2022 Grouse Harvest

[ZaneHunts]

Well, I guess I'll finally start our annual Grouse thread!
I saw two ruffys this morning but just couldn't get a shot off.
Anyone else going out today?

[mcrawfordaf]

Taking my pup out this evening to set up cams    We flushed a blue grouse last weekend after our dove hunt. How do I explain to a dog it's just not season yet   

[Green Tree]

I'll be heading out this weekend to scout and will be sure to bring the .22

Good luck everyone

[Stevewazfishing]

First one of the year!

[Southpole]

I haven’t seen a grouse in a looong time. We went out this afternoon in Curlew and it was bleak.

[Threewolves]

Really strange I only seen one all day. Started at first light went till 1730. The one I seen was around 1100.just odd.

A buddy and I were talking and concluded that we usually see more birds  in the morning

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

[RobinHoodlum]

Worked some decent blue grouse real estate with the dog Friday morning (i.e. lots of huckleberries), but she never got birdy. Moved lower down the hill to one of our ruffed grouse haunts later in the day. We eventually moved 2 birds, but they were in thick cover, so no shots fired. Good to get out on what felt like a Fall day - little bit of rain, maple leaves on the ground, and everything starting to color up a bit.

[jackelope]

Headed out in a few days. Don’t think I’ve ever added to a grouse thread. Hoping to next weekend.

[hunter399]

Headed out in a few days. Don’t think I’ve ever added to a grouse thread. Hoping to next weekend.

Me too bro.
I'll add to it at sometime....i think.
Out a bit today,no luck.
Maybe tommorow.

[Latakia]

Went hard with the dog this morning up in Whatcom county. Not a single bird seen or heard. Usually get at least 2 flushes at this spot. Usually the streams are flowing also first week in September but everything was bone dry.

[Fin and Feathers]

Hunted the 'dry side'...hiked up to 6500' then worked down...found them at 6300'.  Bumped 9, had shots at 5, got three.  Went lower for ruffs, bumped 5, got shots at 3 and missed all three.  Probably should have had IC rather than M choke for how thick and close the shots were.

Sorry about photo orientation...not sure what that is all about.

[duckmen1]

First one of the year!

You just like to have the first success picture posts of the year.

[luvmystang67]

I got 4 with my bow over a week of elk hunting in Idaho.  2 blues, 2 ruffed and saw a nice spruce without a bow in hand.

[UplandSetter]

Went out with the dog yesterday to a spot near Mount Vernon that had a decent number of grouse last year. Only one point, old scent and no bird. It was hot though and smoky, so maybe that's an excuse. Or maybe there's just no birds in my spot this year haha.

[In_Grained_Outdoors]

Not an avid grouse guy but will shoot them if they are presented while I'm hunting deer and elk. I seen probably 10-15 so far this year. I decided not harvest because I was focused on elk. I see some of you guys using dogs I have a 12  month old half golden half yellow lab that is super driven. I have thought about duck hunting but I don't care for the taste of it. Where would one get started in flushing grouse with a dog?

[jackelope]

I shot 3 yesterday, all with the 20 gauge. 2 ruffs and a spruce grouse. Zero’d for today and heading home. Great fun weekend of grouse hunting. We killed 7 all together. 4 ruff’s 2 blues and the spruce I shot.

[Bob33]

Nice job.

[UplandSetter]

Not an avid grouse guy but will shoot them if they are presented while I'm hunting deer and elk. I seen probably 10-15 so far this year. I decided not harvest because I was focused on elk. I see some of you guys using dogs I have a 12  month old half golden half yellow lab that is super driven. I have thought about duck hunting but I don't care for the taste of it. Where would one get started in flushing grouse with a dog?

If I were you I'd take the dog to the places you see the grouse in the past if that's feasible. I like beating brush for them but you find them just as often, if not more often, gritting on the roads. So if you've got a flushing dog I would just run the dog on some of the gated roads where you've seen grouse. Hopefully they get birdy and flush them up for you.

