik-Wauk, follow the Gunflint Trail (Cook County Road 12) 55 miles from Grand Marais, MN to Moose Pond Drive (Cook County Road 81). Turn right and travel 1/4 mile to the entry gate for Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center.
2010 GUNFLINT TRAIL WEATHER
The weather here at our Gunflint Trail family and fishing resort has been great so far this year. We’ve had a few days of rain here and there, which is need to keep the surrounding forest and woods out of high fire danger. Our temperatures have been as near perfect as we could ask for, ranging mostly in the mid 70’s for the most part. With the weather co-operating, our lakefront cabin rental guests and full service northern MN campground guests have had good to great fishing, ideal days on which to canoe and to hike on one of the many hiking trails.
MINNESOTA FAMILY FISHING RESORT INFORMATION
Need more information about our northern MN lakeside resort? Visit our website at http://www.hungryjacklodge.com/ to find out more about our northern Minnesota lakefront family and fishing resort on the Gunflint Trail, near Grand Marais, MN. Or, call us at (218) 388-2265. Reservations for our lakeside rental log cabins can be made with your credit card from our website 24/7 or by calling us at (800) 338-1566.
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Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is being run by the Gunflint Trail Historical Society and offers a number of interpretive and interactive displays, videos and photos, all of which describes the natural and cultural history of the Gunflint Trail. In addition to the inside displays and activities at Chik-Wauk there are also picnic areas, overlooks and a number of interpretive hiking trails.
Though we have not had the opportunity to personally visit Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center we have heard from others that it is very interesting and informative, especially for those who not aware of or want to learn more about the rich history of the Gunflint Trail.
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center is located on the southeast edge of Saganaga Lake near the end of the Gunflint Trail. To reach Chik-Wauk, follow the Gunflint Trail (Cook County Road 12) 55 miles from Grand Marais, MN to Moose Pond Drive (Cook County Road 81). Turn right and travel 1/4 mile to the entry gate for Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center.
2010 GUNFLINT TRAIL WEATHER
The weather here at our Gunflint Trail family and fishing resort has been great so far this year. We’ve had a few days of rain here and there, which is need to keep the surrounding forest and woods out of high fire danger. Our temperatures have been as near perfect as we could ask for, ranging mostly in the mid 70’s for the most part. With the weather co-operating, our lakefront cabin rental guests and full service northern MN campground guests have had good to great fishing, ideal days on which to canoe and to hike on one of the many hiking trails.
MINNESOTA FAMILY FISHING RESORT INFORMATION
Need more information about our northern MN lakeside resort? Visit our website at http://www.hungryjacklodge.com/ to find out more about our northern Minnesota lakefront family and fishing resort on the Gunflint Trail, near Grand Marais, MN. Or, call us at (218) 388-2265. Reservations for our lakeside rental log cabins can be made with your credit card from our website 24/7 or by calling us at (800) 338-1566.
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