Thousands of acres of public forest, young aspen cover that holds wild birds, and a warm cabin waiting at the end of the day.
The resort closes up in mid-October — which means every night you book with us falls inside the best stretch of the whole season, the early-season flush from mid-September on.
Northern Minnesota
Driftwood Lodge Resort on Lake Kabetogama sits at the doorstep of some of the finest ruffed grouse habitat in northern Minnesota. Surrounded by vast stretches of public land, the region blends classic Northwoods scenery with productive timber stands that consistently hold wild birds. Hunters visiting the Kabetogama area enjoy a mix of young aspen cuts, alder edges, and mixed conifer cover — prime terrain for both grouse and migrating woodcock throughout the fall season.
Thousands of Acres of Public Land
The public Minnesota State Forests surrounding Kabetogama offer thousands of acres of walk-in hunting access. A patchwork of timber age classes creates ideal upland habitat, and well-maintained forest roads, ATV trails, and footpaths make it easy to explore new coverts and find fresh ground day after day.
Premiere Upland Habitat
Northern Minnesota’s timber practices have long supported strong grouse populations. Regular logging rotations create the young aspen stands grouse depend on, while older conifer pockets offer thermal cover and escape routes. Around Lake Kabetogama you’ll find a natural mosaic of habitat types that holds birds from early September through the late-season snow — a landscape that rewards seasoned upland hunters and newcomers alike.
Hunting Dogs
Plenty of grouse country punishes a dog — head-high brush, blowdown, no way to keep a bell in earshot. This isn’t that. The understory here is open enough to watch a dog work and thick enough to hold birds, with soft footing that lets an older dog go all morning and a young one make mistakes without paying for them.
A Complete Northwoods Experience
Some of the best walleye fishing of the year happens the same weeks the birds are flying. Work the coverts at first light, be back at the dock by noon, and spend the afternoon on 25,000 acres of Lake Kabetogama.
Every cabin comes with its own slip in our protected private harbor, so your boat is waiting when you are.
FAQs
Minnesota’s ruffed grouse season opens the Saturday on or nearest September 16 and runs into early January.
Our cabins are open to grouse hunters from the opener through mid October — the early-season stretch, when birds are plentiful and the woods are at peak color. Always confirm current dates on the Minnesota DNR grouse hunting page before you travel.
A small game hunting license. Both residents and non-residents can buy one, and licenses are valid March 1 through the end of February. Anyone born after December 31, 1979 also needs a firearms safety certificate.
Buy online through the DNR license portal, or see the hunting license page for current fees and requirements. Buy it before you leave home so you’re not sorting it out on opening morning.
Daily and possession limits are set by the DNR and were revised recently, including new restrictions specific to spruce grouse. Rather than print numbers that may be out of date by the time you read this, check the current limits on the DNR grouse page or in that year’s hunting regulations handbook.
Yes. Grouse hunters must wear at least one visible article of blaze orange or blaze pink above the waist — a hat, vest, or jacket all count. It’s also worth putting an orange vest on your dog in this cover.
Thousands of acres of it. The Kabetogama State Forest, Koochiching State Forest, and other nearby stretches of national forest are all open to walk-in hunting, with forest roads, ATV trails, and footpaths running through them.
The DNR’s grouse and woodcock hunting guide covers how to read the cover and find hunter walking trails. We’re happy to point you toward coverts that have been producing.
Yes — woodcock use much of the same cover as grouse, and the fall migration moves through this country during our season. Woodcock are federally managed migratory birds, so check current dates and any separate requirements with the DNR before you hunt them.
No. Plenty of hunters here walk trails and forest roads without one and do fine, especially early in the season. A good dog finds more birds and recovers downed ones in thick cover, but it isn’t a requirement.
Please do. All of our cabins are pet friendly, and the terrain here is about as good as Northwoods dog country gets — soft footing, open understory, and cover you can actually watch a dog work in.
A light, fast-handling 20 or 12 gauge is the classic grouse gun — shots come quick and close in tight cover, so balance beats power. Beyond that:
It’s one of the better places to start. The walking is manageable, the public land is open to everyone, and there’s no draw, lottery, or guide requirement — just a small game license and a place to sleep. Expect to walk for your birds and to miss a few; that’s the sport.
The cabins have a refrigerator with freezer, oven with stovetop, microwave, coffee pot, and toaster. The kitchen is fully stocked with all the necessary utensils, plates, bowls, cups, mugs, pots and pans. Bedding such as sheets, pillowcases, and blankets are provided.
Toilet paper and garbage bags are also provided. Broom and dustpan (and vacuums in some cabins). If you bring toilet paper (you do NOT need to), it must be septic safe. Wi-Fi and TV (local channels) are available in each smoke-free cabin.
We politely request that you clean birds in the field to help keep the resort clean for other guests. There is a small fridge freezer available in every cabin to freeze your harvest, just remember to pack the zip-locks or your vacuum sealer.
Most of our hunters do. Some of the best walleye fishing of the year happens during the early grouse season, and your slip is steps from the cabin. Hunt the morning, fish the afternoon or vice versa.
We offer boat and pontoon rentals, two-hour navigational trips, and half-day and six-hour guided trips. Keep in mind a Minnesota fishing license is separate from your small game license.
Call us at (218) 235-0377 or send a note through our contact page. Our grouse window is only about three weeks long and fall cabins go early, so the sooner the better — especially if you need a specific cabin size for a group.
Season dates, bag limits, and license requirements change from year to year. Always verify current regulations with the Minnesota DNR before your hunt. Nothing on this page is a substitute for the official regulations handbook.
Still have questions?
