Pembina Valley Grouse..MB

Crappieguy

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Anyone having any luck with Ruffies down around the Pembina Valley crown land this year? My best luck this year has been Rennie area. Aggasiz Forest was a WASHOUT.:ar15:
 
I hunted the complete area around the 1/2 mile shack. Milner Ridge narrow pit area and corresponding trails..the road from one end to the other as well as all the side trails. Then I hunted the whole Bigfoot trail and most of the offshoots ...on top of that I was using my pointer who's picking up birds like a mad fool other places.
In reality we've seen two Ruffies in Aggasiz in 53 hours of hunting since opening day.
I'd rather hunt aggasiz because it's closer and I know most of the trails...

Maybe my dog's got a nose allergy out there.
 
Wow. That's a lot of ground without seeing birds.

I had no trouble finding them out there this year. I've been out quite a few times, each time came home with either limit or close to. We got to the point where we had to start eating more so we could clear up some possession room.

Lots of guys were having luck on Fireguard 13 south of Hwy 15 this year too. It's a bit mucky for the first 1/4 mile then it clears up, but most times I've had my limit within 300 yards of walking anyway.
 
Rennie and Belair forests have been really good. Will probably give Aggasisz another shot...met a guy who was checking his cameras, who said he ran into loads of them around the pits by milner ridge jail....Went 3x's and saw one bird....and I ground hunt with my dog.
My camp is up at Manigotagan and I usually have really great hunting, but had to quit up there this year because we've been stalked by wolves twice, probably trying to ambush my dog.
Last time they were within 75 meters of us at the edge of a trails.
 
It's my first year hunting grouse. I've tried Sandilands and around Seddons Corner. Usually with a partner but thinking to try out on my own. I've heard Milner Ridge is supposed to be good but where exactly are people referring to? Where are these pits? Where is Bigfoot trail? I want hunt in the Whiteshell but not sure where to go.

I've done well on the logging roads around Seddons Corner but am looking for more places. I am looking for more walking hunting then driving down trails looking for them. So much more relaxing to go for a walk..

I know fire road 13 starts off number 1 but I thought the north part was off 302 and not 15. Am I wrong?

Any advice is appreciated.
 
Fireguard 13 starts south of the TransCanada, and goes all the way to Hwy 44. It zig-zags a couple times like a correction line road, but it goes a long, long way.

I have only ever had one scary time with a wolf. I was hunting near St. Rita, walking back to my truck about 10 minutes after legal light. I heard a noise behind me in the dark, turned around, and saw a "dark spot" on the dark road...about 50 yards behind me. Thinking it was just the shadow of a pothole, I kept walking. About 200 yards further down the road, I heard the noise again. Turned around, and that "dark spot" was now 30 yards behind me. I knew exactly what it was then. I put my scope on it, and could actually see it was a wolf. I pulled the trigger, got blinded by the muzzle flash, and then all was dark. Once I could see again, I couldn't find it. Gone.

I got the hell out of there...

Even after that, I still don't worry about them. I don't think there's been a wolf attack/kill on a human in Manitoba in a long, long time. I'm more worried about being crushed by a falling 747 in the forest than a wolf. It's about the same odds....
 
Sorry, I forgot to mention I was deer hunting, .30-06

But while bird hunting? Target 12ga? Not exactly the "preferred" wolf defence round (you can probably search the 10,000 threads here about that yourself), but I really can't see a wolf continuing an attack after a load of #8 peppers it. I don't see it dying right away, but it sure would be enough of a deterrent.

I would't hesitate to let a round of 12ga target go at an attacking wolf (if one attacked, though unlikely). It would sure beat standing there without putting up a fight.
 
Wolves: You have nothing to fear but fear itself!
But really, in all honesty at the end of the day, you are the one with a gun. :)

I shot a wolf fall before this one in the Milner Ridge area while hunting ruffies. It followed me for about 20 mins. I waited in the bush along the edge of the trail. Wind was in my advantage and the wolf walked past me at about 20 feet. Shot through the chest with one ounce of #8 shot. It was an older female and I would estimate it to be about 110 pounds. Have to try to figure out how to post the pic.
 
I shot a wolf fall before this one in the Milner Ridge area while hunting ruffies. It followed me for about 20 mins. I waited in the bush along the edge of the trail. Wind was in my advantage and the wolf walked past me at about 20 feet. Shot through the chest with one ounce of #8 shot. It was an older female and I would estimate it to be about 110 pounds. Have to try to figure out how to post the pic.
I'm not surprized friend. I myself have been followed by hungry wolves while upland game hunting and yes, sometimes this can be un-nerving certainly. Chances are they have empty stomachs and wish to fill up on your pickings. Both here in NE Alberta and the eastern townships of Ontario, I've been followed by emboldened wolves looking for an easy meal of perhaps only wounded gamebirds or rabbits. It's a relatively unusual situation to take a wolf with a load of birdshot. Good shooting!

Cheers..........
 
Would target ammo make a wolf how do you say.. Not happy? Deceased..?

You are kidding of course? Shoot one at a something like a pumpkin or sapling from about twenty feet away then imagine what it would do to flesh? We are talking about a 100 pound thin skinned animal that you are concerned about. At point blank range which is where your concern about a wolf attack is going to happen an 1 1/8oz load od lead at 1200 fps is going to blow that Wolf's mind, literally!!

A buddy of mine dropped a Whitetail Doe that snuck in behind him in his duck blind, dead in her tracks at 15 yards with a shot to the neck, with a 1 1/4 oz load of 4's through a full choke!!

There is alot of power in a 12 gauge shell at close range! I would not want to be on the receiving end!!
 
At Milner Ridge the pits are the first road immediately south of the jail turnoff. The pits are about The trail / trails run for several miles from the pits...Bigfoot trail is on the west side of the Milner Ridge Hwy.
You'd have to pick up a map of Manitoba trails to find it, but it's on the map.
I personally don't worry about the wolves it's my pointer when she's quartering away from me in the bush. She would be an excellent easy meal for wolves.
 
I'm not surprized friend. I myself have been followed by hungry wolves while upland game hunting and yes, sometimes this can be un-nerving certainly. Chances are they have empty stomachs and wish to fill up on your pickings. Both here in NE Alberta and the eastern townships of Ontario, I've been followed by emboldened wolves looking for an easy meal of perhaps only wounded gamebirds or rabbits. It's a relatively unusual situation to take a wolf with a load of birdshot. Good shooting!

Cheers..........

I strongly believe wolves following humans to be a territorial thing. Likely just "escorting" you out of their range. Still, any wolf following me will get harsh treatment...especially in an area where there is no closed season on them. Killed this wolf with 1 ounce of 8 shot from a 16 gauge at about 20 feet. Shot sharge penitrated right into the lungs as the animal went about 100 yards before piling up.
 
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