New to Grouse Hunting, is walking the logg'in trails the best method?

[cowboycraig]

Have not hunted Grouse before. Have the Kapowsin pass, and have noticed a few on the logging roads that are "grown over" a bit. Doing a lot of scouting out there right now, and figured would start picking up a few Grouse while at it.

Is walking slightly to heavily over grown logging roads the best method for hunting Grouse? Any tips?

Are Grouse "kind of dumb"? (I would never do this) but think I could hunt them by running over them... they don't move to quickly or fly away very far.

Is there a best time of day to hunt Grouse? They seem to wonder around all day.

[CP]

Walking clear cuts is a good method as well, especially around slash piles.

[cowboycraig]

Walking clear cuts is a good method as well, especially around slash piles.

Was thinking that would be a good method, thanks!

Craig

[Buckmark]

Walking old roads is a good method for getting some, there are always the ones that are on the logging roads also, wait for them to walk off the road or hop up onto a branch.

They are not the smartest bird around, but hitting them with the truck would not be a legal method of killing them.

Most active mornings and evenings..

[cowboycraig]

Walking old roads is a good method for getting some, there are always the ones that are on the logging roads also, wait for them to walk off the road or hop up onto a branch.

They are not the smartest bird around, but hitting them with the truck would not be a legal method of killing them.

Most active mornings and evenings..

Thanks!

[Curly]

They eat sand/gravel in order to digest their food so you will often catch them out on the roads trying to get their fix of sand/gravel. 

[cowboycraig]

They eat sand/gravel in order to digest their food so you will often catch them out on the roads trying to get their fix of sand/gravel.

Thanks! Looking forward to cleaning the sand/gravel out of a few gizzards and sautéing in butter

[DOUBLELUNG]

They eat sand/gravel in order to digest their food so you will often catch them out on the roads trying to get their fix of sand/gravel.

Thanks! Looking forward to cleaning the sand/gravel out of a few gizzards and sautéing in butter

Later in the season (after the leaves fall), look for ruffed grouse budding in the alders.

[bobcat]

I've found that usually, the only time they seem to be "dumb," is when you're not hunting them. The exception to that rule is spruce grouse- they're dumb always.

[cowboycraig]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

[JimmyHoffa]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

You can hunt grouse off your deer license.  Any license --big or small game--is valid, and no extra permit needed.

[Special T]

Small game OR any big game tag

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[blacktailnewb]

I've been having luck walking logging roads on the edges of clearcuts with small 1-3 year old plantings and the other side of the road with taller timber. So far this year they've been in groups of 3+ so finding one can almost guarantee a full bag.

[cowboycraig]

I've been having luck walking logging roads on the edges of clearcuts with small 1-3 year old plantings and the other side of the road with taller timber. So far this year they've been in groups of 3+ so finding one can almost guarantee a full bag.

small 1-3 year old plantings would be like 4-5 feet tall?

Craig

[Ridgeratt]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

Where does it say Migratory bird permit?

[Axle]

If you spend a lot of time along the PCT between Canada and Oregon, you may learn quite a bit about them. You will see mostly the Blue grouse up there. They have habits. They have areas they like to frequent. Spend time among them and you will learn them. The taste is worth it! The time you spend up there is priceless! 

[fish vacuum]

Over grown roads are good. They'll hold in cover during rain and come out into the open when the weather clears up. Pay extra attention to the road intersections and landings that have young alders growing on them.

[AspenBud]

I've been having luck walking logging roads on the edges of clearcuts with small 1-3 year old plantings and the other side of the road with taller timber. So far this year they've been in groups of 3+ so finding one can almost guarantee a full bag.

small 1-3 year old plantings would be like 4-5 feet tall?

Craig

Trees about as big around as your fist.

If you get any, pay attention to what is in their crop and store that in your memory for food items to look for and potentially find grouse near. If you want to get off the roads, get a dog that handles and that can cover some ground. Let the dog do the work while you choose the easiest path.

[cowboycraig]

I've been having luck walking logging roads on the edges of clearcuts with small 1-3 year old plantings and the other side of the road with taller timber. So far this year they've been in groups of 3+ so finding one can almost guarantee a full bag.

small 1-3 year old plantings would be like 4-5 feet tall?

Craig

Trees about as big around as your fist.

