Proposed Grouse Limit Changes

[iusmc2002]

I didn't realize the numbers were down.  I killed two grouse before I got out of high school.  In the last three years, I've brought nearly 30 home.  I've seen three in the last two weeks; about a month earlier than the last two years. 

[boneaddict]

Limit should only be 3, I hardly see grouse any more while in the woods.  If herbicides are a big reason then they need to be banned, are causes even talked about at the wdfw?  If so, are solutions talked about?  Not trying to be an ass, really just wondering.

A couple wet springs, poor hatches and over harvest are taking their tolls.   East side issues anyways, not so much herbs on this side imo

[grundy53]

I saw a TON of grouse this year. Best year In a long time. I think a good spring\early summer is the most important aspect to good grouse numbers. The two previous springs were horrible.

[grundy53]

I might add I saw most of them on Weyco land.

[bobcat]

Wasn't the limit only 3 back in 09???

No, it was 4.

[Miles]

Grouse have natural cycles just like rabbits.  Changing the daily limit by one probably won't make a huge difference.   Taking one weekend off the season would probably save more grouse...

[boneaddict]

Two on Tuesdays, three on Thursdays and four on Fridays, six on Saturdays and holidays. 

[jasnt]

I've advocated a personal limit of 2 for my self. I love hunting them and spend a lot of time in the woods! My area is still holding a good amount. Even tho I take a personal limit nonce or twice a week. Rarely do I hunt the same area in a week. They just taste so darn good.  Especially in stir-fry. Mmmmm   I haven't noticed a decline in my areas but I want to be sure there are grouse next year

[RadSav]

How many grouse are actually killed in this state more than 20 yards from a gravel road?  I would say, "Not many!"  So often times when I hear guys say it's a down year on grouse that is just roadside.  Almost always in good numbers down by the creek bottoms we hunt.  Or up high in the blueberry fields.  For us this past season was a great year for grouse.  Both roadside and in the bottoms, but I do think those little buggers are getting smarter.  Used to kill a good number with the bow.  However, the past two years they have been too spooky for me to get much more than a meal or two.  Saw a poop pot full of them, though!

[MtnMuley]

Then there are those if us that pit on hundreds of miles and notice they're down in even the remotest "hot" spots. I will concur that wet springs are the biggest factor. Lose the seed, lose the crop.

[jasnt]

Yup if it's a bad spring we will loose a ton. We've had some really good one 2 years in a row here in my area.  Monday I counted over a dozen in a day.  They do get smart fast as rad said. September they are easy. Oct they stay clear of the roads and main trails. By nov I hunt the alder and hawthorn patches and dec I focus on thick fir patches well off the trails and up high. If we have an other good spring this area is going to be great tho I've heard it's going to get logged this year so it may change everything

[RadSav]

I read an article in Field & Stream, some time in the mid to late eighties, where they discussed acid rain as a cause in fluctuations with grouse populations.  If true that would explain why a great year in the SW and a poor year in the North Cascades might happen with nearly identical spring rain fall and fall berry numbers.

There are also years where I see good grouse numbers and bird concentrations.  Other years where I see good numbers, but the birds are scattered around in singles.  I've noticed good mushroom or berry years they are concentrated and bad shroom and berry years they are scattered.  Much the same as the bear I chase in these same areas.

[Special T]

I don't believe harvest by hunters has much effect overall on grouse numbers. A reduction  of the daily limit from 4 to 3 would not have any significant effect, in my opinion. The bigger factors are weather, habitat, and predators. The best thing that could be done to bring grouse populations back up is a ban on herbicide use.

Im Very inclined to agree with that statement. At least here on the west side I cant think of gettin a 3 bird limit, and that was even when all I was out for was that and rabbits walking old loggin roads.

[csaaphill]

3 should be the limit i never see if any more than one or two at anyone time!

[fireweed]

Up until a couple years ago the limit for grouse was 3. The limit was then changed to 4. WDFW is now proposing to keep the limit at 4 BUT only 3 of each species can be killed. So you could have 3 blues, and 1 ruffed, but not 4 ruffed.

I personally don't like it.

To add to the confusion there's no such thing as a blue grouse anymore.  According to the biologist,  blue grouse are now two new species:  "Sooty Grouse" and " Dusky Grouse".  Go figure.