WDFW on Grouse Season adjustment

[Dave Workman]

Interesting read.
Question: Who hunts grouse in December, much less the first half of January?

https://wdfw.medium.com/start-of-forest-grouse-season-delayed-this-year-bf994692e3eb

Forest grouse season dates adjusted starting in 2021
Change aims to decrease hen harvest, boost hunting opportunity

https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife/posts/pfbid0BtnaJSqAhYHHGYw5Xt2SKqhWVqvfZZZUYbomAmgkU9aYN1274En1jReyRbaEytXNl

[mcrawfordaf]

We've seen a lot more ruffed this year already than last year while scouting.

[Special T]

Dedicated grouse hunters exist, but most harvest is incidental. This change effects archers more than other groups. I hope this has the desired effect, however trapping  bobcats likely has a bigger effect on populations than anything else... at least on the west side.

[Jpmiller]

I almost exclusively have taken grouse the first two weeks of September while archery hunting.....

[Platensek-po]

Ive seen a lot of smaller birds this year. I think from the late hatch. However I have also seen that the family groups are mostly broken up now and I don’t quite understand how this lessens the harvest of females??? Do the females just disappear the second half of September?

[HighGrouseHunt]

  I do the vast majority of my grouse hunting in December and January. Between archery elk, modern deer, and trying to fill a couple of fall turkey tags, fall gets pretty darn busy. Its nice to take the dog and the shotgun out for a walk in the snow on a nice crisp morning or evening once most of the other hunting seasons wind down. As a bonus, I find the grouse hunting much more satisfying that time of year. Less foliage on the trees makes for cleaner shooting, and by then the family groups have broken up which seems to scatter the birds a bit more uniformly. Plus the those young-of-year birds seem to be a good 20% larger in December than they are at the beginning of September.

[MtnMuley]

Of the many guys I've talked to about this stupid season change, none hunt grouse in December or January including myself. Everybody also agrees that if taking the limit back to 3 to get the Sept 1 season opener back, then they're all fine with that.

[sagerat]

Of the many guys I've talked to about this stupid season change, none hunt grouse in December or January including myself. Everybody also agrees that if taking the limit back to 3 to get the Sept 1 season opener back, then they're all fine with that.

  Sure would like that opener back

[BLDtraLR]

Of the many guys I've talked to about this stupid season change, none hunt grouse in December or January including myself. Everybody also agrees that if taking the limit back to 3 to get the Sept 1 season opener back, then they're all fine with that.

  Sure would like that opener back

Likewise    I'd even be happy with  a 2  bird limit     I will be throwing rocks at them again this year. Sure hope it goes back miss my brown sugar bacon grouse dinners    Maybe an archery only hunt Sept 1-15 We will get the family groups broke up  lol   

[Dave Workman]

Likewise    I'd even be happy with  a 2  bird limit     I will be throwing rocks at them again this year. Sure hope it goes back miss my brown sugar bacon grouse dinners    Maybe an archery only hunt Sept 1-15 We will get the family groups broke up  lol   

Whoa, waitaminute.  Never, ever signal the WDFW you'd be willing to accept a reduced bag limit on anything. 
Someone will try taking you up on that.

You can always limit yourself. That's a personal choice.  But always keep in perspective what appears to have become a motto in Olympia, no matter what the issue:  "LESS is the new MORE."

[C-Money]

We saw one ruff on a ride in the Colockum on Sunday. Sept 1st was a day my family looked forward to a lot. Grouse hunt in the morning, and hit the dove field in the afternoon. Wish they did not change grouse season opener from Sept 1st. It was a pretty big deal to my family. Where I hunt grouse, its really hard to access after the snow flies. So, adding the 15 days on in Jan does us no good.

[Iveexcaped3]

Personally I love it, the birds get less harvested during archery deer/elk, the roads get snowed in so less harvest from the road hunters, it gives me another option to hunt something in January if I don’t want to go chase chuckar or quail.

