First grouse in sixteen years!

[lokidog]

Went scouting for deer with my son around Lake Wenatchee area today, not much sign seen but... I managed to pick off two Ruffed Grouse.  My son had never seen one close up and it was net to be able to get a gray and brown phase bird.

The second one was in a group of three and by the time I got on them, it was the last one to fly off.  I thought I hit it, but upon looking around in the brush, I could not find anything. On the shot (full choke 870 Wingmaster), its trajectory changed, but I wasn't sure if it just dove.  Why did we leave the dog at home?       Anyways, we continued on a loop road back toward town. We did not see any other birds or sign of deer so I decided to head back to where I "missed" the one.  Lo and behold, there was a grouse in the road right where they had been.  Of course, I could not get on it before it departed the area. I went back to the brush where I thought the bird had gone down and decided to check a little farther away.  Twice I saw a lump of bark, but the third time I checked more closely and there it was, right where it fell.   

Anyways, a few photos.  The last one is my art piece.   

[Dan-o]

Nicely done.

Glad you got to exercise your artistic side.

[Boss .300 winmag]

 

Nicely done.

Glad you got to exercise your artistic side.

[bearpaw]

some good chow there... 

[boneaddict]

Fun!

[Skyvalhunter]

 

[quadrafire]

Full choke with a 48 inch barrel  Geesh that looks long

[Angry Perch]

Loki,
How was the moisture level in the woods? Opening weekend I was getting choked by dust, and haven't been to the cabin since. Headed over this weekend, and hoping to start loading up on mushrooms.

[lokidog]

Loki,
How was the moisture level in the woods? Opening weekend I was getting choked by dust, and haven't been to the cabin since. Headed over this weekend, and hoping to start loading up on mushrooms.

Seemed pretty dry still though there was moisture from the rain overnight and then it rained a bit more above Lake Wenatchee.

[lokidog]

Full choke with a 48 inch barrel  Geesh that looks long

Meet my little friend.....   

Funny, the picture does make it look really long. It is actually a 29 or 30", no tape measure handy.  Unfortunately, the only original parts of the gun, though likely the most important, are the action and the slide, the original stock was cracked over a raccoon's head (although already stressed after forty plus years of use) and the original barrel was damaged by a follow up shot after a squib shot that just sounded like "click" while shooting at a duck on one of the first hunts I took my, now, wife on.