New To Grouse Hunting

[SWKID]

Hello

I am new to grouse grouse hunting in SW Washington and am looking for some help, My father who recently passed away was a great grouse hunter, Every season he would always bring home a good dozen or so birds.

I just recently got my hunting licence and would like to get out in the Field when the season starts. The only problem is that my dad never told me about were he would go or were to find grouse and stuff like that.

Me and my family live out by Fargher Lake area or NE Clark County, I know that my dad never left far from home, Basically this season I just want to get my first bird and if anyone would be as kind enough to point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. And by no means am I trying to take anyones spot I just would like some guidance on some good areas within an hour or two's drive.

Thanks!

[tlbradford]

I wish I lived closer so I could take you out, but I am sure someone in your area will chime in.  Don't get too far from water.  They will use a gravel road in the morning and evenings.  If you can where a logging road meets a creek with a lot of cover, that is usually some prime habitat.  I would look for the closest logging road and drive it with a .22 in the early mornings once the season starts.  Watch the road and all of the trees adjacent to the road.  That has worked for me over the years.

[PacificNWhunter]

SWKID-

I have only hunted grouse over here on the westside, so hopefully this will help. I have found the best luck like tlbradford said in the early morning and late afternoon. If you can find a gated road that has accessable gravel, is somewhat overgrown and has thick, young, woody cover like alders, and dogwood seems work for my area. Edges, where differing kinds of forest meet are also good. I hunt with a dog so it involves a lot of walking for me, I used to bike around on logging roads (yes the gun was unloaded) and found that that worked well to and covered alot of ground behind the gates. Good luck.

[alecvg]

what i do is go out in early morning with a .22 and walk looging roads or drive, on average, youll find a couple per day.

[Curly]

SWkid, welcome to the site. 

You should find good grouse hunting just east of where you live.  If you head up onto the Forest Service roads and work your way up high you should be able to find some decent blue grouse numbers.

Did your dad bring home blues or ruffed grouse?  The blues are usually found higher up and the ruffed grouse are down low in the brushy drainages.  You can usually find both of them on logging roads early in the morning eating gravel/sand off the roads.  Blues can be found in more open areas than ruffed grouse.

[Dman]

 Lots of good advice already. After the first rain of the season after September 1, head out and you will find birds on the logging roads. Learn where there are creeks that pass under those roads in the preseason on plan on hitting those spots on the dryer days, good luck.

[Jekemi]

Me and sffguitar go grouse hunting as soon as the season starts. I can only echo the advice you have already received. We have only hunted in Western WA. Logging roads with mixed ground cover, not too thick is best. near water on dry days is also good advice. the sunny days have been best for us. We don't have a dog so walking seems to alert the birds, no matter how hard you try to be a quiet walker. We find driving the roads is best, we see a grouse, jump out, and take aim.
I would also recommend joining the Ruffed Grouse Society. they have a great local chapter. the guy to contact is: Robert Olson at: bgolson2@msn.com. Their annual field day is this Saturday, Aug. 9th. The chapter hunt is in Cle Elum on September 5 - 7.

[Jekemi]

SWKID - more generic grouse hunting info: The ruffed grouse is a solitary, ground-dwelling bird, but is nimble and adept at clambering around in the tops of shrubs or trees, especially in winter when buds are a primary food. They seldom fly far, preferring to walk or even run away from danger. Flight is used as a last ditch effort to avoid predators. Grouse are active during the day (diurnal) and roost for the night on low tree branches (9 to 12 feet high) under good cover, preferring the protection of spruce or fir trees if they are around.
Male grouse maintain a territory of about 10 to 50 acres. They defend this territory and will not tolerate other males nearby. Females wander over a larger area, as much as 100 acres, but they tend to stay on a particular home range, though this may overlap with the ranges and territories of other females and males.
Ruffed grouse remain active year round. In winter they continue to walk around on the snow surface, aided by extended scales on their toes that act like snowshoes. When they are at rest they fluff up their feathers until they look like little brown bowling balls, the spherical shape helping to conserve body heat. They will also take advantage of deep snow for shelter from the cold. After a short flight they will plunge right into the snow to spend the night secure and well insulated.

[Dave Workman]

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but this is a good time to remind people new and old to the sport that it is illegal to shoot grouse in the road, any road maintained by public money.

I love grouse hunting. The fact that F&H News folded before the second and third installments of my annual three-part grouse hot spot treatise were published breaks my heart, but on the upside, those spots will still be secret (sort of) 

I use 12- and 20-gauge S/S doubles with fixed chokes (full/mod) and No. 6 loads consistently. Blues are preferred, but a good ruffed grouse breast fried with a couple of strips of bacon across the top, coupled with fried potatoes and onions, is simply superb. 

I never miss the Sept. 1 opener. 

[backwoods_boy]

Ive got a very fun spot to hunt grouse and i dont mind pointing you in that direction.
its in east king county and i am bored with it as i hunt it every year. so i wouldnt mind passing it on to somone.
so hit me up
later!

[Jekemi]

missionbigbull2008
yes, pass it on. I'd appreciate it. love to hunt the ruffed grouse and love to eat them. Thanks in advance.

[backwoods_boy]

PM Me if you would like to hear more about it.
and grouse is about the only animal i would give up a honey hole.
grouse is fun but i am done with those silly birds after about 5 seasons of playing with them
;-)

[OmyLLwhy]

PM Me if you would like to hear more about it.
and grouse is about the only animal i would give up a honey hole.
grouse is fun but i am done with those silly birds after about 5 seasons of playing with them
;-)

Would this infomation be available to anyone else?

Tom C.

[DeKuma]

You can pass me any info on grouse as well, if you would not mind.  My wife cannot get enough of shooting those stupid birds!  She is more excited about grouse than deer.

[Skyvalhunter]

Will be heading east for the opener this comming weekend. Can't wait to limit on those big blues!!