[packmule]

Interesting read.
Question: Who hunts grouse in December, much less the first half of January?

https://wdfw.medium.com/start-of-forest-grouse-season-delayed-this-year-bf994692e3eb

Forest grouse season dates adjusted starting in 2021
Change aims to decrease hen harvest, boost hunting opportunity

https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife/posts/pfbid0BtnaJSqAhYHHGYw5Xt2SKqhWVqvfZZZUYbomAmgkU9aYN1274En1jReyRbaEytXNl

I'm far from a WDFW supporter and consider many of the decisions they make to be mis-management. But give credit where credit is due. They are using science to set season dates to hopefully improve populations of a species that many people enjoy hunting in this state. I also understand that moving the start of the season back a couple weeks reduces opportunities for archery hunters and young hunters, which kind of sucks.  But the season is 4 months long.  Other states who are serious about grouse hunting have relatively short seasons (1-2 months) that begin in October.  Results from studies conducted in those states have also shown that grouse harvest that occurs after early December disproportionately harvests birds that would otherwise survive until the next year (and thus be available to reproduce).  I'm sure that WDFW biologists are aware of that and still are allowing Washington hunters to pursue grouse in mid-January. 

[BLDtraLR]

We saw one ruff on a ride in the Colockum on Sunday. Sept 1st was a day my family looked forward to a lot. Grouse hunt in the morning, and hit the dove field in the afternoon. Wish they did not change grouse season opener from Sept 1st. It was a pretty big deal to my family. Where I hunt grouse, its really hard to access after the snow flies. So, adding the 15 days on in Jan does us no good.

   It was a pretty BIG deal to alot of family's but the WDFW doesn't give a poop about family traditions  And yes sorry dave i really wouldn't want a reduced bag limit but if that's what it took to get the sept 1st opener back than so be it. i rather be able to hunt my archery opener than not at all. But we all know that isn't happening. Sorry to rant about this but it really chaps my hide on something that where i've hunted for 45+ years  hasn't had any impact by moving the date back. The last 2-3 years before the change were banner years for grouse they were everywhere and not in family groups 1 or 2 maybe 3 in a group. I will report my findings in 2 day's 

[BLDtraLR]

And i call BS on this     From the WDFW website

In the first public input survey, 62 percent of respondents supported closures in early September, and shifting the opening day to Sept. 15 was the most-favored alternative.

[Bullkllr]

And i call BS on this     From the WDFW website

In the first public input survey, 62 percent of respondents supported closures in early September, and shifting the opening day to Sept. 15 was the most-favored alternative.

It all has to do with how they worded the survey. They can then make the results say anything they want.

"Would you rather have Sept. 15 opener or no grouse season? See- 100% favor delaying the season."


I really don't think they have any real idea, except going to a later open (after Labor Day!) will likely reduce overall harvest.

FWIW, I usually can't bring myself to shoot grouse in mid-winter. They look like they're in "hunker down and survive mode" by then.

[sagerat]

Interesting read.
Question: Who hunts grouse in December, much less the first half of January?

https://wdfw.medium.com/start-of-forest-grouse-season-delayed-this-year-bf994692e3eb

Forest grouse season dates adjusted starting in 2021
Change aims to decrease hen harvest, boost hunting opportunity

https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonFishWildlife/posts/pfbid0BtnaJSqAhYHHGYw5Xt2SKqhWVqvfZZZUYbomAmgkU9aYN1274En1jReyRbaEytXNl

I'm far from a WDFW supporter and consider many of the decisions they make to be mis-management. But give credit where credit is due. They are using science to set season dates to hopefully improve populations of a species that many people enjoy hunting in this state. I also understand that moving the start of the season back a couple weeks reduces opportunities for archery hunters and young hunters, which kind of sucks.  But the season is 4 months long.  Other states who are serious about grouse hunting have relatively short seasons (1-2 months) that begin in October.  Results from studies conducted in those states have also shown that grouse harvest that occurs after early December disproportionately harvests birds that would otherwise survive until the next year (and thus be available to reproduce).  I'm sure that WDFW biologists are aware of that and still are allowing Washington hunters to pursue grouse in mid-January.

