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.