Grouse

[sffguitar]

How'd the opening weekend go for everyone? I just got back from a day hunt today.... there were way to many campers/hikers/yuppies outside driving through all my spots!   I got skunked

Gonna give it another week when the rain starts coming down and us hunters get the woods to ourselves.

[Dman]

 It was the same for me Saturday! The only excitement we had was nearly being run over by a ranger looking for a forest fire in the area! Granola smacking yuppie hippie nutballs running around in my honey hole!!!

[T-Bone]

Way too warm and dry in the area the wife, Chessie and I tried this morning N.E. of Chewelah. NO grouse seen, but plenty of fresh bear scat.

A new fire is burning in the mountains S.W. of Chewelah, too.

[LOVEMYLABXS]

Went over to the middle fork of calispel creek heard one fly off  but the old road I wanted to hunt use to be gated now it's seems to be open to four wheelers and bikes    plus they have made many new trails up and down the hill sides what a shame  use to be a nice area to just wander around and find a bird or two. Saw many campsites that people had no respect for and just left their trash

[popeshawnpaul]

Did a grouse/deer trip up lake chelan in the boat this last weekend.  First morning out, my wife takes Sadie, my hunting dog, out on a bike ride...12 miles later she has blisters on her pads and can't walk...  There goes my grouse hunting idea.  There were a few tame grouse in Stehekin, she tried to hobble after them and it was everything I could do to keep her from killing all their pet grouse up there. 

[Antlershed]

Did not get out, but my buddies got 3 on Saturday out of our honey hole. I haven't heard from them since then, cause they are up there until the 21st archery hunting. I will be going up there next weekend though.

[sffguitar]

I went out again today... Skunked on grouse, missed a rabbit. the rain was really keeping the grouse in the thick stuff.....saw a couple nice bucks though!!!!!

[Roper]

Gee Guys, not to brag but the opener went well for me. First morning only one Ruffed, that afternoon one blue. But the next day I limited on Ruffs inside of a half hour. I'll post more and a photo or two tomorrow.

[actionshooter]

 My daughter (13) got 2 on Saturday. 
 Her first year hunting

[Hermit]

Grouse were so scarce, I had to go shoot some doves.

[sffguitar]

nailed a couple today on my day off...made for a nice dinner!

[high country]

I am up 9 ruffed so far. it helps when you can hunt out your back door. the new SxS 20 ga is doin' well! blues are coming soon.

[fluentvoo]

Are there any good public lands near olympia that hold grouse? or vail tree farm area? or best entrances or roads near the olympia area for hunting? I am in Graham, looking for local hunting areas. Not afraid to beat the brush, havn't gotten anything from the local wdfw biologists, sent eamils the last couple months in prep. for this season. The drive for chukar, and driving to okanogan is getting to be too far. The harvest numbers show Grays Harbor to be pretty darn productive, but not sure what lands are public / huntable and what aren't. And is it better to go closer to the ocean side of grays, or the capitol forest side. Again, any help is greatly appreciated.

[callthewild]

try minot peak or satsop.

[fluentvoo]

Took friday off, went down near the wynoochee and satsop. Lotta logging trucks. After working the weyhauser lands without any birds, i went to the other side of the chehalis near minot peak area. skunked . Saturday i went up into the gifford pinchot forest. First up high for blues. Saw one. Never got a shot. Flew down the hillside before i could get close enough to shoot. Lotta berry pickers up there, also tried behind the horse area near ashford in the afternoon. lotta leaves still on the trees in the lowlands. Frustrating hunting the west side. It's so darn thick, it's hard to stumble through much less see anything to shoot if it flushes. Thought about trying the skatecreek/52 rd near the river. Didn't have time. Gosh i don't wanna do the 3+ hour drive to the east side of the mountains. But that seems to be the most productive for birds.