GROUSE?

[ribka]

I kicked up 2 ruffed and 2 blue tonite hiking. Still were drumming

[Dave Workman]

I kicked up 2 ruffed and 2 blue tonite hiking. Still were drumming

They were still drumming?

That's interesting. 

[Dave Workman]

isnt that kinda like asking you hey where is your elk honey hole? i mean yah he is snapping photos not rounds but thats his way of doing it.. I personaly enjoy the wildlife photos on here both kill shots and live game. Hunting is what I do, i dont expect to have someone tell me where their spot is, some info on a spot is nice but thats all i expect..

This is Washington. That means I have a secret spot that maybe only a thousand other guys know about.

I think I've written about nearly every "honey hole" for grouse I ever had, and some of the "secret spots" I have for big game.  I keep going back to those areas, and find grouse and elk and deer.

What's amusing about this is that a spot I *haven't* written about was a bust last year, and I ran into a guy who 'fessed up that in 2009, when I first stumbled onto this place to find lots of birds, he hit it hard and killed 13-14 grouse out of the area.

So, my knowing and writing, or not writing, about an area has nothing to do with people finding the same spot and shooting the hell out of it.  I'm not taking the rap.

[Skyvalhunter]

Dave shouldn't take the rap as grouse are a very cycle driven bird.

[MtnMuley]

You have got to be kidding me.  If you post a "secret grouse spot" in your magazine for thousands to read, and don't think it will hurt the grouse population in that area, then you don't know nearly as much as I thought you did.  Example:  You have a high remote basin that holds 20 Blues consistantly on a regular basis in the fall.  You go in there with 3 buddies for a 3-4 day trip and limit out every day.  You don't think that hurt the population in that area???

[quadrafire]

Sorry, but I can't give specific information about the grouse I find because I photograph them.  This is a hunting forum.  If I write on here exactly where these grouse are, people are going to read about it here, then go shoot at these birds.

Trying to get excellent, close-up photos of wild grouse behaving naturally is extremely difficult, even with grouse that aren't hunted.  If anyone goes hunting these areas, the grouse will be pretty near impossible to photograph properly.  Then all my work - all the dozens of hours afield - will be for naught.

They're not your grouse, either, Tom. If they are on public land, they're fair game.
It is also very likely that where you see them now, they won't be come September. 

Admittedly, you have a dilemma.

Is this some sort of guilt trip to get him to divulge his grouse areas?  Really?  There is no dilemma.  He worked hard to find that spot and doesnt owe it to anyone to give its location out, especially not to a hunting magazine writer.

I hope I am reading more into it than was mean't, but that is what I sense when I read it.
Sounds like he is saying if they are on public ground Tom is obligated to divulge the location. I say to Tom Keep your location secret!!!

[ribka]

I kicked up 2 ruffed and 2 blue tonite hiking. Still were drumming

They were still drumming?

That's interesting.

I thought so too. Seemed a little late to still be drumming but am not an expert in grouse behavior. Maybe someone can chime in

[CP]

I they’ve already raised one brood, or if they lost their first brood, they may be starting over.  I’m not an expert either but I do not believe grouse are a single-brood bird.

[Dave Workman]

You have got to be kidding me.  If you post a "secret grouse spot" in your magazine for thousands to read, and don't think it will hurt the grouse population in that area, then you don't know nearly as much as I thought you did.  Example:  You have a high remote basin that holds 20 Blues consistantly on a regular basis in the fall.  You go in there with 3 buddies for a 3-4 day trip and limit out every day.  You don't think that hurt the population in that area???

You are misinterpreting or misrepresenting everything I said, and I believe you know it.

[teal101]

I was simply stating a fact.
I know a lot of wildlife photographers. I am occasionally one, myself.
If animals are on public land, they are indeed fair game, and it is very likely that where one finds grouse today, they will be somewhere else tomorrow. Maybe in the same general area, but that's about as close as it's gonna get, at least in my experience.

Pretty sure we all know that here, thats not being disputed.  You sound like you're throwing a fit over him not divulging his grouse location.

And if you think magazine publications dont increase pressure on published areas, you're out of your mind.

I've never met Tom, but enjoy all of his photos of grouse.  Why would he even think of jeopardizing his opportunities?

[fethrduster]

In my experience, there's no such thing as a honey hole that stays that way for long.  Even a few birds taken each year can make a difference in a small population, no matter the species.  Either I shoot it up, someone else will, and/or predators/weather/habitat changes will take their toll.  Either way, enjoy a spot while you can, try to limit your take even if populations are up, don't expect it to be the same way the next year, and be prepared to move on and let a spot rejuvinate itself if necessary.  Don't assume you're the only one hunting them, because you're probably not.

[MtnMuley]

I respect your comment, but it's far from true. As for grouse, I still have honey spots that will always hold birds. Gotcha many as they should, but good numbers. I am concerned about the overall population as a whole. For that reason, I am very concerned, and will skip the season again. I love grouse hunting, and an willing to wait for a better day. 

[Dave Workman]

I was simply stating a fact.
I know a lot of wildlife photographers. I am occasionally one, myself.
If animals are on public land, they are indeed fair game, and it is very likely that where one finds grouse today, they will be somewhere else tomorrow. Maybe in the same general area, but that's about as close as it's gonna get, at least in my experience.

Pretty sure we all know that here, thats not being disputed.  You sound like you're throwing a fit over him not divulging his grouse location.

Who threw a fit?
I simply said that if birds are on public land, they are fair game, and that birds in a spot in the spring probably won't be there in the fall..

Others tried to make more of it. 

[jackmaster]

well aside from the little argument that is going on here, one of the number one reasons for grouse decline in certain areas is because of the ever increasing opposum population, the only way to make are population better is to get rid of the possums which may require a bounty on them like they do for sqaw fish, i live in graham grew up there and it had the best grouse huntn from graham to eatonville that a guy could want, and we also had a good population of good ole fashoned ring neck pheasant, well in the late 80s possum started to show up, and the grouse and pheasant went on the decline yes grouse are cycle driven but not like this, grouse and pheasant nest on the ground and the possum are very fond of eggs and baby chicks, so until we are allowed to do something about the possums there will never be the numbers like there use to be and forget about seeing wild pheasant anymore, i kill possums when i can but now that we cant trap its preety dang tuff, so how about it wdfw put a 3 dollar bounty on possum like the sqaw fish, hell it will give the good ole retired boys some fun

[WA hunter14]

whats the details on this bounty for squafish? where do you collect? does how much you get depend on size?