upland report

birdhunter · 09-15-2002, 05:14 PM

For those who are interested, upland hunting on the coast this weekend was still pretty poor. Would have liked to have made it out on Saturday, but had a Beavers game that took precedence. Today I went out into the Siuslaw Natl Forest between Yachats and Deadwood. Only saw 4 ruffs the whole time and got one young male. The coveys appear to have split up already because all the birds I found were in singles. The bandtails were scarce too. Saw one group of 20 but didn't get any shooting in. On the plus side I did see a ton of mt. quail. Busted up 4 different coveys but in that thick brush I never had a decent shot. Pray for rain. As soon as they open up southern Oregon, I'm there. This thick coast bushwacking is no good.

GutshotApe · 09-15-2002, 06:17 PM

Thanks for the report, Birdhunter. FYI, I heard from a reliable source that there are lots of grouse over in the NE region around LaGrande this year.

GSApe [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img]

BassMan · 09-15-2002, 08:12 PM

Good report birdhunter!!! This will be my first season upland hunting in oregon and I was looking for a few pointers?? :grin: I live in newberg and was wondering what options I have withen a couple hour drive. Any good areas near lincon city????? Did you hunt with a dog??? I love upland hunting and grew up chasing bob-white quail in Missouri, and phesants in Kansas and Iowa. Have you ever hunted ST. Louis ponds??? Its about 20 min from me and I have seen lots of birds there while fishing. Any tips would be great!! You dont have to give away any secrets , just point me in the right direction!

Thanks a ton!

jb

Uglygreen · 09-15-2002, 10:05 PM

Hey Birdhunter

Do you use dogs on grouse in Western Oregon? If not, why?

UG

birdhunter · 09-16-2002, 04:40 PM

I normally hunt with a dog but haven't the past couple of times I've been out. My spaniel died last year and I don't have room in my new place or the time to take on a new puppy. I've got a good friend who raises golden retrievers and hunts them almost exclusively on grouse. Usually I go with him or borrow a dog. A dog will make a big difference.

The birds I found were ones that either ran across the road and I went into the brush after them, or I jumped them while hiking through likely areas. I've got a couple of creeks I walk that seem to always hold birds and some of the clearcuts have quail near them. It's just a lot tougher without a dog because I usually don't know they're there until they've blown up in front of me.

Bassman - I've never hunted St. Louis ponds so I can't give you any help there. I've always done much better for grouse in the cascades than in the coast range for whatever reason. I don't have any specific areas near Lincoln City or out towards the Cascades, but I would say find an area with good public access, an area that isn't too thick and has a mix of forest and clearings. Fortunately most of Oregon qualifies for that. Your ruffs are often in the bottoms of mixed hardwoods. Blue grouse seem to hang out more on the ridgetops of mature timber. Drive the roads and learn the area. If you are seeing grouse in the road, that means there are more in the area. Hunt it hard. They come out in the morning to gravel and in some cases warm themselves in the sunlight. That's some pretty basic stuff anyways. If you need more help, let me know.

Uglygreen · 09-16-2002, 04:56 PM

Ill have to go try my weimeraner on the grouse. He excells at phesant, quail, & chuckers. Will grouse hold for a point?

THANKS

UG.

birdhunter · 09-16-2002, 05:09 PM

I've got a friend who hunts grouse with a weimeraner. Those things drive the dog crazy. I've seeen grouse hold for a point before, but usually they'll run or flush. Doesn't mean you can't use a pointer, just be prepared for a little frustration while the dog figures them out. Should still be fun.

skein · 09-16-2002, 05:17 PM

Birdhunter,

I sent an email to Eric today requesting info about his grouse study. He got right back to me and is sending the stuff. Thanks for the push to get me involved. I'd rather be helping the biologists get good information than just sitting back complaining about "bad science."

For you other upland bird hunters, Eric is involved in ODFW's harvest studies for blue and ruffed grouse - see page 11 in the Game Bird Regulations. His email is eric.v.rickerson@state.or.us and he'll fix you right up. It's yet another chance for us Ifishers to help.

Skein

BassMan · 09-16-2002, 05:27 PM

Birdhunter, thanks for the info. I think my neighbor and I are going to go out sunday morning
and give em hell!! Neighbor knows a place out of carlton that holds lots of mountain quail! My dogs foot has been bothering him so If he is not better I wont risk it. Again thanks for the info and I hope to see you in the field sometime. One more question , what loads do you use for the grouse/quail?? In the past I have used an ounce of #8 or 1 1/8 of 7's or 8's from a winchester 1400 12 guage w/ skeet barrel.

birdhunter · 09-17-2002, 04:54 PM

Skein,

Thank you very much for getting involved. I really appreciate you helping out in this study.

Bassman - I shoot both a 12 and a 20 for grouse and really prefer the 20 when I'm hiking around. For both guns I usually stick with 6's for grouse and quail. Sometimes I'll shoot 7 1/2's if I'm just getting into quail, or 4's if I think I'm going to find just blue grouse. 6's seem to be a good universal load and I've never had any problems with them. When I can hit the bird anyways.

