Grouse in WMU 47 and beyond

I have the last week of September off and am looking to head up north for my first go at grouse hunting. I am planning to head up on my own, none of my buddies or brothers could make the trip.
I will be bringing a 12x14 wall tent that I’ve made an internal frame for and am using this as a shakedown tour for that as well as getting some field time in.
Being skunked hunting wise doesn’t concern me as I’m new to the hunting game but do love to camp and be outdoors as much as possible.
My first instinct would be to head into the Crown land in the Lost Channel/Loring area as it’s familiar to me having camped and cottaged on the water there for more than 30 yrs. I have no problem driving a couple more hours if the hunting is that much better north of Sudbury. Later in the week I’ll be heading to the Wiarton area for a boys weekend and hope to get some more hunting in then.
I guess my question is this – am I better off north of Sudbury or will the Loring area be suitable?
Thanks in advance for any replies to this thread.

Rustycanuck
We have hunted the lost channel area for almost a hundred years. We have seen almost every animal of Ontario at one time or another. Nothing in this area has been easy. It is a great area for camping and sight seeing. I have seen grouse in the area but not very many. Any animal we have targeted has been more to luck than skill, as the area is very heavy with bush swamps and hilly. I am not trying to discourage you just letting you know what you would be into. We have had many years of enjoyment from the area but although the game is there they are in very few numbers and hard to get. We have gotten more enjoyment from the scenery and the bush as the game can be a long time in coming. All the best and good luck Don

go north

I live just down the highway from there in Nipissing/Callander. Without a good pointer you will have minimal success with the grouse (less of them and a wee bit more skittish). Best to go north of North Bay and walk the logging roads in search of the more young and foolish birds. I am fortunate enough to have a good GSP so excursions in WMU 47 often result in some success (birds are also just more plentiful north of North Bay).

Appreciate the responses, looks like I'll head further north and west. Looking at Agnew Lake Rd. north of Webbwood off Hwy #17, it branches out to West Branch Rd which seems to wind a long way up past a bunch of small lakes. Crown Land atlas indicates this is mainly general use area, might be a good area to spend 4 or 5 days exploring, camping and hunting. Added bonus of this area is it puts me close to Hwy #6 for my departure, I can ferry down to Tobermory then cruise into the Wiarton area to meet up with my buddies for a weekend there.
If anyone has any experience with this area, I'd love to hear from you. Thinking a canoe on the roof would not be a bad idea either!

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Originally Posted by RustyCanuck

Appreciate the responses, looks like I'll head further north and west. Looking at Agnew Lake Rd. north of Webbwood off Hwy #17, it branches out to West Branch Rd which seems to wind a long way up past a bunch of small lakes. Crown Land atlas indicates this is mainly general use area, might be a good area to spend 4 or 5 days exploring, camping and hunting. Added bonus of this area is it puts me close to Hwy #6 for my departure, I can ferry down to Tobermory then cruise into the Wiarton area to meet up with my buddies for a weekend there.
If anyone has any experience with this area, I'd love to hear from you. Thinking a canoe on the roof would not be a bad idea either!

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was just up that way more towards 144 north of Sudbury, but same general area. I saw decent bird numbers on the logging trails but what was crazy was the amount of rabbits we saw at dusk, there was 2 sometimes 3 everytime we went around a bend on the road and we had to brake every few seconds not to run over them..

Just repeating what's been said. I've deer hunted 47 for a few years and have seen birds in singles or doubles. At most a half dozen a day. Farther north in 28 I've flushed a half dozen at one time and seen 20+ on a good day. Granted I spend a lot more time in 28.

I saw a mother sheparding her 7 young across the road the other day.

With our strong numbers last year and the fairly mild but snowy winter, coupled with a fairly dry spring I'm hoping for a banner year!

GLTA!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RustyCanuck

Appreciate the responses, looks like I'll head further north and west. Looking at Agnew Lake Rd. north of Webbwood off Hwy #17, it branches out to West Branch Rd which seems to wind a long way up past a bunch of small lakes. Crown Land atlas indicates this is mainly general use area, might be a good area to spend 4 or 5 days exploring, camping and hunting. Added bonus of this area is it puts me close to Hwy #6 for my departure, I can ferry down to Tobermory then cruise into the Wiarton area to meet up with my buddies for a weekend there.
If anyone has any experience with this area, I'd love to hear from you. Thinking a canoe on the roof would not be a bad idea either!

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1st rule of grouse hunting....never post your locations on an open forum. Not kidding here. Make the lazy surfers do the leg work.

Not to take away from the original conversation but in regards to bluebulldog, looking online is the new "leg work". Back in the day we spent lots of days afield walking, driving and scouting looking for great spots. Many times it paid off, but just as many times it did not. Resources were scarce; a few magazine articles, and occasional leaks of information through a few old timers telling stories of glorious hunts. Now with the use of google maps, YouTube, online hunting forums and a plethora of hunting magazines you could spend a full day searching online for promising spots. But in all seriousness a general area isn't giving away loads of information, anyone wishing to follow up STILL has to get out and put in there time to be successful. Just my opinion.


Now to rusty Canuck. I have always had luck for birds north of Sudbury. I'm not all that familiar with the loring area. I'm sure whatever you choose you will have a great time outdoors. best of luck


birdbuff

I know the Loring area well.I would suggest you hunt between Hwy#69 and the Ess Narrows bridge on Hwy # 522. There are many old logging roads on both sides of the highway.

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Originally Posted by Birdbuff

Not to take away from the original conversation but in regards to bluebulldog, looking online is the new "leg work". Back in the day we spent lots of days afield walking, driving and scouting looking for great spots. Many times it paid off, but just as many times it did not.

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Looking online is fine. Use google earth, crown land use atlas. Giving very specific instructions to areas to hunt is a bit different from that.

There are a ton of lazy "hunters" out there. I just hate to see folks posting areas in an open forum. I've given a bit of advice and locations via PM when folks asked, but that's entirely different.

I do appreciate all the responses, pretty much have made up my mind to go "NW of Sudbury" and find a spot.
Putting rabbits in the mix is a good thing as well, will double my chances of getting dinner in the pot!