NDR Maine Grouse hunting

P

P. Revicki

Active member
My buddy (Sal P.) and I are planning on going to Maine to hunt grouse and woodcock the 1st week of Oct. for 2 or 3 days of hunting. We are looking between Rangeley and Ashland. We have a dog and are not looking for someone's honey hole. We are looking for a area that there is lodging and a places to eat. We are not against stay at a place that gives you both food and lodging, but we are not looking for a guided hunt. Both of us are retired and looking to start some new adventures that we never made time for. Any info would be helpful.
Thanks
Pete
 
Pete,

I'll talk to sal on Sunday when we get back from Yosemite, but I would suggest the farthest north and farthest away from people the better. We went to Rangeley last year, and while there were birds, they were wise to people. We had hundreds of flushes, but many at 30-40 yards. Rangeley is pretty popular if a spot even outside of hunting. I usually head up to fort kent area, always do really well, despite the long drive from CT. Birds tend to flush at 5-15 yards up where we usually go.

The grouse and woodcock always key in on wetter areas, especially if it's been dry up there. Look for two tracks that are overgrown with alder and spruce/fir on both sides. The more overgrown the better in my experience. Like overgrown enough that just barely one or people can walk down. Abandoned Apple orchards are also always a hit, but tend to fluctuate based on fruit years and how well known they are to other hunters.

Once you get a few birds, open up the crop and see what they are eating. It Will really help you key in. Last year it was clover (as usual), cloudberry leaves, and yellow birch catkins. Alder catkins as well. We've also had great luck in young tamarack and aspen.

Keep the dog close, in my experience grouse love to run away just as much as they like to flush.

Talk more sunday.
 
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I'm headed up the week of Oct 11 for a few days. I've done the trip once before and what I did was as Nick said (went to the far Northern part of the state and tried to get off the beaten path). Was fun, but we worked hard for the birds we killed. GOOD LUCK!
 
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Bob Holzworth said:
When you Ct fellows come to Maine to hunt partridge, don't forget to bring some cartridges for turkeys. The turkey limit is 5 this fall and they legally must be taken with #4 to 6 shot. Good luck. Bob.
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I don't know if the warden would be too happy were I to take your advice in units 1, 2, 4, or 5! :)
 
I'll be just south of the Greenville area on Saturday, the opener. Then I'm headed to my camp in Rangeley to work on Sunday and do some waterfowl and upland on Monday and Tuesday. I'll let you know what we find. But the Rangeley back roads are well traveled.
 
I am going the second weekend in October, 6th-10th. I will be truck camping and hunting Thursday through Saturday, then spending Sat. Night in a comfy cottage in the Greenville area and driving home Sunday.

Be prepared for cold weather. The first night I camped last year it was 17 degrees and howling wind, most of the next morning was cold and windy. the next two days were considerably warmer.

The first week of Moose season in much of Maine starts 9/27, and the second week starts 10/11. There will be lots of guys driving the roads looking for moose and shooting grouse along the way. I was surprised last year how many guys I saw in areas I thought I'd see no one. The later you go, the less road birds you'll see. While I don't like the idea of shooting birds on the road, finding birds on the road is a good way to identify areas to get out and work with the dog. I hunted in Unit 4 last year and will head to the same area to start this time.

Moose hunters were a great help, I told them where I saw fresh moose sign and they gave me tips on where to find birds.

The Northwest corner of Maine is owned by timber companies who allow access, Google the "North Maine Woods", there are maps, primitive campsites, and lodges listed on the website.

I ran out of cell service not far north of Greenville last year, I downloaded overlapping maps through the OnX app and it worked perfectly.

As has been said before check the birds crops, you never know what they might be feeding on.


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Have fun, it s beautiful country and well worth the time and effort to explore!


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Thanks for all the info, I will keep you guys updated on what we are going to do and where we are headed.
Thanks Pete
 
I've been in the woods a lot the last three weeks for both work and play. Bird numbers seem ok--nothing like last year in Northern Maine, which was all-time-record-good. Walked 2 miles of stream for a stream survey in the Katahdin Iron Works area today and flushed about a half dozen partridge. Did not see any on the roads at primetimes in the morning or the late afternoon.

I also saw quite a few last week in the Munsungan/Millinocket Lake area, and there they were out on the roads in numbers.


