Western Grouse

Sailfish · 09-02-2002, 07:45 AM

If I'm not mistaken I believe the Grouse opener was yesterday. I am pretty fired up to try for some birdies and was wondering if anyone went out, how they did, where at, etc.? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

MarlinMark · 09-02-2002, 07:36 PM

I haven't gotten out yet, but I've heard a lot of reports that there are quite a few young birds around still. Anyone know anything about this? Is this abnormal? I've killed my share of grouse and can't remember having to pick out the "bigger" birds. Sure, some, if not a lot of the birds I've shot have been young of the year. But, not noticably smaller on the flush. Anyone?? Birdshooter??

Mark

birdhunter · 09-03-2002, 04:38 PM

For the first few weeks of September you will see most of your grouse in groups. These are a hen and her brood of the year. Depending on when they were hatched you may be able to tell a difference from size. You will easily be able to tell the difference if you kill the hen and a chick and can compare them. The young birds still have a lot of feathers coming in. It's pretty obvious. Virtually any single birds you find this time of year will be adult males. By the begining of October most of these broods will be breaking up and the grouse will be in singles. Ruffed grouse tend to band back up again some in the winter, but these are not necessarily related birds. It all varies considerably with elevation and feed and when they birds were hatched. All I can really tell you is that those groups of 5-8 grouse you see in the road right now are a hen and her young of this year. This was an excellent year for upland birds and the grouse hunting should be phenomenal. I didn't get to make it out to the opener this year as my hunting area is still closed to fire danger, but hunting should reamain great throughout the fall.

MarlinMark · 09-03-2002, 07:05 PM

Thanks for the reply Birdhunter. You sound like a guy I grew up hunting with. I would like to hunt with you sometime. Let me know if you ever take on new hunters to your gang. I have a trained dog and love to get out. Let me know.

Mark

skein · 09-03-2002, 08:24 PM

MM,

I just got back from scouting the Northside unit, mostly Long Creek to Prairie City, and saw what I consider to be an abnormal number of easily identifiable young birds. I've seen chuckers with more than one brood bunched up and I figured they were two hatches by the same hen, but I don't remember seeing grouse that were so obviously young. They were about as tall as momma, but not nearly as filled out. It was easy to tell the difference.

The locals said that it had been a dry spring and most of the young birds had made it, so the numbers were high. I talked to one guy who was also scouting and he said he saw so many "chickens" that if he'd thought to bring his shotgun, he'd still be there cleaning birds.

There were lots of doves, too. Lots and lots and lots. We had a little trouble finding a place to shoot, though. I was with a friend who is confined to a wheelchair and the places we could get to were already taken. I did talk to several groups later in the day who said they had limited out. (I didn't ask them how many shells it took to do it, though.

)

It sure was hard to come home and go back to work.

Skein

MarlinMark · 09-03-2002, 11:36 PM

Skein,

I was out by Troy 3 weeks ago and saw a group of grouse in the road and the young were quite a bit smaller than the hen.

Thanks for the reply. I can almost taste the dutch oven grouse now. My dog is going to get a workout this year!

Mark :grin:

birdhunter · 09-04-2002, 04:42 PM

Check your e-mail Mark.

sturgeonslayer · 09-04-2002, 06:06 PM

WHERE IS THE NORTHSIDE UNIT? SORRY FOR MY IGNORANCE, HUNTED FOR RUFFED/SAGE/BLUE/SHARP-TAIL MY WHOLE LIFE IN IDAHO. I GOT A FEW RUFFED LAST YEAR MNEAR CARLTON AND AFEW RUFFED AND QUAIL IN THE WHITE RIVER RANGE UNIT LAST YEAR WHILE SCOUTING FOR DEER. I WOULD LOVE TO GO OUT FOR SOME DOVES. PLEASE HELP OUT AN AVID UPLAND MAN. SORRY FOR THE CAPS, I DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL THE END OF THE POST. THANKS ETHAN

troutguy04 · 09-04-2002, 06:35 PM

I would agree that there are a lot of grouse around this year. Flushed at least 15 last weekend while deer hunting. Saw one group of 11. After I stick my deer I will have to pull out the old shotgun for some grouse.

skein · 09-05-2002, 07:29 AM

Sturgeonslayer,

Northside unit is mostly north of Hwy 26, and runs up into the Kimberly/Monument area, over to Long Creek, then down to Prairie City and back west through John Day. That's a rough description.

The doves were mostly along the farmer's fields (big surprise) and near the river. I think anywhere there's water, gravel, and grain you'll find doves. The grouse were in the trees and brushy areas, usually not far from some source of water.

Lots of that land, especially the best dove areas, are private property. Some farmers are pretty good about letting you on, but always ask first. And don't be afraid to ask. I used to hate (still do) going up to some door and asking if I could hunt there. But in reality, some of the best hunting I've ever had has been on places I would have bet I couldn't get on, but because I asked, I got access.

If you go, let us know how you did.

Skein