WDFW on Grouse Season adjustment

[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!