Ditto comments above that Rangeley is busy. If you want real solitude, about 100 miles from pavement there is a fantastic camp site near the old Daquaam border crossing, way up in the headwaters of the St. John. No idea how many birds up there this year, but it's full of good habitat and probably will see as few people as anywhere in the state. Bring extra gas,food and booze--you'll be deep in the woods!
 
tod osier said:
Bob Holzworth said:
When you Ct fellows come to Maine to hunt partridge, don't forget to bring some cartridges for turkeys. The turkey limit is 5 this fall and they legally must be taken with #4 to 6 shot. Good luck. Bob.
Click to expand...

I don't know if the warden would be too happy were I to take your advice in units 1, 2, 4, or 5! :)
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The warden would not be, but local farmers would be thrilled. Turkey expansion into northern Maine is very controversial. Some would say they are driving the partridge, deer and moose out of the state. Not to mention tearing up farmer's crops and silage piles.
 
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Jeff Reardon said:
tod osier said:
The warden would not be, but local farmers would be thrilled. Turkey expansion into northern Maine is very controversial. Some would say they are driving the partridge, deer and moose out of the state. Not to mention tearing up farmer's crops and silage piles.
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If you ask some quail hunters down here, they will place a lot of blame on turkeys PURPOSEFULLY stomping and/or eating quail eggs from nests with a vengeance.
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I don't put much credence in such beliefs--in most of the northeast, deer/turkeys/partridge coexisted for a long time.

But the turkeys are large, highly visible, and an easy scapegoat for a farmer or hunter who's having a bad day or season. Based on my fishing success last week, I think the expansion of turkeys into northern Maine has severely reduced the brook trout population, probably by predation. LOL!
 
Jeff Reardon said:
I don't put much credence in such beliefs--in most of the northeast, deer/turkeys/partridge coexisted for a long time.

But the turkeys are large, highly visible, and an easy scapegoat for a farmer or hunter who's having a bad day or season. Based on my fishing success last week, I think the expansion of turkeys into northern Maine has severely reduced the brook trout population, probably by predation. LOL!
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Jeff,

I think your onto something. [;)]

A few months back I was fly fishing my home water. Low and behold downstream out walks a hen turkey from the brush into a riffle, and just stands there. Over the next 25 min. or so she did this three times.

Have a out of focus cell phone picture. Kinda like the old yeti photo's.

Was she in the stream to cool down, or snatch a wild trout... HHEEEEeeeHHHHEEEeeeeeHHHeeeeeee

"Truth is stranger than fiction."


VP
 
Kinda baffled how turkeys would impact grouse populations.
They tend to prefer different habitats and food.
Not that they dont cross paths but i dont see a link.
I would put my bet on a combination of west nile, habitat changes and warmer summers.
 
Good luck Pete. Just getting back from a few days of working and hunting. Hunted one day in Shirley, just south of Moosehead. Saw 5 birds, 3 on a lawn and 2 on a paved road. Never saw a bird on a dirt road or in the woods. Headed to Rangeley after that, Duck hunted Monday morning then went upland hunting. Again, never saw a bird on a dirt road or in the woods. I did manage a bird Tuesday morning, I was driving on a dirt road and it flew across in front of us. I parked the jeep, went in and was successful on the stalk. In total, probably 12-15 hours afield and only that one bird. Hope you have better luck.

Troy
 
FWIW, have been hearing very mixed bird reports. Many Rangeley area reports like Troy's, but one who hunted an area I am not permitted to disclose--but which would normally see traffic from the other folks I've talked to--said there were "partridge everywhere". (And also "hunters everywhere, too.")

My field day kicking up a half dozen partridge without trying, without a dog, and mostly staying in the stream was not far from Troy's strike out in Shirley. I've deliberately walked a few covers near my house that sometimes hold partridge and not seen one--not surprising with no dog to bust them out--but kicked one out of a very non-birdy spot walking out of my duck hole Tuesday.
 

May not apply to everyone and where they hunt, but... Ruffed Grouse love Watercress.

Wood Ducks and Ruffed Grouse are always possible hunting a good stream, and drainage in the early season.


A good friend went to Ontario, Canada not many weeks ago for Black Bear. He knows I'm a grouse nut.

The photos he showed me of all the Ruffed Grouse, made me make plans for next Fall. A hunter needs a quest/road trip. It's been awhile since I was in Ontario for a good spell.


VP
 
We are headed up later this morning to hunt Monday ,Tuesday, and Wednesday. Looking forward to doing something new and will give you guys a update when we get back. Thanks everyone for all the info.
Pete
 
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