Would like to get into Grouse Hunting this year, looking for advice/tips/info

[turkey choke]

Hey guys,

I think I would like to try Grouse hunting this year.  Just wondering if you guys could provide me with some information/advice/tips on how to get started, equipment/gear I may need, etc.

Thanks again guys

[JimmyHoffa]

Shotgun--I like mod or improved choke with 7 1/2 or 8 shot.  rifle--.22 LR.
Area--roads closed to vehicles that are overgrown and near water.
Be quiet and move slowly.  they like to run around and hide under bushes or low branches off the road but in cover once spooked.  I find hunting alone is best.

[Stilly bay]

I assume you are dogless?

 first and foremost: learn how to identify grouse cover. this can vary depending on what side of the state you are on and what species you are after. home in on food sources near escape cover. berries, buds, clover, grasshoppers... when all else fails find alders, poplars, and especially aspen on the east side, on the west side vine maples and alders are good things to key in on.  often creeks and river bottoms will have the cover you need, and are obviously a good source of water during dry times.  the edges of reprod are a good place to check out when the weather gets nasty or too cold
Sometimes the first grouse of the day will reveal what they are feeding on by the contents of its stomach, but don't plan your day around it, since grouse move from food source to food source all day long with in their respective home range.

while its true grouse prefer heavy cover, they don't like it so heavy they can't move around freely and escape predator.

 when walking through good grouse cover take a few steps and stop (like your still hunting for deer) take a good look around. many grouse will hold tight and let you pass by, if you stop and act like your onto them, they will often get nervous and flush.

if you have a single barrel gun, make sure its choked modified or improved cylinder. buy some #8 spreader loads and use those for your first shot, some times grouse will let you get too close.
don't buy into the old wives tale about needing a short barreled gun to hunt grouse effectively.

[turkey choke]

Thanks guys.  I have an old single shot 410 I got when my great grandpa passed away.  Not sure what kind of shape it is in as it has been at my parents place since I left for college/military/got married.  I will have to get it and check it out.  I do have a 20g with various chokes and a .22.

I will be dogless.  I would LOVE to get a dog someday but I live inside city limits where I live and have the 2dog limit.  I do have a 4 year old lab but he doesn't retrieve to save his life.  My Siberian Husky with play fetch with me but not my lab.  I was wondering though if I could get my lab excited about grouse by getting a bird/wing/feathers to play with him and at least use him to flush out the birds.  Don't know if it is possible or not.

I live in Okanogan County and I have been seeing a few here and there while turkey hunting.  Thanks again guys, I am still open to advice/tips!

[Dhoey07]

Go up in the woods now.  In the spring they will be drumming and easier to locate.  It will sound like a lawn mower starting up. 

[Shoffy]

Thanks guys.  I have an old single shot 410 I got when my great grandpa passed away.  Not sure what kind of shape it is in as it has been at my parents place since I left for college/military/got married.  I will have to get it and check it out.  I do have a 20g with various chokes and a .22.

I will be dogless.  I would LOVE to get a dog someday but I live inside city limits where I live and have the 2dog limit.  I do have a 4 year old lab but he doesn't retrieve to save his life.  My Siberian Husky with play fetch with me but not my lab.  I was wondering though if I could get my lab excited about grouse by getting a bird/wing/feathers to play with him and at least use him to flush out the birds.  Don't know if it is possible or not.

I live in Okanogan County and I have been seeing a few here and there while turkey hunting.  Thanks again guys, I am still open to advice/tips!

If you live in Okanogan than you've got it made, man. I believe there are more blue grouse in Okanogan than any other place in the state. When I was I was a kid I was over there deer hunting with my uncle. I gave up on the deer hunting and came back with 6 or 7 grouse total from the weekend

[JackOfAllTrades]

Go up in the woods now.  In the spring they will be drumming and easier to locate.  It will sound like a lawn mower starting up.

