Need recommendations for non-toxic 12ga for grouse

[dmv9]

I plan to do some hunting at Stillwater and need some suggestions for non-toxic shotshells.

I've looked at Hevishot, Blind side, and fast steel, but I'm not sure of the size.

 Any ideas?

[jackelope]

How many grouse have you seen there?

[wadu1]

2 3/4 " #6 steel works just fine

[Emptyhanded]

I couldn't find 6's last time i needed non tox hun loads, so I bought 4's. Either one should do ya fine on grouse.

[dmv9]

I went to Stillwater at 3p on Sunday just to walk the field and didn't see a single game bird. It was just hot and sunny so I doubt anything would be out. Also the grass was thick and tall so I don't think the birds would be anywhere in the field. I don't see how they would be able to easily move around. I did see tons of crickets though!

[Stilly bay]

I went to Stillwater at 3p on Sunday just to walk the field and didn't see a single game bird. It was just hot and sunny so I doubt anything would be out. Also the grass was thick and tall so I don't think the birds would be anywhere in the field. I don't see how they would be able to easily move around. I did see tons of crickets though!

They have to release pheasants in western Wa very few reproduce so you don't usually see any until hunting season when the state lets birds go for hunters to shoot. There are some hold overs but these are few and far between.

As far as grouse, I don't know the area but if its a release site there probably won't be any grouse nearby because they won't tolerate all the hunter traffic during the season, they just learn to stay away.

If there were grouse there you would rarely see them in the fields unless there was adequate cover very close by and there was enough food to lure them out in the open.

[Hermit]

There used to be grouse in the hills all around Duvall......... 50 years ago. Now it's all houses. Stillwater has released pheasents, and I've got a couple of buffelheads in a pond there once. Never seen a grouse there.

[T-Bone]

I won't waste my time trying for near nonexistent grouse at Stillwater. Get a map of the MT. Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest and do some exploring. I suspect the distance from your urban home is about the same or only slightly more.

[dmv9]

As newbies, it's hard to grab and a map and know what to look for. I've done hiking in that area, but never seen ANY wildlife other than a few songbirds and mosquitoes.

[bobcat]

I would never even think about hunting a pheasant release site for grouse. There are probably no grouse there anyway. But, even if there are a few, why hunt a place where you will be likely to see a lot of people? The nice thing about grouse hunting is you can easily get away from other hunters. Like someone else said, hunt the National Forest. And no need for non toxic shot. Some light loads in number 6 or 7 1/2 lead shot will do just fine. I prefer 6's because I tend to spend more time hunting blue grouse, and they can be quite a bit bigger than ruffed grouse.

[AspenBud]

Avoid steel at all costs, especially if you ever hunt wild pheasants, unless you like making running cripples that run off and die.

Release sites aren't the place to find grouse and you're better off buying lead game loads in #6 or 7 1/2 as others have stated for them. Find the logging roads, drive a little, and take a walk with the dog.

[jackelope]

Stillwater=fields, standing timber, Snoqualmie River. Very wet usually. An occasional holdover pheasant...not too often though. The remainder of the release sites in the valley are mostly all the same.  I wouldn't waste my time hunting grouse there.

I've seen a ruffed grouse at Crescent Lake 1 time, and it was not near where the pheasants get released.

There are still grouse in the hills around Duvall, just Hermit's definition of the hills 50 years ago and my definition of the hills today are different. My version of the hills are a little further outside town than they used to be. My father in law says 50 years ago he hunted blacktails in my cul de sac.
 

If you seriously want to hunt grouse around Duvall, you don't go to the national forest...rather you should hit the state forest, although I don't necessarily know I'd spend a lot of time hunting them there either. If you do, I'd get a mountain bike and cruise the roads as all of them are gated. If you do decide to venture out a little more, then I'd put some serious time into the national forest land.

  from a fair amount of time spent at both the release sites and the state forest.

 

[Stilly bay]

Avoid steel at all costs, especially if you ever hunt wild pheasants, unless you like making running cripples that run off and die.

At the risk of starting another fun -but pointless- steel VS lead debate, I have to say steel shot is not a handicap when it comes to pheasants. Yes lead maybe slightly better as well as other soft nontoxics, BUT you can get the job done with 12gauge steel fine, even 20 gauge steel if you can get it in 3" mags.

 I just recently horse traded for a 16gauge that can digest steel and will be trying it out this season.... Thousands of pheasants die every year from steel shot, Nay sayers are just going to say "NAY"

Ugh I feel waves of regret already.

[jackelope]

Ugh I feel waves of regret already.

Brace yourself!!!

[Hermit]

I do just fine with Steel. I get snow geese with a 20gs. and steel shot. There are certin compensations you have to make, and yes steel was better but once you figure out shot size differences you can do just fine.