collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?  (Read 4182 times)

Offline aaronoto

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 443
  • Location: NW WA
Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« on: August 01, 2018, 01:50:44 PM »
I tagged a bear early in the season last year and saw a few good looking blue grouse spots that I hit with the dog a few weeks later.  I scared up a few grouse but the dog didn't find any.  I know grouse hunting with dogs isn't a thing around here, but does anyone hunt up high in the meadows on the west side for blue grouse?  Just wondering what your experience has been. 

Offline WSU

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 5501
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2018, 01:58:21 PM »
I have hunted the east side of the cascades with a pointer.  It's a lot more effective than hunting without one.

Offline Wingin it

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2009
  • Posts: 902
  • Location: Washington
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2018, 08:28:54 PM »
Nothing wrong with hunting grouse with a pointer.

Offline yorketransport

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 3310
  • Location: Yelm
  • Preferred pronouns: were/was
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2018, 08:43:26 PM »
I used my WPG on blues  out in Vail for a season with pretty good results. It seemed to me like she was pointing more towards the sound than a scent since they were all pretty high up in the trees.

Offline T-Bone

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 615
  • Location: Rockford, WA
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2018, 06:16:54 AM »
The New England grouse hunting society thinks a pointing dog is the only way to hunt grouse. Their late, "High Priest", George Bird Evans as much as said so in his writings. A hunter with a flushing dog was at a severe disadvantage...

I realize you are interested in blue grouse, but I doubt those folks' opinion would change much.
" America will never be destroyed from outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

                                                      Abraham Lincoln

Offline ribka

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 5647
  • Location: E side
  • That's what she said
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2018, 09:13:17 AM »
Yep.  Hunt blues here in Washington and ruffed grouse in my home state of Washington. Whpg

Offline Dhoey07

  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 3350
  • Location: Parts Unknown
    • No Facebook for this guy
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2018, 09:23:55 AM »
I hunt them with my lab, and he doesn't lock up like he normally does with pheasants or quail. 

I don't know if it's an old wives tale but I was told that grouse don't have that strong of a scent and they are more difficult for a dog to track  :dunno:

Offline T-Bone

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 615
  • Location: Rockford, WA
" America will never be destroyed from outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

                                                      Abraham Lincoln

Online bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 39193
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2018, 07:49:36 PM »
Grouse really don't hold for a point so I never had much luck with my GSP. I still got birds but many I would've got with or without the dog. The biggest benefit I found was in retrieving wounded grouse. But even with that I think a lot of times you're better off without a dog.

Offline AspenBud

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2012
  • Posts: 1742
  • Location: Washington
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2018, 08:21:11 AM »
Grouse really don't hold for a point so I never had much luck with my GSP. I still got birds but many I would've got with or without the dog. The biggest benefit I found was in retrieving wounded grouse. But even with that I think a lot of times you're better off without a dog.

Grouse really don't hold for a point so I never had much luck with my GSP.

There's your problem!   :chuckle: ;)

More seriously I think the issue a lot of dogs have with grouse is one of exposure. If you live close to good habitat and run the dogs on them both during the season and up until the quiet season starts in April the dogs will learn to handle them. But if you live some distance from good habitat with good bird numbers your dog will struggle.

Offline ribka

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 5647
  • Location: E side
  • That's what she said
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2018, 08:40:59 AM »
Yep. Mine does fine on blues ruffed and sharp tails

https://i.imgur.com/UbLFV9o.jpg?s=sms

I got my dog on a lot of different grouse when young.

Offline jagermiester

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2009
  • Posts: 868
  • Location: Burien
  • My family is my life
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #11 on: August 14, 2018, 09:31:15 PM »
what's the point in going if you don't bring your dog????
Lead em if they're running.

Online bobcat

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+14)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 39193
  • Location: Rochester
    • robert68
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2018, 09:52:15 PM »
I sure wouldn't go grouse hunting without my dog- if I had one. Don't have a bird dog anymore so a dog is no longer an option. Although I'm thinking about taking our Labradoodle, who is four years old and prefers to spend her free time lounging on the couch.

Offline Munsterlander fan

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 10
  • Location: Washington
Re: Anyone hunting Blue Grouse with a Pointer?
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2018, 07:11:52 PM »
I think its the only way to hunt grouse is with a pointing breed.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Public Land Sale Senate Budget Reconciliation by pickardjw
[Today at 01:26:57 PM]


Drew Pogue Quality by Boss .300 winmag
[Today at 01:19:49 PM]


Who’s walleye fishing? by Skillet
[Today at 11:45:58 AM]


Big J's Powder list by BigJs Outdoor Store
[Today at 11:09:38 AM]


Norway pass Elk by furbearer365
[Today at 11:04:55 AM]


Gorge Wildlife Cams by scotsman
[Today at 09:37:53 AM]


Mason County Youth Buck Nov 1-16 by Elkpiss
[Today at 09:06:28 AM]


VA Loan Closing Costs by pianoman9701
[Today at 08:28:50 AM]


WTS: Seek Outside Cimarron with Pole by pickardjw
[Today at 08:16:38 AM]


Anybody hunt with a 25 Creedmoor? by jjhunter
[Today at 07:19:28 AM]


DR Brush Mower won't crank by Rob
[Today at 06:09:06 AM]


I’m on a blacktail mission by bobcat
[Today at 05:57:56 AM]


Selkirk bull moose. by Turner89
[Yesterday at 09:58:53 PM]


Colockum Archery Bull Tag by oldleclercrd
[Yesterday at 09:10:44 PM]


Fun little Winchester 1890 project by JDHasty
[Yesterday at 08:00:51 PM]


2025 NWTF Jakes Day by wadu1
[Yesterday at 07:04:31 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal