New to Grouse Hunting

[RockScar]

This will be my first season hunting in Washington and looking to go after some grouse. Any tips or things to look for? Any general areas I should look into (not trying to spoil anyone's honey pot).

Thanks!

[Angry Perch]

This will be my first season hunting in Washington and looking to go after some grouse. Any tips or things to look for? Any general areas I should look into (not trying to spoil anyone's honey pot).

Thanks!

Let us know what area(s) you are interested in, and that will help with ideas.

[phildobaggins]

The basics:

Ruffed grouse are lower in elevation, I find them in brushy creek like safespots near stands of Aspen trees.

Blue grouse are higher in elevation, I find them often on benches and along ridges in and beneath Tamarack trees.

Target Tamarack and stands of Aspen and you'll find grouse 

They also guzzle gravel/rocks on roads so drive slow if you're in an area that someone has said has grouse in it, you'll see them standing on the side of the road. Note where they fly if you bump them and don't get a shot.

[RockScar]

This will be my first season hunting in Washington and looking to go after some grouse. Any tips or things to look for? Any general areas I should look into (not trying to spoil anyone's honey pot).

Thanks!

Let us know what area(s) you are interested in, and that will help with ideas.

Western/central Washington is preferred but I'm not really sure where to look! Willing to drive as needed. Been hoping to go around Cle Elum but they closed the forest down because of wild fires.

[Lady Grouse hunter]

Phil,
Illegil do not encourgae road hunting

[phildobaggins]

Phil,
Illegil do not encourgae road hunting

What?

[rainshadow1]

Phil,
Illegil do not encourgae road hunting

What?

Shooting from/across open roads is illegal. (As is having loaded weapons in the vehicle. Driving FS roads without seatbelt use. Hunting grouse with a centerfire.... Etc. Etc. Etc.) Driving along roads to spot grouse is not illegal.

 (By far the most effective and common method of hunting grouse.)

For every legal endeavor you do these days, there's 150 ways to break a law tagging along with it.

[johnbmyersii]

This will be my first season hunting in Washington and looking to go after some grouse. Any tips or things to look for? Any general areas I should look into (not trying to spoil anyone's honey pot).

Thanks!

Let us know what area(s) you are interested in, and that will help with ideas.

Western/central Washington is preferred but I'm not really sure where to look! Willing to drive as needed. Been hoping to go around Cle Elum but they closed the forest down because of wild fires.

stick to the west side, grouse in cle elum are basically non existent. They've really gone downhill in the past 5 years

[DIron]

Chiming in here... Also new to grouse, never hunting them before, and want to get my 8 month old Choc Lab started. We are in the South Puget sound area. For Grouse do we go East past the Cascades, to the West slope of the Cascades, or over to the Olympics? I don't care I just want to get started chasing them. 

[MADMAX]

Hit the forest roads near wynoochee reservoir
Have fun

[DIron]

Hit the forest roads near wynoochee reservoir
Have fun

Great thanks. what type of terrain and/or forage am I looking for?

[Oldguy]

Phil,
Illegil do not encourgae road hunting

Check out RCW 77.460 (2)(a)
The important word is "negligently" which means you didn't look for potential targets you really don't want to put a bullet in. This law has been on the books for a long time.

[MADMAX]

The basics:

Ruffed grouse are lower in elevation, I find them in brushy creek like safespots near stands of Aspen trees.

Blue grouse are higher in elevation, I find them often on benches and along ridges in and beneath Tamarack trees.

Target Tamarack and stands of Aspen and you'll find grouse 

They also guzzle gravel/rocks on roads so drive slow if you're in an area that someone has said has grouse in it, you'll see them standing on the side of the road. Note where they fly if you bump them and don't get a shot.

This

[welkin]

also new to grouse hunting, western washington. is it worth it to go out in the rain looking for them? or will they be staying out of the rain in some hiding spot.

[Wendego716]

also new to grouse hunting, western washington. is it worth it to go out in the rain looking for them? or will they be staying out of the rain in some hiding spot.

I'll be going out tomorrow morning in the rain, can't shoot em if you're not out there! Worst case you get a little (well ok, a lot) wet. I've seen enough birds out in the rain to make it worthwhile. You can look for them in the softwoods where they're trying to stay dry, and they seem to come out once there's even a slight break in the rain.