Less than 48 hours (five months) t'go!

[PNW_Hunter]

I'm looking to do my first season of upland this year! No dog for me though, sadly. 

[Dave Workman]

Well, just to get your saliva glands working, watch for my two-parter on grouse gunning, shotgun prep and my new O/U Franchi, in the July and August issues of NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN magazine.

It's a 20-gauge delight, and the series discusses care and feeding, choke selection, why summer is the best time to buy a new smoothbore and more.

About 2 1/2 months to go until the oener.  Yee Hawwwwwwwwwww!

[Dave Workman]

I traveled up above Cooper Lake over the weekend with Glockster and we did some clay bird busting (read my two-parter in Northwest Sportsman, July & August)

Enroute, we spotted one remarkably stupid blue grouse sitting on the road shoulder. The dummy flew up into a tree limb about 20 yards away. I could have whacked that sucker with my Ruger .22.

I can almost TASTE that Grouse Parmesan!

[dmv9]

Any places around King County? What about Stillwater or Cherry Valley?

[Dave Workman]

Yeah, there do seem to be quite a few Ruffs around this year.  I can't even count how many drumming logs I have found . . . I seem to be finding new ones without even trying.   Any time I stop the car for a minute to take a leak, or to pour another cup of coffee from the thermos, I seem to hear a Ruff drummin' nearby.  Here's a photo taken last week:

Tom:

This is one of the best images of a drumming grouse I've ever seen, and those who know what I do for a living understand that I've seen a lot of photos of grouse drumming.  The composition is superb, great stop action and the image is crisp.

Now, no secrets here.  What kind of camera...what lens and F-stop....what time of day...

These are the kinds of photos that magazines adore. 

Good job. Nicely done.

[ribka]

I am kicking up grouse- blues, ruffs on every hike. have a blue grouse family hanging around my house.

Fun to watch

[Dave Workman]

I am kicking up grouse- blues, ruffs on every hike. have a blue grouse family hanging around my house.

Fun to watch

Actually, what you are doing is good mental conditioning.  Get used to the sudden explosion of activity...then you will act calmly as you raise the gun and press the trigger....

And less than two months to go..

YEEEEE  HAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW !!!!!!!!
    

[paulf919]

Getting excited!!  My first time out hunting will be for grouse!

[Dave Workman]

Getting excited!!  My first time out hunting will be for grouse!

Good luck!

Read my two-part series in NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN on shotguns and grouse hunting preparation (July and August editions) to REALLY get your glands salivating.

Look, if you have a smoker, try smoking the breasts. It doesn't take long. Sprinkle on some seasoning salt. Smoked grouse is superb.

[dmv9]

Do you have a link?

[dmv9]

I am kicking up grouse- blues, ruffs on every hike. have a blue grouse family hanging around my house.

Fun to watch

Where are you hiking?

[HoofsandWings]

Dave,
What is your opinion of the east slopes of the cascades?
I will probably head for the Olympics for the opener.
I have some of your maps. I have to dig them out.
I presume the areas you described are still valid?
I am not going to that place on the way to Twisp. Too many rattlers.
That Cle Elum location is still a mystery to me. They built so many new roads that I can not figure out which one
is the one I need to take.
The one over by Chinook Pass is a possibility.
What elevation is best for the opener?

[Dave Workman]

Dave,
What is your opinion of the east slopes of the cascades?
I will probably head for the Olympics for the opener.
I have some of your maps. I have to dig them out.
I presume the areas you described are still valid?
I am not going to that place on the way to Twisp. Too many rattlers.
That Cle Elum location is still a mystery to me. They built so many new roads that I can not figure out which one
is the one I need to take.
The one over by Chinook Pass is a possibility.
What elevation is best for the opener?

Holy craop...where to start?

1) My opinion of the east slopes of the Cascades is that they get steeper every successive fall. I, of course, am still the man I was at 25. 
  It is on the east slopes where I kill the bulk of my grouse these days.  High in the mountains, where the blue grouse roam. 

2)  Good, You head for the Olympics.  More grouse for me on the east slopes and less competition from someone who probably shoots better  !!!

3) You have some of my maps?  Damn...I thought I burned all of those. 

4) NO..don't go to any of the areas I mapped!! Stay away!!!  There's nothing there for you to see. Move along....(Mine.. alllll mine.....woooohhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!)   

5) Cle Elum?  Never heard of it....(see above #4)

6) Chinook Pass?  Where'zat?   

7)  Elevation?  Well, if you can stand upright on the opener....that's the best elevation...   

But seriously folks....if you're looking for blues...get up on the ridge tops, check those high country berry fields and be prepared for a lot of fat, stupid, berry-filled grouse.  Anywhere up on Teanaway Ridge, Red Top, up the Little Naches, up by Raven Roost, down in Lewis County up the Cispus and Johnson Creek...Hamilton Butte


We had a decent spring with the dry weather at just the right time for decent hatches.  I look for a productive season for those who work the old log roads and use patience.

[HoofsandWings]

46 days to go. That is less than 7 weeks.

[Ruger]

Looking for some areas to go for ruffed grouse north of Spokane...  I know nobody wants to yell out their areas in group chat, but if anybody would be willing to discuss in a pvt message would be great.  I should be getting my dog back about that time ready to go...