Grouse Forecast

[Dave Workman]

Any westsiders want to do a day sometime this fall?

Where are you?  I like to hunt way up high or on the eastside.  Could be we'll bump into each other behind a bush somewheres   
Good luck

[magnanimous_j]

Any westsiders want to do a day sometime this fall?

Where are you?  I like to hunt way up high or on the eastside.  Could be we'll bump into each other behind a bush somewheres   
Good luck

Im in Seattle, so I have to travel regardless. I might as well go where there might be some expert guidance.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Should be one heck of a year for all upland birds ...including the turkeys ...Lots of berries getting ripe early ...should be awesome 

[JimmyHoffa]

Any westsiders want to do a day sometime this fall?

How do you typically go for them?  Walk, dog, road hunt?  Shotgun, .22, bow?

[magnanimous_j]

Any westsiders want to do a day sometime this fall?

How do you typically go for them?  Walk, dog, road hunt?  Shotgun, .22, bow?

No dog. Usually walk forest service roads and get them with the 12 gauge when they flush. But I'm a noob. I'm definitely not stuck in my ways. I also have a 10/22 with a cheapo 4x scope I could use too.

[cougarbart]

A lot of eastern Washington got hit hard with heavy rain showers right when chicks were born! Been seeing some grouse but no chicks and even turkeys had a low survival rate in places!

[AspenBud]

I forecast that a lot of new grouse habitat will be made this year  when forest fire season really gets going. It's only starting!

[T-Bone]

I forecast that a lot of new grouse habitat will be made this year  when forest fire season really gets going. It's only starting!

My fear is that a good portion of the National Forests will be shut off to us and forest grouse like water; so I also fear the tender dryness will make alot of coverts "grouse-less".

[JimmyHoffa]

Any westsiders want to do a day sometime this fall?

How do you typically go for them?  Walk, dog, road hunt?  Shotgun, .22, bow?

No dog. Usually walk forest service roads and get them with the 12 gauge when they flush. But I'm a noob. I'm definitely not stuck in my ways. I also have a 10/22 with a cheapo 4x scope I could use too.

I usually go specifically for grouse later in the season, mostly walking overgrown roads.  For the areas I go:
First part season is usually hot, dry, long days, long range shots and grouse that aren't so hungry as to feed all day.  The dry part makes it tough(er) to quietly sneak on them.  Plus it seems like adding the hot, they only make a brief early morning/late evening appearance and kind of stick to shadows near water.  They aren't exactly cold, so they can hole up for the most of day.  So early, most fall to the .22 or whatever is being used for bear/deer.
Last half is usually cool/cold, rainy, short daylight hours and birds out most of the day feeding.  Seems that being pent up for a few rainy days makes for hungry grouse.  So they have to feed all day long, which isn't but around nine hours or so with long nights.  Plus softer ground from rain and no shadows due to clouds to spook them, you can get in good shotgun range.

[Dave Workman]

12- or 20-gauge shotgun, No. 6 shot, or .22 rifle or pistol.
mornings and evenings. Old logging roads, berry fields, even lesser-used hiking trails.
Go high for the blues. Work the creek bottoms and alder thickets for ruffed.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Saw 3 different clutches on Fathers Day, little buggers are cute, but fast!

[Jonathan_S]

Yeah they are little speed demons.  Amazing how fast they grow.

[magnanimous_j]

I saw a few of them driving down a FS road about 25 miles north of Aberdeen last weekend.

[JimmyHoffa]

I saw a few of them driving down a FS road about 25 miles north of Aberdeen last weekend.

You saw grouse driving?  What were you on?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I saw a few of them driving down a FS road about 25 miles north of Aberdeen last weekend.

You saw grouse driving?  What were you on?

What were they driving?