If you get any, pay attention to what is in their crop and store that in your memory for food items to look for and potentially find grouse near. If you want to get off the roads, get a dog that handles and that can cover some ground. Let the dog do the work while you choose the easiest path.

Thanks have the dog
Isn't a trained hunting dog, but does like to scare up birds.

[luvmystang67]

The best way would be to drive logging roads and shoot from the truck...

However, you'd be breaking so many laws they'd probably have to slingshot peas to you you'd be so far back in jail.

So, the next best seems to be to plan on seeing them and hike with shotguns, then get tired of that and just bring regular hunting rifle.  Then you'll see a ton and can practice head shots with a 300WM.

 

[cowboycraig]

The best way would be to drive logging roads and shoot from the truck...

However, you'd be breaking so many laws they'd probably have to slingshot peas to you you'd be so far back in jail.

So, the next best seems to be to plan on seeing them and hike with shotguns, then get tired of that and just bring regular hunting rifle.  Then you'll see a ton and can practice head shots with a 300WM.

 

Was really thinking my 10/22 with a nice scope would be good. But where I am hunting thinking BB shot for "long shots".

Not sure if a 300WM would have the knockdown power...

[seth30]

The best way would be to drive logging roads and shoot from the truck...

However, you'd be breaking so many laws they'd probably have to slingshot peas to you you'd be so far back in jail.

So, the next best seems to be to plan on seeing them and hike with shotguns, then get tired of that and just bring regular hunting rifle.  Then you'll see a ton and can practice head shots with a 300WM.

 

Go with a 45 Whelan to make sure. 

Was really thinking my 10/22 with a nice scope would be good. But where I am hunting thinking BB shot for "long shots".

Not sure if a 300WM would have the knockdown power...

[Ridgeratt]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

Where does it say Migratory bird permit?

Still struggling with the Migratory Bird permit restriction? Where do I find this requirement.

[bobcat]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

Where does it say Migratory bird permit?

Still struggling with the Migratory Bird permit restriction? Where do I find this requirement.

He was asking a question. The question was answered and he learned that the migratory permit wasn't required.

[Ridgeratt]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

Where does it say Migratory bird permit?

Still struggling with the Migratory Bird permit restriction? Where do I find this requirement.

He was asking a question. The question was answered and he learned that the migratory permit wasn't required.

I read it as a "Statement". Perhaps I'm not up on intuition.

[KFhunter]

You've got the mind of an engineer RR, literal.

[Ridgeratt]

Thanks, I think!!!!

[cowboycraig]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

Where does it say Migratory bird permit?

Still struggling with the Migratory Bird permit restriction? Where do I find this requirement.

He was asking a question. The question was answered and he learned that the migratory permit wasn't required.

I read it as a "Statement". Perhaps I'm not up on intuition.

Sorry for the confusion, I can be a bit of a brick sometimes.

[Curly]

To hunt Grouse the licenses needed are "SMALL GAME" & "MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT"?

Thanks!
Craig

Where does it say Migratory bird permit?

Still struggling with the Migratory Bird permit restriction? Where do I find this requirement.

He was asking a question. The question was answered and he learned that the migratory permit wasn't required.

I read it as a "Statement". Perhaps I'm not up on intuition.

Sorry for the confusion, I can be a bit of a brick sometimes.

Well, you did use a question mark, thus making it a question and not a statement. 

[mdbuck5x5]

The best way would be to drive logging roads and shoot from the truck...

However, you'd be breaking so many laws they'd probably have to slingshot peas to you you'd be so far back in jail.

So, the next best seems to be to plan on seeing them and hike with shotguns, then get tired of that and just bring regular hunting rifle.  Then you'll see a ton and can practice head shots with a 300WM.

 

Was really thinking my 10/22 with a nice scope would be good. But where I am hunting thinking BB shot for "long shots".

Not sure if a 300WM would have the knockdown power...

A couple years ago my dad and I were coming down the mountain from elk hunting one evening. A spruce was standing in the middle of the road. He was gonna get closer and shoot it with his ruger mark 1 and I said if you go any closer he's gonna bail. So he pulls up his browning .264 and from about 80 yards he takes its head clean off. I was like holy crap. It was quite impressive I must say!

[cowboycraig]

Walked for a few miles and saw a few grouse. Didn't get a shot that day. Was glad to see grouse anyhow. Need to work on strategy.

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