How early is too early?

[magnanimous_j]

Provided it ever warms up, I am planning a camping trip in the Olympic National Forest in the next month or so. I've never been to this spot before but its in the forest with a lot of logging and forest service roads. Fair amount of fresh water. 

Is it too early to scout for grouse? What kind of things should I look for in late spring to indicate it might be a good spot to head back to in the fall?

[blackveltbowhunter]

Im not familar with the Olympics much, but I would think this would be perfect timing.  I have been hearing a lot of drumming in sw wa, even during bad weather.  Listen for drummers and look for scratching , droppings and tracks in creek draws and overgrown logging roads. The same areas i find birds now, i find in fall. Good luck!

[Skyvalhunter]

Well the blue grouse were in full blast last weekend so I am sure the natives are following suit

[Jonathan_S]

The majority of grouse in the fall are juveniles that survived so it's definitely too early to know how good the hunting will be.  I hear drumming all spring in the woods though.  Pretty sure in a lot of cases, grouse don't move unless pushed away by predators.

Two years ago, I bumped two separate clutches of mama grouse and chicks on the same hillside.  Three months later, in September, those grouse were under the same exact fir trees. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Probably feeding on alder buds/sprout.  But with the rain, they will wait it out during the heavier part of the showers usually under or in lower branches of hemlock trees.  When the rain lightens up, they kind of range out.  Possible good spots to check are roads that have some hemlock or young fir and a wide spot/turn that is filling up with 3-4 ft alder.

[W_Ellison2011]

scouting for grouse? Just wait until September and drive down the dirt roads right after it rains... stupid road chickens will be out everywhere!

[magnanimous_j]

Thanks for the reply, guys. So the takeaway is that if I can find them in the spring, they should be there in the fall?

[Jonathan_S]

In general yes.  Also don't be discouraged if the area looks good but you don't hear/see any because they multiply exponentially between now and September

[Hilltop123]

Never to early to learn the different road systems out on the OP. JMTCW

[ribka]

Scouting for grouse 

Bird hunting for 40 plus years and first I've heard of this

Is this a joke?

[nwwanderer]

Any time is a good time, probably will not see much now, laying and setting time.  Just pick a likely spot and listen, good entertainment with all of that look at me behavior

[bobcat]

This time of year I always hear blue grouse hooting, so I know they're there, but in the fall usually none to be found.   

[W_Ellison2011]

This time of year I always hear blue grouse hooting, so I know they're there, but in the fall usually none to be found.   

You should watch Steve Rinellas episodes of sooty/blue grouse spring time hunting in Alaska!