Cook County has three ruffed grouse management areas

Partridge hunters may be surprised to learn that three locations in Cook County are designated as Ruffed Grouse Management Areas (RGMAs).

At Pendant Lake there are 479 acres managed for ruffed grouse with 2.5 miles of hunter walking trails. Caribou Lake has 1,268 acres of RGMA with 7.2 miles of trails to hunt, and Kadunce River has 1,932 acres of RGMA, including 6.5 miles of trails.

Ruffed Grouse Management Areas are a great destination for the hunter looking to experience grouse and woodcock hunting. RGMAs are located in areas that have real potential for producing grouse and woodcock and are managed to promote suitable habitat conditions for these species.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), DNR wildlife managers maintain RGMAs in partnership with government landowners, The Ruffed Grouse Society, and volunteers. Because of the variety of ownerships and funding for maintenance, amenities and conditions can vary among locations.

These various agencies may manage RGMAs through cooperative agreements or by a single organization.

Enhancements on the trails vary. Some feature clover planted along the path; others have forest openings that tend to attract wildlife. Some are mowed annually. Many of the trails follow the courses of old logging roads. Forests change over time as the succession of forest growth progresses. Because of this natural cycle, the forest along the trails and the wildlife that inhabit the area change with time.

If you want to learn more about RGMAs, please go to the Minnesota DNR website http:// dnr.state.mn.us/hunting/grouse/ index.html.