Grouse Scouting

[SnowDog]

Hey Everyone! I'm going to break the cardinal rule of the site and ask for some SIMPLE suggestions on where to start my grouse hunting scouting . I've never been before and want to start this year. If someone would be kind enough to give me some general starting points and advice, I' be forever in your debt. I would like to stick to the West or East sides of the cascades close to I-90 or HWY 2. Can't afford to drive much past Ellensburg or Wenatchee.

I'm happy to trade some of my waterfowl experience in trade

Cheers!
SD

[Southpole]

Drive on an ungated logging road, turn up the tunes, have some kind of beverage in one hand and don't pay attention to the road... that's the best info I can give 

[AspenBud]

Logging roads are a good start.

Early morning and late afternoon are going to be the better times to look.

If you are friends with a logger ask where they know of newer growth forest. Old growth is junk to ruffed grouse and new clear cuts aren't really ideal either.

If you have ever hunted bear and know what they like to eat you stand a good chance of finding grouse in the same food sources.

Where you find grouse in the Spring and Summer may not be where you find them in the Fall.

Let the dog do some investigating for you when the quiet season is over next month.

Google Earth is your friend (look for newer forest).

[Jonathan_S]

If I were to target grouse:

walk/drive roads on N/E facing mountain slopes in newer growth forest areas and near water sources.

Look in ditches

[h20hunter]

Here is how I have hunted grouse in the past....and will in the future.

First option is to hunt off gate/ungated forest roads for deer. See, what I usually do is get out and hunt all afternoon or evening with my rifle. Then, once I'm working my way back hoping a deer will walk out in those magic last 15 minutes a grouse busts right at my feet and scares the stuffing out of me. Pretty much I end up not shooting either deer or grouse.

Second option which is by far my most successfull and has resulted in my one and only double. Hunt for deer for a few days then decide to go road hunting one morning. I like to keep a shotgun all the way in the back of the truck, cased, and of course unloaded. Drive along and don't see any deer. Then, once you get lulled into a sense of calm, you will see a grouse pecking gravel along the road. Stop the truck, slowly get out, uncase the gun, grab a shell, shoot the grouse. Sometimes, just maybe, there will be two grouse standing on a log in the brush. From about 10 feet you can just maybe line them up and blast one flush in the breast effectively rendng the entire bird into a poof of feathers while oh so skillfully removing the head of the one that was standing behind the first one. Thats how you get a double.


Now, for the skilled grouse hunter you should take the tips already written. I especially like gated forest roads with a combo of shade and light and gravel and grass along the sides. Slow hunt it with your smoothbore. If you spook one just slow down a bit more and look for them to perch closeby. Then blast the sucker.

[paulf919]

Would like to see the responses too! 

[Skyvalhunter]

Heres what you do if you want to locate or see if any blue grouse are in the area. Get out there now and listen for grouse hooting this will give you an indication of what the population is like. I was out last weekend in the mid elevations listening for hooters.

[BigGoonTuna]

find an old road with river bottoms on one side, and reprod on the other.  grouse love areas like that.

[Turner89]

It will be a good year for grouse in my area. I have'nt seen this many grouse since I was in high school.

[paulf919]

It will be a good year for grouse in my area. I have'nt seen this many grouse since I was in high school.

Awesome!  What part of the state?

[johnnyaustin44]

I seen probably 4 birds 2 of which had chicks with them coming up by c post the other day. No joke.

[fastdam]

Look for places that have aspens, and gravel and water. Drive mountain roads. Pond areas. With gravel roads around it.

[bigelk1030]

I was out most the day today and saw at least 8 hens with chicks. I was shocked at how many I saw. Some flew but most were only a couple inches tall and were following mom around.

[Dave Workman]

The hatches should be out now or pretty darned quick.  Watch gravel roadsides early in the morning and in the evening, as others have advised.

GROUSE RULE!!!!!!
            

[paulf919]

Heard it was raining over the past couple days over in Wenatchee/Leavenworth.  How much rain does it take to drown the young ones?