Grouse predictability?

[npaull]

How far do grouse usually range, and how common would it be to find them in the same spot from one day to the next? I flushed *eight* big blues out of a clearcut earlier this morning while deer hunting, and I'm debating returning to the spot sometime soon with my shotgun (they were surprisingly wary, no chance of a bow shot). Obviously the habitat is good so it's worth an effort, but I'm just curious if anyone knows if they're like turkeys or whitetail, in that they frequently return to the same spot, or if they rove around more. Thanks for any insight.

[Tracker0721]

Grouse are actually a solitary animal. They only form covey's in areas with good food, water, cover, etc. So the same spot year after year will usually produce. I took over 2 dozen by going to areas I've flushed coveys before. And yes, they don't like to leave those areas even if they've had a buddy become the headless horseman while sitting beside him on his favorite log. Blues will range farther but generally will be in the same vicinity. I flushed the same spruce grouse 4 times in the same spot last year. Each time I was creeping to my bear spot and he about gave me a heart attack each time.

[npaull]

Perfect, thank you!

[Skyvalhunter]

Agree with Tracker. Natives or ruffed grouse when flushed normally don't go far. However I have seen blues when spooked or flushed travel from one mountain to the next. People don't realize blues can travel a significant distance on the ground especially when in search of food or water.