Which states are you referring to? I’ve looked at every state west of the Mississippi with stable grouse populations and they all still open September 1 or earlier with the exception of California which is no surprise. They robbed us of quality time hunting them in early September to justify their research. Totally unnecessary.

[Dave Workman]

Which states are you referring to? I’ve looked at every state west of the Mississippi with stable grouse populations and they all still open September 1 or earlier with the exception of California which is no surprise. They robbed us of quality time hunting them in early September to justify their research. Totally unnecessary.

As I said earlier: The new motto in Olympia is "LESS is the new MORE"


WA Fish & Wildlife in 2nd Year of Grouse Hunt Change to Help Hen Survival
 
By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
Washington State wildlife managers are heading into the second year of a season change designed to improve survival of hens, with the explanation that the effort “is to help hunters by boosting forest grouse populations.”
 
www.thegunmag.com/wa-in-2nd-year-of-grouse-hunt-change-to-help-hen-survival/

[BLDtraLR]

Grouse update -   Just returned from a 7 day hunt in NE Washington. Total grouse count 12-  8 ruff's mostly males with  2 hens that were together in separate groups rest were single males. Only 4 big blues that all appeared to be males all single's maybe they were looking for the hen's.     NO grouse dinners      thx WDFW good job at ruining a tradition. Almost ran 1 over with the truck and applied for a salvage permit 

[Viking360]

It was my understanding that this was introduced for the archery hunters, makes sense to me. Who wants more trucks driving the roads shooting when you are trying to stalk Elk/Deer.

[mcrawfordaf]

It was my understanding that this was introduced for the archery hunters, makes sense to me. Who wants more trucks driving the roads shooting when you are trying to stalk Elk/Deer.

 

For the archery folk that are upset they lose out on opportunistic harvest; how upset would ya'll be if my dog comes busting up your stalk or stand for a covey of ruffed?  just a thought.

[Cougartail]

And i call BS on this     From the WDFW website

In the first public input survey, 62 percent of respondents supported closures in early September, and shifting the opening day to Sept. 15 was the most-favored alternative.

Liberals love pulling numbers out of thin air. I believe nothing they say.

[sagerat]

It was my understanding that this was introduced for the archery hunters, makes sense to me. Who wants more trucks driving the roads shooting when you are trying to stalk Elk/Deer.

 

For the archery folk that are upset they lose out on opportunistic harvest; how upset would ya'll be if my dog comes busting up your stalk or stand for a covey of ruffed?  just a thought.

Really? You can’t have a good archery hunt because there’s a few guys grouse hunting? Try getting away from the road a little more.

[BLDtraLR]

It was my understanding that this was introduced for the archery hunters, makes sense to me. Who wants more trucks driving the roads shooting when you are trying to stalk Elk/Deer.

This does help with that but probably shouldn't by stalking that close to roads anyway but i do see your point it was not introduced for the achery hunters it was first supposed to help disperese the broods to help with juvenile's not being harvested now they are saying it's for the hens both bs out of the 12 i saw last week only 2 were hen's that i could tell ruffs are easy to distinguish blues not so much but they were pretty big so yeah

[BLDtraLR]

It was my understanding that this was introduced for the archery hunters, makes sense to me. Who wants more trucks driving the roads shooting when you are trying to stalk Elk/Deer.

 

For the archery folk that are upset they lose out on opportunistic harvest; how upset would ya'll be if my dog comes busting up your stalk or stand for a covey of ruffed?  just a thought.

And yes we are upset as are alot of grouse hunters. But yes that is a possiblity and has happened in the past but not very often and if it does so be it wave have a good one and continue the hunt on both ends everyone is happy,  But this is why i could never understand why archery does not have there own season with no guns period. Muzzy has a season,Riffle has there own season. We archer's cannot hunt during thier seasons so why our's ?   

[pianoman9701]

It was my understanding that this was introduced for the archery hunters, makes sense to me. Who wants more trucks driving the roads shooting when you are trying to stalk Elk/Deer.

 

For the archery folk that are upset they lose out on opportunistic harvest; how upset would ya'll be if my dog comes busting up your stalk or stand for a covey of ruffed?  just a thought.

And yes we are upset as are alot of grouse hunters. But yes that is a possiblity and has happened in the past but not very often and if it does so be it wave have a good one and continue the hunt on both ends everyone is happy,  But this is why i could never understand why archery does not have there own season with no guns period. Muzzy has a season,Riffle has there own season. We archer's cannot hunt during thier seasons so why our's ?   

Archers are able to hunt grouse with firearms, archery season or not. I know the frustration of other people using the resources while I'm trying to hunt archery. Pickers, Dave Workman ( ), people sighting in firearms, etc. But equal access to the resources for all comes with some inconveniences. I believe we all need to focus more on standing together as hunters to keep and increase the hunting opportunities that we have.

[Broomd]

Haven't seen a single grouse this whole Summer other than a dead one hit by a vehicle. Didn't hear a single drum either.

Hard times for north Idaho grouse.

[sagerat]

Haven't seen a single grouse this whole Summer other than a dead one hit by a vehicle. Didn't hear a single drum either.

Hard times for north Idaho grouse.

Better delay the Idaho opener too then

[Gobble Gobble]

Dave thanks for posting this change it saved me and my son from poaching yesterday!

So I read this thread Thursday night and Friday my son and I went and stayed at a co workers cabin for the weekend. We are going for the youth upland opener next weekend so we have already looked at the regs and talked about what was legal come next weekend. As we all know normally grouse opens with archery on 9/1. Well, we woke up Saturday morning as I look out the bathroom window there is a hen spruce grouse picking gravel in front of the car. I tell my son to come look and he replies with "can I shoot it?" Told him no, then educated him on the season change and why and about this thread is how I learned of the change. Told him it's a good thing I read it or I'd of said yes, and he would have shot the hen out of season which is poaching. We both were sad but it is what it is. We did see however on the drive back to the highway about 30 young grouse running together on the gravel road. Looked to all be this years hatch. Some tried to fly but couldn't yet. Never did see any adults in the group. Glad to see that many young together.

[Dave Workman]

Dave thanks for posting this change it saved me and my son from poaching yesterday!

So I read this thread Thursday night and Friday my son and I went and stayed at a co workers cabin for the weekend. We are going for the youth upland opener next weekend so we have already looked at the regs and talked about what was legal come next weekend. As we all know normally grouse opens with archery on 9/1. Well, we woke up Saturday morning as I look out the bathroom window there is a hen spruce grouse picking gravel in front of the car. I tell my son to come look and he replies with "can I shoot it?" Told him no, then educated him on the season change and why and about this thread is how I learned of the change. Told him it's a good thing I read it or I'd of said yes, and he would have shot the hen out of season which is poaching. We both were sad but it is what it is. We did see however on the drive back to the highway about 30 young grouse running together on the gravel road. Looked to all be this years hatch. Some tried to fly but couldn't yet. Never did see any adults in the group. Glad to see that many young together.

I take this as a compliment, and I'm delighted you were spared some embarrassment.    Season opens this Thursday.  I'll be out there, somewhere, looking to bring law'n order to the rogue grouse.  Time to blast some thunder chickens!

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY.  Remember to take photos (smiling faces, birds in hand, gun in hand -- photos of dead birds on a truck tailgate don't say much  )

And details in your reports:  Where, gun/gauge/shot size...and especially if you pop 'em with a .22 pistol! 

[hunter399]

I've seen so many grouse ,since September 1.
Not sure if that is a result of the change last year or what.
Looks to be a great year for them.
Good luck y'all.
I got a new stoeger shotgun to try out.

[Dave Workman]

I've seen so many grouse ,since September 1.
Not sure if that is a result of the change last year or what.
Looks to be a great year for them.
Good luck y'all.
I got a new stoeger shotgun to try out.

Where'd you see "all these grouse?" What part of the state?

[vandeman17]

I've seen so many grouse ,since September 1.
Not sure if that is a result of the change last year or what.
Looks to be a great year for them.
Good luck y'all.
I got a new stoeger shotgun to try out.

I bought 20 acres up north here about 5 weeks ago. In my couple walks around the property since I would venture a guess that I have flushed 15 or more grouse