Yet Another Grouse Thread! YIPPEEEE!!!!!

[Dave Workman]

A bird in the hand beats an empty plate!

[ing]

I have never hunted grouse over a dog. Hunted pheasants and chukar over a dog.
I guess that I've been spoiled shooting dumb blue grouse out on open hillsides off abandoned logging grades and skid roads.

I know there is a certain element that really sneers at hunters who bonk 'em in the head with a .22 or ground-sluices them, but for a guaranteed dinner, sometimes that's what you gotta do.

I agree that sometimes it is what you gotta do. I have done the same thing with roosters that refuse to flush and just keep running ( it gets old chasing the same rooster for a couple hundred yards)

Yeah, no kidding.  I've shot my fair share of ducks off the water also.  My moto: if you have a chance at making a clean kill take it.  Who cares if the bird is flying or not

It all depend on what you think is ethical, I have alot of respect for people that truly hunt with good ethics

So are you saying if a bird is shot off the ground or water it is unethical?

[NW-GSP]

I have never hunted grouse over a dog. Hunted pheasants and chukar over a dog.
I guess that I've been spoiled shooting dumb blue grouse out on open hillsides off abandoned logging grades and skid roads.

I know there is a certain element that really sneers at hunters who bonk 'em in the head with a .22 or ground-sluices them, but for a guaranteed dinner, sometimes that's what you gotta do.

I agree that sometimes it is what you gotta do. I have done the same thing with roosters that refuse to flush and just keep running ( it gets old chasing the same rooster for a couple hundred yards)

Yeah, no kidding.  I've shot my fair share of ducks off the water also.  My moto: if you have a chance at making a clean kill take it.  Who cares if the bird is flying or not

It all depend on what you think is ethical, I have alot of respect for people that truly hunt with good ethics

So are you saying if a bird is shot off the ground or water it is unethical?

To each their own but my opinion is that it is

[rasbo]

heck everything I hunt is on the ground..sometimes Im the one in the tree..hunt them the way one likes as long as its legal.taking the head off a grouse to me is otay..and very clean birds

[teal101]

I have never hunted grouse over a dog. Hunted pheasants and chukar over a dog.
I guess that I've been spoiled shooting dumb blue grouse out on open hillsides off abandoned logging grades and skid roads.

I know there is a certain element that really sneers at hunters who bonk 'em in the head with a .22 or ground-sluices them, but for a guaranteed dinner, sometimes that's what you gotta do.

I agree that sometimes it is what you gotta do. I have done the same thing with roosters that refuse to flush and just keep running ( it gets old chasing the same rooster for a couple hundred yards)

Yeah, no kidding.  I've shot my fair share of ducks off the water also.  My moto: if you have a chance at making a clean kill take it.  Who cares if the bird is flying or not

It all depend on what you think is ethical, I have alot of respect for people that truly hunt with good ethics

So are you saying if a bird is shot off the ground or water it is unethical?

To each their own but my opinion is that it is

Agreed.  Its circumstantial, but for the most part I find it unethical.  I try my best to get all grouse to fly before shooting, although some won't.  With other upland birds its the same but thats usually not a problem.  Waterfowl its inexcusable imo.  If they are wounded and wont fly go for it.  It is very difficult to cleanly kill a duck on the water over 25 yds as most of the bird is under water.

[Da stump]

    It almost is humorus to me about the ethics of shooting a grouse.  I grew up in the back hills of Montana and a grouse was dinner.  I would of been laughed out of the hills if i had thought any other way.  Kill as quickly and efficiantly as you can.  Maybe if your really good you can have meat for another meal.  I know that it is differn't now, but old habits remain.  I have seen more grouse wounded on the wing than on the ground.  A head shot is pretty much hit or miss.

[JackOfAllTrades]

Ah ethics....

I think there's a huge difference if you're pointing a shottie at a bird mid flight, vs on the water or ground, and/or with a dog that's flushing.

Agree'd?

Now, without a doggie, taking a grouse off a limb or on the ground with a rimfire pistol, (or rifle), taking aim through grass, leaf, limb, larger branches and shadows can still be quite a challenge. Often times the birdie has the advantage. -Rimfire or even other centerfire. How well do you shoot your scoped Deer/Elk rifle that's zero'd in at 300yds at the bobbing head of a bird that's well within 15yds?  My 13yr old kid can do it, can yours?

Ethical?  You're damn right!

If some hunters don't think so, fine. But I'll be smiling as I take another bite at dinner time.  

-Steve

Hmm... Don't we shoot Turkey's with shottie while they're on the ground? (head/neck shot)  Unethical?

What if I took a Turkey with rimfire pistol, (head shot), after calling him in? Unethical? (not that I've ever tried it. I'm sure it would be quite difficult.)

[JackOfAllTrades]

I'm just stirin the pot a bit.  

I think there's a post or two about how I regard ethics and fair chase. How I have introduced my boys to those same values.  I think that a hunter needs to take every situation into perspective and decide for him/herself.

Is it ethical that we use high power rifles to take game at ranges well beyond 400yds when the game doesn't even know they're threatened?  (not to change subject of this thread...)

-Steve

[ing]

As long as its a clean kill its ethical in my mind.  Weather your using a pistol, rifle, shotgun, bow, or slingshot.

[Dave Workman]

Agreed.  Its circumstantial, but for the most part I find it unethical.  I try my best to get all grouse to fly before shooting, although some won't.  With other upland birds its the same but thats usually not a problem.  Waterfowl its inexcusable imo.  If they are wounded and wont fly go for it.  It is very difficult to cleanly kill a duck on the water over 25 yds as most of the bird is under water.

I've never liked the term "ethical." What one person considers "ethical" another might find completely reprehensible. I like the term "responsible" better. I happen to think it's responsible to shoot grouse in the head, saves the meat

"Ethics" is a term some people use like a bludgeon.

[teal101]

The thing with grouse is there two different weapons being used here. 

I think its perfectly ethical to shoot a grouse on the ground or out of a tree with a rifle, as that is what the gun is designed to do and you have a high kill rate.

A shotgun is more for flying game.  The pellets fly slower than a rifles will and for shorter distances.


The turkey argument is invalid.  They are taken on the gorund to provide a clean kill.  The feathers on a turkey are thick enough that body shots often do not kill the bird.  In the air it is difficult to shoot the bird in the head and most end up wounding them.

Different strokes for different quarry as well as method of harvesting the quarry.

[fethrduster]

I agree that shooting one on the ground or in a tree with a rifle seems fine, but I personally will not do so with a shotgun, unless I'm starving or something.  To me, it's the difference between killing and hunting.  To each his own.

[old boat]

   I think the use of shotguns on turkey is a safety issue especially in the spring (where it is the only firearm allowed) when the use of calls, camo  and blinds are more prevalent. In the fall you maybe able to use a rifle, I couldn't find the regulations, so check them! The main idea is if your with in 40 yds you should be able to identify your target.
    If I remember correctly, shooting at a target on the water substantially increases the chance of ricochet,  with a shotgun the lethal range is considerably less but I think it is technically a no-no!(that is a legal term) I have shot cripples that I could not retrieve on the water. As for ethics, I can't say very much, I prefer to hunt grouse with a dog and a shotgun, call me a heathen!

[scudmaster]

Along this thread, there's a great snapshot of some grouse chicks.
http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7976067


See how many you can find.

4, maybe 5

[Dave Workman]

Chokes...Chokes...

Full, Modified or I/C?  Maybe Cylinder / open choke?

No. 5, 6 or 7 1/2?