UPDATED: It's almost JULY...time to start watching for g-g-g-g-grouse broods!

[Dave Workman]

I can almost smell grouse season in the air!
Hoping for a good hatch of the big blues.

[birddogdad]

my pheasant hen finally hatched her brood last weekend..

[Naches Sportsman]

Came across this guy today.

[bobcat]

With this being the dryest spring I think we've ever had, it sure seems like this year could be the best grouse hunting we've seen in many years. I hope.

[dreamunelk]

Seen a bunch broods in the last couple of weeks.  Some at the giant flying bumble bee stage.  Agree with Bobcat things are looking good.  I have logged a large amount of miles driving logging roads from the Columbia River to the Straight of juan de fuca in past few weeks seeing lots of good things.   Even had to swerve to miss some on HWY 101 this morning.
Most of the elk groups I see regularly are all busted up. Had to stop and move a fawn off a logging road.  It did the freeze thing in the middle of the road.

[yorketransport]

I've seen a lot in the last few weeks. I think I've got some video of a one brood that was right on the side of the road. I'll look for it.

[Dave Workman]

Came across this guy today.

W-O-W!

That's a great image! Where were you, I mean, how far from the bird? Telephoto lens shot?

[h2ofowlr]

This was from a week ago.  The mom was in the road and hopped the ditch.  The chick all ran into the ditch in a bad spot and weren't getting out.  I helped the brood out and lifted them all onto the other side.  Saw 3 different broods on this day.
The mom was very attentive to what I was doing.  She flew out and landed on my roof to watch.

[Dave Workman]

Not sure it's such a hot idea to pick up chicks.
Even when mom is watching.

It's a cute pix, of course..

[Gunster]

Any good areas with grouse within reasonable distance from Tacoma?  I was hiking around Capital forest last week and didn't see any. 

[yorketransport]

Any good areas with grouse within reasonable distance from Tacoma?  I was hiking around Capital forest last week and didn't see any.

I've seen quite a few grouse in Capitol Forest this year off of the D line. The area up outside of Wilkeson used to be pretty good too but I haven't been up there for a couple years.

[Gunster]

OK..I'll try the D line.  I was up on the Rock Candy area.

[buckcanyonlodge]

Not good up here. The grasshopper hatch was unbelievable. Billions of the little pests.  The grouse have eaten so many 'hoppers they have grown so overweight they cannot fly. The coyotes, hawks, badgers, snakes, bobcats, bear, cougar, skunks, raccoons, and even bald faced hornets have just about wiped them out. I have personally found grouse that have choked to death on the little buggers. Grasshoppers coming out both ends. Very sad. Don't waste your time grouse hunting this year. On the up side there is no limit on the tasty hoppers. UMMMM deep fried grasshopper loin.





 

[sooperfly]

Spent a few days in July in the Pasayten.  Walked a ridge at 7500+ft for four miles and came across 17 different grouse!  Most I've seen in a while.