GutshotApe · 09-17-2002, 05:23 PM

I'm glad to hear ODFW is studying forest grouse.

There is a serious lack of good information about ruffed & blue grouse here. The single best source of info on ruffed grouse life history, ecology, etc. applicable (but not totally) to western Oregon that I know of is the Washington Dept. of Game's (now WFDW) Biological Bulletin #16, May 1980, entitled "The Ruffed Grouse in Western Washington" by Larry Brewer. This 102 page report was available free for the asking about 9 or 10 years ago. WDFW may still have copies available if you don't already have one.

GSApe [img]graemlins/program.gif[/img]

Tilla · 09-17-2002, 05:28 PM

Bassman-
St.Louis Ponds hold a few Pheasant but little else. I spend a few days a year at retriever tests there, every once in awhile the gunners miss and a bird or two getrs away. . It's pretty much a jungle in some spots. There is waterfowl hunting allowed there but I haven't spoke to anyone that has tried it. Check the regs for season's. There is a modification if I remember.

BassMan · 09-17-2002, 06:41 PM

Tilla, I have fished there a lot this summer and have yet to see a pheasant but have seen lots of quail (bob-whites & Valley quail) around there. What do you mean by modification?? Think Ill give it a try for giggles when the season opens Oct 12.

Thanks Tilla

BassMan · 09-17-2002, 06:43 PM

birdhunter, again thanks the advice on loads!! Going to have to load me a couple of boxes of 6's this week. Im going out to carlton on sunday morning with my neighbor and Ill let you know how I do.

jb

birdhunter · 09-17-2002, 08:56 PM

GutshotApe - I haven't seen that WDFW publication before but will have to look it up. You want some real good info on grouse check out some of OSU's Game Bird Research Program's publication. They have one of the best programs in the world for that kind of thing. I don't know if they are available to the public but I've got their 2002 report on "Comparative Ecology of Blue and Ruffed Grouse in Southwestern Oregon". It's on a telemetry study they've been doing in Douglas County for the past couple of years. Pretty fascinating stuff if you are into that sort of thing.

GutshotApe · 09-18-2002, 06:32 AM

Thanks Birdhunter, I'll check that source out.

MarlinMark · 09-18-2002, 04:22 PM

Birdhunter,

I too sent an email to Eric with the ODFW and he has already responded and my stuff "is in the mail." I'm planning on sending in some stuff as soon as possible. I went out today to "double check" the rifle. Didn't find any incidental grouse. It was a quick trip though.

Keep in touch,

Mark

birdhunter · 09-18-2002, 09:56 PM

Mark,

Sorry you didn't find any birds but glad to hear you're helping out the study. They finally opened up my area in Douglas county. One of my buddies who lives there went out this morning and got his limit of blues and ruffs along with 5 mt. quail. I really want to try to make it down there this weekend. Just started residing the house and can't let it get too wet either though. Choices, choices.

MarlinMark · 09-19-2002, 06:05 PM

Birdhunter,

Sounds like your buddy knows where to go in Douglas Co. I can't wait until wednesday. I'm leaving for the Silver Lk. unit (second choice) for deer. I plan on hunting grouse with my group (and Hawkins the crazy bird dog) while scouting around. Hopefully we'll run into a bunch of blue's and get some. Nothing like grouse, mushrooms, onions, taters, a little white wine, and Cavenders in a skillet to let you know that it's fall. I let you know how it goes.

Mark

MarlinMark · 09-19-2002, 06:07 PM

Birdhunter,

I forgot to metion that I've already received my stuff from Eric with the ODFW. I plan on sending him some wings soon. Would GPS coordinates help in the study? Or, is the county of harvest adequate.

Mark

birdhunter · 09-19-2002, 08:54 PM

Good luck Mark. County of origin is enough for the study and GPS coordinates are probably overkill. If you could give the nearest town, a road number or a nearby creek that is often useful. Thanks again.

Tilla · 09-19-2002, 10:00 PM

Bassman,
Re: St Louis Ponds
The modification to the rules is that they have picked one date to start hunting for Pheasant and Waterfowl, whatever is the latest opener.
About the quail, I have spent a minimum of one day a month from March to August (at least) for the last 13 years and I have never seen one. Except maybe for some dog training escapees. But I only visit the southern dog training areas.

EBroncoFlyfisher · 09-20-2002, 07:56 PM

I fish the ponds frequently and everytime I fish I always see quail. They are always hanging out in the blackberry bushes right near the entrance and the railroad tracks. I saw a covey of 10 last year. When the grass is high near the ponds, they are stacked in there.

BassMan · 09-22-2002, 04:23 PM

Tilla... Thanks for clearing that up. I was there fishing on friday morning and saw lots of birds on the RR tracks and heard them calling all morning. I was going to hunt mountain quail this morning but my dogs foot is still bothering him a bit so I guess Ill have to wait a bit.

jb

BassMan · 09-22-2002, 04:26 PM

Tilla... Thanks for clearing that up. I was there fishing on friday morning and saw lots of birds on the RR tracks and heard them calling all morning. I was going to hunt mountain quail this morning but my dogs foot is still bothering him a bit so I guess Ill have to wait a bit.

jb