GROUSE 2023 - Does the later starting date mess you up?

[Dave Workman]

Well, boys'n girls...I was not too impressed with the Sept. 15 opener last year and probably won't be again this year. And part of the puzzle may be related to game politics as explained here: https://www.ammoland.com/2023/06/wa-hunters-anglers-sue-governor-over-commission-appointments-management/

That said, the countdown has begun. It is 2 months until the Sept 15 opener, and now would be a good time to make sure your rimfire rifle and/or pistol is shooting true; time to stock up on cartridges, too, before the season approaches and you wind up racing to the gun store along with everyone else.

Shotguns?  My 12- and 20-gauge guns are always ready to rock, plenty of shells in the workshop, and I've even got a couple of boxes of 3-inch .410 shells!

In some of my usual haunts, I saw nary a bird last fall. THAT is alarming and concerning. Grouse can be cyclic, of course, but now's a good time to share your 2022 results..photos if you please 

Watch for my September column in Northwest Sportsman.

[jackelope]

Last year was my first year in a new area and from what I understand, it was a slow year. I got 3 in 2 days. One was a spruce grouse, so that was cool.

Going back again this year hoping for a little more fast paced hunting. This was the weekend of 9/23.

[Humptulips]

I've seen more hens with broods this year so I think a good hatch. It has been a dry year which is good here IMO.
That being said I end up doing most of my grouse hunting in December so the late start doesn't bother me.

[jrebel]

Should be a good year.  Looks like the hatch has done real well.  Saw a hen 8-10 babies that were the size of Huns just the other day.   Looked like a bomb of grouse had exploded when I jumped them up.   

Good luck hunting this year folks. 

[jackelope]

The first time I stopped on my fishing trip in Idaho to pee in the woods I got attacked by a grouse guarding her clutch of chicks. She was all puffed up and hissing at me pissed off. She was not backing down either.  I went elsewhere so I didn’t disturb her anymore than I already did.

[boneaddict]

I cant help but think the date change was to lessen human to human conflict on labor day weekend in the woods.   

[C-Money]

We would hunt grouse in the morning, and go after doves in the evening on the 9/1 opener. The Grouse opening on the 15th makes us focus on doves. Pushing back the grouse opener lessens opportunity for my family as we probably would never hunt them during the 15 days they plugged into January. The 9/1 opener was a day we always really looked forward to. I would always put in for a vacation day on the first.

[GASoline71]

I cant help but think the date change was to lessen human to human conflict on labor day weekend in the woods.

I would tend to agree.  Since there is way more of the non-hunting public in the woods nowadays during our traditional "openers" for certain seasons.

Gary

[BLDtraLR]

I've already voiced my opinon on the later start date     This really suks bad for us bow hunters that DON"T get to hunt grouse sept 1st while we are deer hunting like we have for 45++ years not to mention all the family traditions people lost. Kinda makes for slow afternoons. I have always had so much fun chasing them around with the stick and string. I really haven't seen any improvement in the amount of birds think i only saw like 3 grouse last year and maybe 2 late season.   Thanks WDFW another win on your side 

[hunter399]

I don't see any reason to make it later.
They raised the bag limit,then turn around two years later and shorten the season. And propose a spring grouse permit season.
What a joke,we have enough grouse to propose a spring season,but not enough to open Sept 1.
It was a scam to get some more money,less opportunities,and we got screwed with a later opener cause of there greed.

Bag limit should of been lowered before cutting the season.

I'm not the type to suger coat somebody's BS.

[BLDtraLR]

I'm all for lowering the bag limit   2 a day is plenty    just give us archers sept 1st back 

[Dave Workman]

I cant help but think the date change was to lessen human to human conflict on labor day weekend in the woods.

I suspect there may be something to your theory. After all, a majority of the commission appears to have a problem with hunters, eh? Depending, of course, on whether you believe some of the stuff that's been printed in the past several weeks...along with the lawsuit I linked to in my opening post.

[Dave Workman]

We would hunt grouse in the morning, and go after doves in the evening on the 9/1 opener. The Grouse opening on the 15th makes us focus on doves. Pushing back the grouse opener lessens opportunity for my family as we probably would never hunt them during the 15 days they plugged into January. The 9/1 opener was a day we always really looked forward to. I would always put in for a vacation day on the first.

Well, looks like your family activity doesn't mean squat in Olympia, eh? 

[Dave Workman]

I'm all for lowering the bag limit   2 a day is plenty    just give us archers sept 1st back 

Whoa, time out! What about the rest of us having a Sept. 1 opener?

[MtnMuley]

Saw a lot of grouse in their mating hounds this spring, but have yet to see a hatch. I think I'm too high for them though right now. I don't think this weather so far has been beneficial to the hatch here in NCW. As for the Sept 15 start and the extra 15 days in January.............it doesn't get any more moronic.

[Dave Workman]

Saw a lot of grouse in their mating hounds this spring, but have yet to see a hatch. I think I'm too high for them though right now. I don't think this weather so far has been beneficial to the hatch here in NCW. As for the Sept 15 start and the extra 15 days in January.............it doesn't get any more moronic.

Forgive my curiosity, but "NCW?"  Where is that? 
And I concur about the "moronic" nature of adding 15 days in January.  It's a season on paper, IMHO.

[Ridgerunner]

NCW = North Central Washington

Adding 15 days at the end of the season and taking it from the first part of the season is only aimed at one thing, to keep the season length the same and have significantly less harvest.  No one is hunting grouse in January. 

[Dave Workman]

NCW = North Central Washington

Adding 15 days at the end of the season and taking it from the first part of the season is only aimed at one thing, to keep the season length the same and have significantly less harvest.  No one is hunting grouse in January.

I hear ya! I gave it some thought, right up to the point I opened the front door and got hit in the face with snowflakes. "Dave," I said to myself, "no grouse in its right mind will be out in this weather, and only a moron of your age would think otherwise!"  I put the shotgun back in the safe, put the sixgun back in its hideout, tossed another log into the stove and turned on an old Duke Wayne movie. Or, at least, that's how I prefer to recall the occasion! 

[blackdog]

Saw a couple of broods up Grisdale over the 4th. Fingers crossed for a good year.

[Dave Workman]

Saw a couple of broods up Grisdale over the 4th. Fingers crossed for a good year.

 
I'm hoping for a better season than last year for sure!  September grouse hunting is a guilty pleasure for me, but somehow I never feel guilty being out in the woods chasing fool hens.  I just hope I have a few more years to keep enjoying it.