Western Washington grouse

[AspenBud]

It might be the guy driving the truck but it seems like grouse numbers in Southwest Washington are about as crappy as they can get. Is this anyone else’s perception? It seems like you could see some every time out about 10-15 years ago but now...trying to hunt them makes for a good hike and that’s it.

Is anyone else noticing this?

[Humptulips]

   Both species but especially ruffed.
I don't think all the road side spraying helps matters.

[N7XW]

I agree.  Have only seen 3 all year!

[Alan K]

I work in the woods and see them virtually everyday in Thurston/Lewis/Pierce counties. Usually see a ton through September, particularly after/during a rain, but once the woods get busy in October with the rifle seasons I think hunters put a hurting on them. 

[Jason]

I think I seen maybe a dozen this year. Very bad year for Grouse. I can remember many years when we would see 2-4 grouse at a time, now it seems like all that I see are Grouse all by them selves and never paired up.

[The Marquis]

I hunt SW and I got 4 (3 ruffed, 1 blue) this year, but saw dozens more that I just wasn't quick enough (or patient enough at the time) to get.  Almost all of the dozens I saw were Ruffed.  I spent a lot of time in the upper elevations, but didn't see many Blues at all.  Maybe 6, at least in Western WA.  Eastern WA I saw a couple of each, but spent far less time hunting them.  My opinion on the Original post is that there are Ruffed out there, sort of all over.  Blues seem to be super slim though.

[lewy]

Bad year in my neck of the woods as well, but the previous couple years were great.

[AspenBud]

Those of you who are seeing them in some numbers, are you hunting private timber or public forest? I skipped the Weyco permits this year and hit state and national forest land. Between myself and some others I know we have seen maybe a handful of ruffeds this year at the 1000 foot mark. Went out yesterday and the woods may as well have been dead. The dog covered a lot of ground and I think we had maybe one point that turned up nothing.

[The Marquis]

Those of you who are seeing them in some numbers, are you hunting private timber or public forest? I skipped the Weyco permits this year and hit state and national forest land. Between myself and some others I know we have seen maybe a handful of ruffeds this year at the 1000 foot mark. Went out yesterday and the woods may as well have been dead. The dog covered a lot of ground and I think we had maybe one point that turned up nothing.

In Western Washington, all public land for me.  In Eastern, every blue I saw was on private.

[tdpointer]

Hey all, these seems like a good thread to piggy back on. I've got some time off in a couple weeks, and was considering going up to the Snoqualmie Tree Farm to look for some ruffed (and I guess blues if they're around).

I don't have the vehicle permit, so was planning on biking in deeper in, then doing short walks from the woods. Curious if people have advice on where to go/what to look for/how to go about it. I'm new to Ruffed Grouse hunting.

Thanks in advance,

[chiwawadan]

Hey all, these seems like a good thread to piggy back on. I've got some time off in a couple weeks, and was considering going up to the Snoqualmie Tree Farm to look for some ruffed (and I guess blues if they're around).

I don't have the vehicle permit, so was planning on biking in deeper in, then doing short walks from the woods. Curious if people have advice on where to go/what to look for/how to go about it. I'm new to Ruffed Grouse hunting.

Thanks in advance,

Roads/trails with small rocks/gravel near deciduous trees and riparian areas in the mornings and evenings. Birch, willow, aspen. Shrubs/saplings for cover if you're in coniferous areas.

[N7XW]

Roads/trails with small rocks/gravel near deciduous trees and riparian areas in the mornings and evenings. Birch, willow, aspen. Shrubs/saplings for cover if you're in coniferous areas.

[RGB]

Those of you who are seeing them in some numbers, are you hunting private timber or public forest? I skipped the Weyco permits this year and hit state and national forest land. Between myself and some others I know we have seen maybe a handful of ruffeds this year at the 1000 foot mark. Went out yesterday and the woods may as well have been dead. The dog covered a lot of ground and I think we had maybe one point that turned up nothing.

Weyco, CR East / Yacolt permit. Seen more grouse this year than ever before in the GPNF. I got nine and either missed, or couldn't get a shot on many more.

[JimmyHoffa]

I saw a good amount during the opening of muzzy elk and some during deer season.  All public land--DNR and USFS in coastal units.

[dewandgin]

Seen more this year than I have in many years. Mostly at upper elevation got 7 and seen probably 20+ more.

[trapperguy22]

This one of the better years I can remember. I shot 15 I think my buddy is at 14 I had several days where I saw over 10. Friends of mine had a day when they saw 34. Most of this hunting was in sept. And oct. and it was all on Weyerhaeuser property.j have not been out since Halloween i might try it tomorrow.

[joe_dumy]

Good year for ruffs for me. Seems like they have returned to the covers i hunt.

[kisfish]

I live in Pacific county and we saw more grouse this year than any other year. I have only lived here 8 years but they were everywhere this year. I saw a ton during archery and should have put a junky arrow in my quiver. I started wacking them while picking mushrooms. Nothing as good as grouse and fresh mushrooms.

[Platensek-po]

I live in Pacific county and we saw more grouse this year than any other year. I have only lived here 8 years but they were everywhere this year. I saw a ton during archery and should have put a junky arrow in my quiver. I started wacking them while picking mushrooms. Nothing as good as grouse and fresh mushrooms.

Amen!!! I love me some shrooms and grouse. I have seen quite a few this year and its my first year hunting them. Put some boot leather to the ground and get off the beaten path to find them

[AL WORRELLS KID]

One of the coolest sounds of the woods, a Guy can really work up a sweat both "Drumming" or Sneaking Up on a Guy Drumming. 
Doug

[IslandStorm62]

How do you hunt grouse? Is this all about walking Forest Roads until an opportunity comes up? Or, are there specific areas / foilage, terrain to focus on?

[Bullkllr]

One of the coolest sounds of the woods, a Guy can really work up a sweat both "Drumming" or Sneaking Up on a Guy Drumming. 
Doug

Always wondered how they survive drumming season. Seems like every predator in the area would key in on an easy meal.

[Stein]

How do you hunt grouse? Is this all about walking Forest Roads until an opportunity comes up? Or, are there specific areas / foilage, terrain to focus on?

 

Roads are trails are the easiest way for me, you can cover more ground that bushwhacking and it seems I run across more nearby roads or trails.

[The Marquis]

How do you hunt grouse? Is this all about walking Forest Roads until an opportunity comes up? Or, are there specific areas / foilage, terrain to focus on?

Walking underused forest roads with an eye on the grassy edges. People have tips on the types of trees and such, but I've never found those particularly useful for Western WA grouse.  They seem to be anywhere and the content of their crops don't indicate differently either.

[Alchase]

How do you hunt grouse? Is this all about walking Forest Roads until an opportunity comes up? Or, are there specific areas / foilage, terrain to focus on?

Easy, just find the biggest buck or bull you have seen during hunting season, and start your stock. At the moment you are the most intent on that buck or bull, you will flush a grouse or a covey scaring the crap out of you and the buck or bull!
 

Or just walk closed roads