Grouse Hunting tips

[Secret Squirrel]

New to the forum and first post.
I have been out grouse hunting like 6-7 time and haven’t seen anything.  I think I am doing all the right things…although I don’t have a dog.  I have been going to where there are berries, alders, evergreens, thick cover, next to old roads that are very lightly traveled and remote that have small gravel.  When I walk down the road I take 10 steps and pause for 10-20 seconds then take 7 steps, pause, and then another 10.  Still I have not seen anything!  Any suggestions or tips?  Grouse are very tasty and I just shot my first one last year.

[quadrafire]

Doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong. I have hardly seen any on the eastside this year. At least where I have been. Few and far between.
keep at it.

[the509hunter]

i have gotten a few the same way maybe they just arent in there... wat time a day are u going?

[87Ford]

Sounds to me like you're doing everything right.  We've run into a few here and there, but not many this year..

[bobcat]

Try going bear hunting instead. I guarantee you'll find grouse.   

[ing]

For blues gain elevation.  Get as high as u can on a ridge top.  For ruffs stay low around creek bottoms.  I cant say much about spruce grouse I've only ever shot one and it was low.  Mornings and evenings seem to be the most productive but I've found grouse at all hours of the day.  They are where you find them and i agree, they are very tasty.

[CastleRocker]

   Also, realize that grouse do migrate to some extent.  If you can find the elevation that they are currently populating, try to stay around that elevation.  I no longer "hunt" them, as I lost my dog.  So right now I am back to walking roads and just spending time out in the brush.  Also, pay attention to the tops of stumps, horizontal snags, and other places that they like to sit.  When you find fresh scat, start hunting.  It's a lot like hunting anything else. 

Also, if you ever get an opportunity to hunt over a really good dog, you will be absolutely amazed how many grouse there really is, that you would never, ever see otherwise. 

[Secret Squirrel]

HAHAHA....the other day I went up Grouse hunting and saw a bear, I knew that if I went with my 7mm I would only see grouse!  Unbelievable!  Just not my year, I might just have to go to Montana this year for deer because with my luck it does not look good.

[Buckmark]

Nice hot cup of coffee and drive the logging roads like your out just site seeing...

[blindpig]

Try going bear hunting instead. I guarantee you'll find grouse.   

I was thinking the same thing.   

[JKEEN33]

Not sure why everyone keeps saying its a terrible grouse year. Best year I have had in a long time. A dog makes it easier. If you don't have one, get of the road. You can walk within 2 feet of the grouse and they won't kick up. Get in the knee high stuff off the road and kick them up yourself.

[becker]

I've only made one trip this year.

Drove 25 miles of dirt mt roads, not road hunting site seeing with family.
Did not see a single grouse.

As I was driving I was looking and mind banking areas I want to hike for grouse.

We did hunt/hike one high ridge and flushed 3 birds on our short hike.

Saw some nice creek bottoms that I'm sure would hold some nice coveys of ruffs.

And a number of other ridge tops that I'm sure will hold nice big blues that I prefer to target.
What I like to look for is high hillsides either lightly treed, or the edge of a clear cut.

Dogs really do help a lot. smart birds will just let you walk by, or when they flush not land in the closet tree, and rather sail down the hill side.

Nice green older closed/gated logging roads are good.. clover patches, always be prepared on the cut backs over culverts, with the slightest water, if the draw with the water in huntable, hunt up or down the hill a bit. grouse will hand just up or down from the road.

Dry areas, find and hunt water.. this can be hard hunting. lots of dead fall sometimes, quick shots..

Not finding birds, try another area..