[high_hunter]

Went out yesterday morning with the older dog and picked up 2 small roughs with 2 shots.  Was hoping to take the younger one out but she's in the middle of her 2nd heat; maybe by next weekend as she's super interested in them.

Ended up getting into 9 total but they were all separate and cover was THICK.  First time out this year and no conveys; maybe the later season start is having the intended effect of limiting take on brood hens with young.   

Hunting the west side but was down low near river bottoms and creek drainage.  I'd heard numbers were down but didn't seem to have a problem.   It's an area I know.to hold birds because of good feed but maybe the water is concentrating them further?? Thoughts?

Also no berries but lots of greens and seeds in their crops.  Does anyone know what these seeds are? otherwise I'll look to match them up next time out.

-Hh

[Searuns9]

Nice picture shots everyone. Thank you for sharing. I'll be heading out for my first time ever in a few days! Seriously motivated.

[hunter399]

One of the boys a few days ago.
Still no shots fired for me.
Let him put a few down first.
I let the kids kill them ,get a kick out of watching them.

[mcrawfordaf]

It took a couple outings. First time out all the birds were up high in the timber and the pup had no idea he was flushing em. Today we got them in the creek bottom. His first point flush and retrieve at 14 months old. I’m pretty pleased.

[TeacherMan]

Pretty bad year in Idaho for birds.

[Naches Sportsman]

Pretty bad year in Idaho for birds.

It all depends on where you are. Outstanding year for grouse in Clearwater County and saw about 100 working the last 2 weeks in Bonner County.

[Southpole]

I’ve spent more time this year, in traditionally good grouse ground, than any other time in my life and literally have only seen 3 little rough grouse. I don’t think I even want to shoot one if they’re that sparse.

[UplandSetter]

Moved 4 grouse on Saturday along with a quail covey. Was focusing on dog training so shooting always becomes secondary when hunting alone. All in about 2 hours out. It was HOT!

[high_hunter]

Same for me Saturday morning, got into 4 roughs across two coveys.  Had both dogs out and working the new pup but my FIL was able to get one of them.  Thought about heading higher foe some blues but was warming up fast so called it quits around 11. 

[bobcat]

"Ruffed grouse "

[Southpole]

"Ruffed grouse "

     

[Phil Fravel]

Well I started looking for Grouse last year.  I Had many outing with no success.  This year on my second outing I got my first bird.  Would of like to shared a pic but the Por thing looked gorila le by the time it died.  It hit the ground and ran under a fir tree. When I went to grab it thinking it was dead it ran off again leaving me with a hand full of tail feathers. At that point I found it Inter the next furn. I grabbed it’s body and rung it’s neck.   At that time the body flew off leaving me with the head in my hand.  These birds are delicate compared to the Pheasant I’m use to hunting. Any way.  I was thrilled to get my first bird. 

Went out again today. And flushed 2 Rough withbut did not get a shot off.   They seem to be fairly clumsy birds when on tree limbs.   

Well the learning curve continues.

Photo below is a pic of the first Grouse I have ever seen.   Just so happens a cougar also had spotted it.   To make a long story short the grouse survived both predators

[kellama2001]

Did pretty good while hunting elk in Idaho. Was into multiple Grouse every day

[Searuns9]

Nice! Hope you got an elk too!

[kellama2001]

Nice! Hope you got an elk too!

I did not get an elk...so I choose to focus on the positives...I had an incredibly successful Grouse hunt 

[dromero]

Probably saw an average 3-5 a day elk archery season in unit 113. It would have been better to carry a shotgun all season than a bow. Didn't get into the elk. Most of the grouse were on gated roads. Most grouse I've seen in that unit in last 10 yrs hunting it. Definitely gonna work on carrying a .22 pistol next year!!

[ghosthunter]

We did well on grouse too. Saw a lot this year. Cooked up 8 of them in a Dutch oven for six of us. My grand soon killed a couple of fatties one day.

Did well on fish too.

[ChefWoodrough]

Maxed out on ruffed grouse this morning.