Minnesota in October

Dani

Dani

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Hey y'all....I'm looking at thoughts on possible timeline for hunting in Minnesota. I have made a bit of time to research where in the state to hunt but have not spent a great deal of time on it, so I'm not even set on where to go.

ASSUMING I can get the time off from work (not positive it will happen because of potential personnel shortages if one of my coworkers is not back from maternity leave yet), I am going to ask for some time off in October I think. I have a friend getting married in Alexandria on the 19th of October and I have been thinking of making it a trip to say congratulations to him and his bride as well as make it a hunting trip. So, as far as asking for time off, do you think it would be better for me to ask for time off for the latter half of the month and have the wedding be at the beginning of my trip or have the wedding at the end of my trip? Mainly, I'd be looking at grouse and woodcock hunting but since I have a lab, if I found some good spots for ducks, I would be happy to do some waterfowling. I don't know when the migration for woodcock normally occurs or when leaf fall occurs.

Any thoughts on the timing part of this potential trip? Again, I'm not sure I will be able to make it happen (will be asking for 2-3 weeks off) but if I can, I'd like to have the best chance for getting my lab and setter on grouse and woodcock.

I've been looking at the regs for waterfowl and wow...lots to have to remember. I wasn't planning on hauling a boat, if I did, it would be something that could be put on top of my truck.

Thanks a lot for any help you can give....

Dani
 
Dani,

The entire month of October is prime time for grouse in Minnesota. Whatever you choose you will have good hunting. If it were me I would have the wedding at the start of my trip. Reasons being less leaves on the trees and cooler weather for the dogs. What the duck hunting will be like at that time is a bit of a crap shoot. There is often a period of slow hunting after opener and local birds have moved south but before more northern birds have begun migrating through. Again my thinking would be the later in October the better for catching that migration. I am in Duluth. If you have questions about locations or parts of the state that may have better or worse hunting and access feel free to shoot me a message.
 
Allan Johnson said:
Dani,

The entire month of October is prime time for grouse in Minnesota. Whatever you choose you will have good hunting. If it were me I would have the wedding at the start of my trip. Reasons being less leaves on the trees and cooler weather for the dogs. What the duck hunting will be like at that time is a bit of a crap shoot. There is often a period of slow hunting after opener and local birds have moved south but before more northern birds have begun migrating through. Again my thinking would be the later in October the better for catching that migration. I am in Duluth. If you have questions about locations or parts of the state that may have better or worse hunting and access feel free to shoot me a message.
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Dani said:
Hey y'all....I'm looking at thoughts on possible timeline for hunting in Minnesota. I have made a bit of time to research where in the state to hunt but have not spent a great deal of time on it, so I'm not even set on where to go.

ASSUMING I can get the time off from work (not positive it will happen because of potential personnel shortages if one of my coworkers is not back from maternity leave yet), I am going to ask for some time off in October I think. I have a friend getting married in Alexandria on the 19th of October and I have been thinking of making it a trip to say congratulations to him and his bride as well as make it a hunting trip. So, as far as asking for time off, do you think it would be better for me to ask for time off for the latter half of the month and have the wedding be at the beginning of my trip or have the wedding at the end of my trip? Mainly, I'd be looking at grouse and woodcock hunting but since I have a lab, if I found some good spots for ducks, I would be happy to do some waterfowling. I don't know when the migration for woodcock normally occurs or when leaf fall occurs.

Any thoughts on the timing part of this potential trip? Again, I'm not sure I will be able to make it happen (will be asking for 2-3 weeks off) but if I can, I'd like to have the best chance for getting my lab and setter on grouse and woodcock.

I've been looking at the regs for waterfowl and wow...lots to have to remember. I wasn't planning on hauling a boat, if I did, it would be something that could be put on top of my truck.

Thanks a lot for any help you can give....

Dani
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I don't know about grouse and woodcock but can maybe help with ducks.

The Alexandria area isn't bad for ducks. It isn't great either. Going a little bit west the hunting is much better. Kind of the pothole region of MN. Browns Valley, Beardsley, Clinton and Graceville are good places to go. If you want to shoot geese, Lac Qui Parle is the place to go. Lots of restrictions however.

Happy to share exact hunting spots with you privately. We have hunted this area for many years. Let me know.
 
I have not hunted grouse as far south or west as alex. However in my experience if I were coming to Mn to hunt grouse I would go north. You've already driven many hours, another 2 or so hours would likely improve your hunting conditions.
 
Thanks y'all. Like I said, I haven't really set my mind on any one location other than the wedding is in Alexandria so I gotta go there at some point during my trip. I'm hopeful to get at least two weeks off....but since it is a minimum of a two day drive up, we'll see how much time I'll have to explore.

Thanks Mark about areas for ducks and geese. I'll send you a PM if I am able to make it up.

Pheasant.....I knew that MN has pheasant, but hadn't really thought about putting much thought into looking for them since I thought they'd be more of a hey cool! A pheasant!
 
Dani said:
Thanks y'all. Like I said, I haven't really set my mind on any one location other than the wedding is in Alexandria so I gotta go there at some point during my trip. I'm hopeful to get at least two weeks off....but since it is a minimum of a two day drive up, we'll see how much time I'll have to explore.

Thanks Mark about areas for ducks and geese. I'll send you a PM if I am able to make it up.

Pheasant.....I knew that MN has pheasant, but hadn't really thought about putting much thought into looking for them since I thought they'd be more of a hey cool! A pheasant!
Click to expand...
Dani,
My wife and I will be hunting Saskatchewan the first week of October but after that we would be happy to show you around for upland game. Chippewa National Forest is where we normally go for grouse and woodcock. Pheasant hunting is our bread and butter and there are some good areas not too distant from Alexandria. For ducks you would want to hook up with Mark since I am so new to duck hunting and have yet to find any good areas. RM
 
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