Just a little help please!

[deltaops]

I have never hunted Forest Grouse before and my son really wants to hunt them. So we headed out on Sunday and found a Buck instead. That story is in the deer section.

Anyways, I have seen maybe one or two Grouse when driving around GMU 653 and 654 but never seen much, but than again wasn't really looking for them. I have researched on the forums, read a few articles and now I am asking anyone that is willing for a little help please.

Anyone know of some good blocked public roads that may hold a few? Some of the roads I have seen them on are open and I do not want to stop have my son get out, load the shotgun, and then go shoot the grouse. I would rather find a somewhat good location rather than drive and search.

[Tiger1358]

I have never hunted Forest Grouse before and my son really wants to hunt them. So we headed out on Sunday and found a Buck instead. That story is in the deer section.

Anyways, I have seen maybe one or two Grouse when driving around GMU 653 and 654 but never seen much, but than again wasn't really looking for them. I have researched on the forums, read a few articles and now I am asking anyone that is willing for a little help please.

Anyone know of some good blocked public roads that may hold a few? Some of the roads I have seen them on are open and I do not want to stop have my son get out, load the shotgun, and then go shoot the grouse. I would rather find a somewhat good location rather than drive and search.

I have the same problem...in September there were tons of grouse off Stevens Pass HWY ...now I can't find anything

[mlovely83]

If you are just trying to do some road hunting, I try to find roads with small gravel. Grouse swallow the rocks to help in digestion. Other than that rule of thumb is find a road with big timber and heavy brush as close to the road as possible.

Good Luck!

[AspenBud]

I have never hunted Forest Grouse before and my son really wants to hunt them. So we headed out on Sunday and found a Buck instead. That story is in the deer section.

Anyways, I have seen maybe one or two Grouse when driving around GMU 653 and 654 but never seen much, but than again wasn't really looking for them. I have researched on the forums, read a few articles and now I am asking anyone that is willing for a little help please.

Anyone know of some good blocked public roads that may hold a few? Some of the roads I have seen them on are open and I do not want to stop have my son get out, load the shotgun, and then go shoot the grouse. I would rather find a somewhat good location rather than drive and search.

I have the same problem...in September there were tons of grouse off Stevens Pass HWY ...now I can't find anything

Look up "fall shuffle and grouse." Grouse start dispersing in mid September and can be harder to come across in groups around now. They should start bunching up again in November.

[Stilly bay]

It is amazing how grouse managed to survive before road systems were laid down. I imagine if all the logging roads were paved they would go extinct.

[AspenBud]

It is amazing how grouse managed to survive before road systems were laid down. I imagine if all the logging roads were paved they would go extinct.

 

[deltaops]

I have never hunted Grouse before and I have only seen them on the side of roads. I do not like to drive down the road looking for Grouse to kill, I would rather walk up a blocked road that the public can use but is just blocked for vehicular traffic. If anyone knows of any roads around the Greenwater area, that would be cool. I hate to waste gas looking for roads that are gated.

Also now that general deer season is coming to an end, I would hope to see less traffic along some of the roads I do drive to get to areas. I will try this weekend to get me a few Grouse.

Thank you for ones who did reply with useful info. 

[Stilly bay]

My comment was aimed more toward the common misperception that grouse need the gravel found on logging roads to digest their food. You can obviously find them there, but you can also find them in creek bottoms where there is...sand and gravel, but they aren't tied to any source of gravel for grit since they can often find enough by picking random bits off the ground.

Your best bet is to learn what grouse cover looks like and try and find it, then you will find the grouse. Right now all their food sources are shrinking, so they will mostly be moving into the alders, cotton woods, and maples (or especially aspens if you are on the Eastside) to eat the buds.

By now all dumb grouse that hang out on the roads are either educated or dead, you will find far more by busting brush.

[deltaops]

My comment was aimed more toward the common misperception that grouse need the gravel found on logging roads to digest their food. You can obviously find them there, but you can also find them in creek bottoms where there is...sand and gravel, but they aren't tied to any source of gravel for grit since they can often find enough by picking random bits off the ground.

Your best bet is to learn what grouse cover looks like and try and find it, then you will find the grouse. Right now all their food sources are shrinking, so they will mostly be moving into the alders, cotton woods, and maples (or especially aspens if you are on the Eastside) to eat the buds.

By now all dumb grouse that hang out on the roads are either educated or dead, you will find far more by busting brush.

Yeah I understood what you were saying and if you thought I was referring to you I really wasn't.  I did some more research on habitat and part of what you have mentioned is what I will be looking for. I know of a few creeks that should hold what I am looking for! I want to get off the road and hunt, not much into killing from the road, not saying I will not do it, but I thinjk teaching my boys to get out and hunt is the way to go. "Quit being lazy and get out and get it done!"

[Broken Arrow]

Try sone of the logging roads off of fs road 70. Its not far from you. I used to hunt grouse there all the time when I lived in enumclaw.

[deltaops]

Try sone of the logging roads off of fs road 70. Its not far from you. I used to hunt grouse there all the time when I lived in enumclaw.

That is where I have been going , just haven't seen any lately. After searching around the internet and these forums, I have come to the conclusion that I have been in all the wrong spots.  Go figure, but that is how things work for me! 

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Find yourself a good alder patch  with lots of deer ferns and if there's lots of vine maple, even better. Ruffs love that kind of habitat. Move slowly and be ready, they'll hold tight and come right out from under your feet. They'll also dive down in holes in old stumps.

[deltaops]

Thanks for the help. I recently bought a Springer and the last time I was out was last Saturday. So dang windy and rainy we just headed home. Headed back out this weekend.