Whys the grouse gone??

[Irish_hunter93]

While I was out deer hunting this year (Arlington Oso darrington area) it seemed I would just run across grouse everywhere, like a bunch of retarded little bonuses running around. Now that the weathers changed and gotten a lot colder they have disappeared it seems, haven't found one in weeks. I've taken blues and ruffed grouse. Do they head deeper into the woods or go lower as the snow level drops? Advice would be appreciated.

[10Key]

I don't know from experience, but what I've heard is that grouse actually go higher when the snow hits, not lower.

[jrebel]

I have found grouse in 3 feet of snow while out snowmobiling.  Snow does not phase them.  With that being said, I have not seen  as many in the last few weeks as earlier in the year.

[Curly]

Yeah, Blue grouse go higher.  I'm not so sure about ruffed grouse......I don't think they go higher though.  They probably just moved somewhere else where their food source is now. 

About 20 yrs ago up on Sawtooth ridge (about as high as you can get) in late November, my brother and I saw a tree loaded with Blue Grouse.  There must have been 50 or so big blues up there.  It was quite a sight.

[AspenBud]

Ruffed grouse will be looking for places to hide. Once the leaves fall they are much more exposed to predators like hawks. Look for them under low hanging conifers or any remaining understory that they can hide in. Also, look for their food sources. December can be a great time to hunt grouse if you can figure them out.

A dog will help you greatly.

[Bullkllr]

And there simply aren't as many around now as in September. Young of the year I'm sure have a mortality rate of 75% or so by now.

[Irish_hunter93]

Thanks a lot for the replies guys. I just kinda figured they'd  try to stay where the food is. I'll probBly go out and hit it again soon. All the blues I've taken have been really high up. Hopefully I'll run across some of them! Thanks guys.

[AspenBud]

And there simply aren't as many around now as in September. Young of the year I'm sure have a mortality rate of 75% or so by now.

And those that remain will be much more spooky and apt to run or flush.

[Irish_hunter93]

Here's a couple of ruffed and one of the blue grouse I shot. Tasty birds! And aspen I've noticed that with the last set of grouse I shot, didn't make it very far but way more skittish than October.

[Irish_hunter93]

And another one

[DOUBLELUNG]

Blues do go up in elevation, they will spend the entire winter in the upper canopy of Doug firs eating fir needles.  Ruffeds will move into the thickest mixed deciduous cover they can find as the leaves fall off, they tend to roost in conifers and and will spend quite a bit of time in the upper canopy of aspen, alder and cottonwoods feeding on buds.  Don't forget to look 30-40' up in the alders after the leaves are all off, good December strategy over there on the wet side.

I'm not ashamed to admit I've driven forest roads in western WA in the pissing rain in December, never getting out of the warm, dry truck except to shoot a ruffed grouse spotted in the top of an alder.  Word of advice,if its on the downhill side, check out the terrain and understory before you decide to shoot one - 300' of dense blackberries on a 60 percent slope can be a real nightmare!  The uphill ones will fall much closer to the road

[Irish_hunter93]

Yeah most of the blues I've seen have been way up high. Thanks for the advice man I appreciate it! I've noticed the last set of grouse I shot they were waaayyyy more skittish than ever, didn't make it far at all though! But I'll keep all that in mind next trip out I make.