Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake

[Heartsblood]

So I forked out the extra $82 because last week I was scouting for ducks when I flushed at least 6 pheasants out there. "Man!", I thought. "I coulda limited no problem..."

So yesterday I head out on my lunch break. I walk around a bit and I'll be darned if I come across a ruffed grouse about 70 yards down the path. WTH? I was positive there weren't any grouse around here. So, in my excitement I took a low percentage shot  -over 60 yards. I didn't feel confident that I could get much closer, and the brush was too think to try and put a stalk on him. Yet another case of "I wish I could have that one over again..." 

I run over to where I am sure he was and find two feathers attached to each other and that's it. I look around expecting to hear wings flapping but nothing.

I give up the search and walk around a bit more. Maybe an hour later I decide to head back to work as I've seen no pheasants and it's been longer than I like to be away. I end up heading back down the same path when I stop because my head is pounding. Or my heart? Wait a frigging minute here! I'm not out of breath! WTF? Oh. My. Gawd. It's the drumming of a ruffed grouse and I am standing 10 feet beyond where I had shot (at) him. I was positive ruffed grouse only drum in the springtime. What the heck is going on here? So now I know it's my destiny to take this bird. He's calling me in. I creep back into the thick cover slowly, only moving when I hear him drumming. I know he's within range. It takes me 20 minutes to travel 20 yards. I know I;m close, if I could just get beyond this little patch of ::SNAP!::

I freeze. I wait. I listen for the return of his drumming. after about five more minutes of silence I bust through hoping to get a flush. Nothing. I was busted. He obviously wandered off in the general direction of "away". 

I had three good lessons today:
Grouse are present close to home.
Ruffed Grouse drum at other times besides spring.
I am not as patient as I had thought I was (*censored*!).

I walk back to Behemoth with a wide range of feelings - excitement, thrill, frustration, disappointment, gratitude, failure, hope. But mostly what I experience even now thinking about it is the feeling of wanting - desire. I desire to be afield. More. More often. As mush as possible.

This is what hunting has done to me.

[Forrestrover]

Wow, I've never seen grouse there. I'll keep my eyes open for them.

[Wingin it]

I have crossed paths with a few out there over the years. Usually on the back trails in the woods.

[Smalma]

Not surprised that you encountered a ruff.  During the mid-1980s actually target them a few times late in the season (leafs off the trees) with some success.  As mentioned found them back in the woods.

Curt

[Heartsblood]

I went back on Friday to look for him again but instead connected with this guy:


I'll definitely be more aware from here out. Always learn something it seems...

[Heartsblood]

I suppose it;'s not impossible that the grouse I bagged today was the same bird I saw last week. But regardless,I am happy to say that I finally connected with a woodland drummer right near the same area on my lunch break today. 

[Heartsblood]

Here are a coupla pics. I really blasted the heck outta this bird as he was really close - I nearly took one of his wings completely off. I was fairly bummed out but was pleasantly surprised that I could salvage nearly all or the breast meat.

[Camp David]

Nice job on the birds!  Glad to see that your getting out. I've seen some grouse in the release sites in Carnation/Duvall (a few years back) also.