Brood scouting

[Dave Workman]

Start watching for grouse broods over the next three weeks or so. Keep notes of where you spot hens followed along by 4-5 chicks.

Have a hunting license. On these little scouting treks, kill every coyote you see. They're tough on rabbits, too.

[ICEMAN]

No kidding, nothing cooler than finding baby grouse. Tiny little buggers...

[Dave Workman]

No kidding, nothing cooler than finding baby grouse. Tiny little buggers...

..and in the process, killing the predators that would dine on them before they learn to fly.

[AspenBud]

This can be a hit and miss strategy, especially with Ruffed Grouse once the "the shuffle" starts and as food sources and cover change over the course of the Fall.

Coyotes don't help, but the best way to get more grouse is through better habitat. We need more logging.

[bobcat]

"Coyotes don't help, but the best way to get more grouse is through better habitat. We need more logging."

More logging, and less herbicides.

[Bigshooter]

This can be a hit and miss strategy, especially with Ruffed Grouse once the "the shuffle" starts and as food sources and cover change over the course of the Fall.
Coyotes don't help, but the best way to get more grouse is through better habitat. We need more logging.

+1

I have places that I like to hunt early and I have places that I like to hunt late.

[buglebuster]

Took the pup for a hike last week and she flushed a grouse. As the grouse was leading my dog down the hill I came across a nest with fleeing chicks. Saw 13 chick's and only 1 egg that didn't hatch! Snapped a pic of the slowest one and called the dog off and carried on our way.

[Dave Workman]

"Coyotes don't help, but the best way to get more grouse is through better habitat. We need more logging."

More logging, and less herbicides.

The late great Corky Smith used to complain about herbicides 25 years ago.  He claimed they were even using Agent Orange to defoliate clearcuts so the seedlings would grow.

Herbicides kill everything, directly or indirectly. Plants, the bugs that live there, the birds that eat the bugs, ad infinitum.

I laugh my ass off when I hear some timber guy brag about providing habitat to wildlife. Cleartcuts WITHOUT herbicides cn do that. But the toxic stuff....fuggitaboutit

[AspenBud]

"Coyotes don't help, but the best way to get more grouse is through better habitat. We need more logging."

More logging, and less herbicides.

The late great Corky Smith used to complain about herbicides 25 years ago.  He claimed they were even using Agent Orange to defoliate clearcuts so the seedlings would grow.

Herbicides kill everything, directly or indirectly. Plants, the bugs that live there, the birds that eat the bugs, ad infinitum.

I laugh my ass off when I hear some timber guy brag about providing habitat to wildlife. Cleartcuts WITHOUT herbicides cn do that. But the toxic stuff....fuggitaboutit

The cutting argument really has more to do with public land, where you'll find fewer complaints about herbicides. Private timber land has plenty of cutting, but too many herbicides...and these days thanks to Weyerhaeuser, Rayonier, and other companies in Washington access is getting a lot harder and more expensive to get. There is a very strong argument out there stating that private timber is heavily assaulting hunting traditions and game animals in this state these days.

[Dave Workman]

Well, all this talk about herbicides is depressing.

On the PLUS SIDE...I took a drive on Sunday over South Cle Elum Ridge. Didn't see any grouse out and about, but we did see a nice bunch of elk and some really healthy-looking mule deer does, and I'm certain there was a fawn hiding in the brush behind them.

No coyotes, but I aim to find em and shoot 'em all.   

Keep your eyes peeled. I can almost SMELL the opening day of grouse season, and it's 2 1/2 months away!

[Gringo31]

No coyotes, but I aim to find em and shoot 'em all.

 

I like the attitude but fear that you may fall short of this "aim" 

[Dave Workman]

No coyotes, but I aim to find em and shoot 'em all.

 

I like the attitude but fear that you may fall short of this "aim" 

So many dogs, so many rounds, so little time....    

I may mount a coyote search and destroy mission in the next month or so.  Gotta check zero on my .257 Robts.  Time to rock em and knock em.



Meanwhile, Keep an eye peeled for those grouse broods. They ought to be popping out all over.

[Dave Workman]

FIFTEEN DAYS   - COUNT 'EM - 15 DAYS TO GO.


Monday, Sept. 1, those shots you hear....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 
 

[BigGoonTuna]

"Coyotes don't help, but the best way to get more grouse is through better habitat. We need more logging."

More logging, and less herbicides.

The late great Corky Smith used to complain about herbicides 25 years ago.  He claimed they were even using Agent Orange to defoliate clearcuts so the seedlings would grow.

Herbicides kill everything, directly or indirectly. Plants, the bugs that live there, the birds that eat the bugs, ad infinitum.

I laugh my ass off when I hear some timber guy brag about providing habitat to wildlife. Cleartcuts WITHOUT herbicides cn do that. But the toxic stuff....fuggitaboutit

The cutting argument really has more to do with public land, where you'll find fewer complaints about herbicides. Private timber land has plenty of cutting, but too many herbicides...and these days thanks to Weyerhaeuser, Rayonier, and other companies in Washington access is getting a lot harder and more expensive to get. There is a very strong argument out there stating that private timber is heavily assaulting hunting traditions and game animals in this state these days.

yep, the fruit grower supply/rayonier land i've always hunted for grouse got sprayed about 3 years ago, wiped out all the cover and food along the gated roads.  didn't see a single grouse that year, at least when i was hunting.

[ctwiggs1]

Its going to be an outstanding year for grouse over here . Seen around 20 today.

Dude there is no denying that you know how to find birds 

I have got to link up with you some day and do some bird hunting. 

I don't think I've ever seen more than 2 grouse in one day!

[merkelman]

NatcheEeeeez is the Phantom hunter!!

[Dave Workman]

YEE HAWWWWWWW!!!!!!

One week to go, got my 20 all warmed up, even have a test gun to take along....

Grouse are gonna learn some law'n order PDQ I'm thinking.

On the down side, one of my favorite grouse haunts just got burned up in a forest fire on South Cle Elum Ridge.  I sorta doubt that's going to be worth visiting for a long, long time......
 


BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE. The one that burned up my spot was lightning-caused. 

[redfish5]

How do you guys scout for grouse?  Any particular habitat they like to hide in?  The few I've killed have just been from walking logging roads, but curious if you can locate them off roads or certain cover/food sources I should look for.  Thanks!

[bobcat]

How do you guys scout for grouse?  Any particular habitat they like to hide in?

Ridgetops and old burns.

[Dave Workman]

How do you guys scout for grouse?  Any particular habitat they like to hide in?  The few I've killed have just been from walking logging roads, but curious if you can locate them off roads or certain cover/food sources I should look for.  Thanks!

In addition to what BC said, also drive the logging roads early and late in the day. Where you see grouse along the roads at those times, they will be back in the brush, but not too far, the rest of the day.  Hike the old skid roads branching off active logging roads too. I know a couple of spots over on the Taneum where grouse can be found with a little legwork, along older blocked roads that take you way back in the boonies.

Also, the hiking trails that don't get a lot of traffic. Blue grouse can be remarkably stupid/curious...just long enough to put a .22 through their noggins.


Work the berry fields, too.  Berries are ripe, grouse are hungry and they won't be far from food.