grouse hunting troubles

ReelTrouble · 10-06-2003, 01:35 PM

So I have a couple of questions for all of you grouse hunters out there. I have been hunting grouse for two years now and have a couple of favorite areas, but one of them is in some pretty thick brush. I went into this area last night and the place just went crazy with grouse. They seemed to be everywhere, but I could never get a clear shot because of the brush and trees, and I couldnt seem to spot the things before they would fly. So I never even have a chance once they would take off. Does anyone have any sucess in hunting grouse in fairly heavely wooded areas, or am I waisting my time. Just knowing its possible would be enough to keep me at it.

Oh, I did end up getting one last night, so I didnt come home empty handed.

Thanks,

MarlinMark · 10-06-2003, 07:48 PM

The good news is that you know where they like to hang out. Now, all you have to do is go slower. Take your time. You will likely see "nervous" birds getting jumpy. You might even see birds on the ground lite on nearby tree limbs. Take your time and have fun.

Mark

Bait Bucket · 10-06-2003, 08:17 PM

I hunted approximately 20 days in September for grouse on the wet side. I flushed a lot of grouse in that jungle and killed a lot of trees shooting at grouse. Sometimes I even killed a grouse. If you got a clear shot at them, it wouldn't be any fun! :smile: I have the advantage by hunting with a dawg. He finds them way before I do.

KingFisher85 · 10-06-2003, 09:07 PM

I love hunting grouse in that stuff...You are right, they are all over in them kinda areas.

Like others said...slow down. I hardly ever spot them on the ground in that stuff but every now and then I do. Lot of the time when I jump one, I'll watch it and Ive gotten pretty figured out if its gonna land in a tree or on the ground by witch way it is flying. If they land in a tree, I'll take a few min and sneak my way up to them and bust them.

I use a little short barrel single shot full choke barrel 410 shotgun shooting 3 inch mag #4 size shot. Just hammers them.

A grouse hunting dog would be real nice :grin:

The Overfishin Condition · 10-13-2003, 08:54 PM

Well I hunt with reeltroube- but the nervous bird thing makes me laugh out loud, the only thing that's funnier than seeing a grouse start to panic is seeing reeltrouble shoot a screaming squirrel out of a tree with a pellet gun while I'm elk hunting. TOC. Yeah dog would be nice- reeltrouble does ok, but we're still working on getting him to point a little better.

Big TULE · 10-13-2003, 08:59 PM

If it a ruffed look for it on the ground and if you flush it do not look into the trees they will run a long ways or fly but rarely into trees. If it is a blue look to the trees. They will flush to the first tree they can find. Blues are rarely in the thick stuff as they like the high country. We shot about 25 birds last week for the 6 of us and 90 percent of them were ruffed.

Spotted Owl · 10-14-2003, 06:40 AM

If you have a dog it's not as fun as the hide n seek ways of no dog. Go slow if you know there around. Alot of times you can here them walking on the leaves and stuff on the ground even when it's damp. Watch the flyiers carefully and follow them quietly as possible. If you hit one in the air watch it and mark the spot were it fell. A dead bird can be awfull hard to find sometimes. Mostly just try to have a good time and relax Good things come to those who wait.

Swamp Puppy · 10-14-2003, 08:22 AM

wow..you mean you guys don't just drive around and shoot them off of the road?

danger · 10-14-2003, 08:38 AM

While I was bowhunting this year I found a lot of ruffed by just listening for them as I hunted around. They sound a little like quail. If you hear one home in on it and move real slow over to the area.

Big TULE · 10-14-2003, 08:40 AM

No driving the roads looking for grouse is not hunting.