Excellent advise, as where the males are drumming now is not far from from roosts, which they'll maintain well into fall unless flushed out by predators.  A lab in the woods can be great if he's a curious dog, but if you can't keep him well within shotgun range, he's likely to flush grouse before you're close enough for a shot. An untrained, untrainable dog will do you no good. Your ears and binoculars are your best friend right now. Go find nests in what will be in thicker cover as trees develop leaves. Areas where there will still be a little water/shade in mid summer would be places to target.
 Regarding the shooter choice, I have a friend that is quite successful with a 410ga shottie.  Most people would go with the 20ga. I use a 12ga with #7 target. Some people will opt for #6.  As fall foliage drops, the scoped rimfire rifle will bring more success. Grouse rely upon their concelement and camoflage from Winter into fall, but as the ability to hide is reduced, they'll become much more skidish. Getting within shottie range before they flush is sometimes next to impossible. But, during deer season I'm usually lucky to have taken a few with pistola. (just shoot the head off!)

-Steve

[Stilly bay]

Thanks guys.  I have an old single shot 410 I got when my great grandpa passed away.  Not sure what kind of shape it is in as it has been at my parents place since I left for college/military/got married.  I will have to get it and check it out.  I do have a 20g with various chokes and a .22.

I will be dogless.  I would LOVE to get a dog someday but I live inside city limits where I live and have the 2dog limit.  I do have a 4 year old lab but he doesn't retrieve to save his life.  My Siberian Husky with play fetch with me but not my lab.  I was wondering though if I could get my lab excited about grouse by getting a bird/wing/feathers to play with him and at least use him to flush out the birds.  Don't know if it is possible or not.

I live in Okanogan County and I have been seeing a few here and there while turkey hunting.  Thanks again guys, I am still open to advice/tips!

If you live in Okanogan than you've got it made, man. I believe there are more blue grouse in Okanogan than any other place in the state. When I was I was a kid I was over there deer hunting with my uncle. I gave up on the deer hunting and came back with 6 or 7 grouse total from the weekend

I would just take the lab with you. after he watches you thump a few grouse he will figure things out and want in on the action. if the dog ranges too far it could be more harm than good but, you can figure that out as you go.

back in the day when gas was cheap and I wasn't such a refined country gentlemen my hunting partner had a lab mutt form a shelter that would watch for grouse as we cruised the logging roads, she ended up being a pretty good cripple finder, even if she ate the occasional grouse's head before bringing it back.

[Skyvalhunter]

So will you be hunting blues or ruffed or both?

[Doublelunger]

Drive around in the woods...when you see a grouse get out of your truck and shoot it. Easiest thing in the world. no rocket science or fancy tactics necessary.

[Alchase]

Thanks guys.  I have an old single shot 410 I got when my great grandpa passed away.  Not sure what kind of shape it is in as it has been at my parents place since I left for college/military/got married.  I will have to get it and check it out.  I do have a 20g with various chokes and a .22.

I will be dogless.  I would LOVE to get a dog someday but I live inside city limits where I live and have the 2dog limit.  I do have a 4 year old lab but he doesn't retrieve to save his life.  My Siberian Husky with play fetch with me but not my lab.  I was wondering though if I could get my lab excited about grouse by getting a bird/wing/feathers to play with him and at least use him to flush out the birds.  Don't know if it is possible or not.

I live in Okanogan County and I have been seeing a few here and there while turkey hunting.  Thanks again guys, I am still open to advice/tips!

If you live in Okanogan than you've got it made, man. I believe there are more blue grouse in Okanogan than any other place in the state. When I was I was a kid I was over there deer hunting with my uncle. I gave up on the deer hunting and came back with 6 or 7 grouse total from the weekend

Up on Loop Loop pass there are blues all over! The biggest blue grouse I have seen are up Loop Loop pass. Your .410 would be a great grouse gun. There are no absolutes concerning which weapons to hunt grouse with. Though you would probably hit more with a shotgun, lol. I have used my shotguns, .22 rifle, 300 win mag (put the round within two inches of their head and it knocks them senseless or just take the head off) XD .40 cal, last time I forgot to change mags to birdshot, was not pretty, 
lol.

[turkey choke]

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate it.  Like I've said, where I've been turkey hunting I have been hearing them drumming and even seen a couple...I believe they are ruffed grouse.  I don't really have a preference on hunting ruffed or blues...unless I should.

Yeah I probably will just experiment with the lab, he's a loyal dog, a little hyper even at 5 but loves me to death (sometimes too much).  I admit he gets annoying sometimes and I think it would be good to do something with him that would help me appreciate him more lol.

Again, guys I appreciate the info!

[Moose22]

As far as what time to hunt, I have taken grouse thoughout the day but, my greatest success has been at dawn or 2 hours before sunset. Since grouse can be easy at times I prefer the evening hunts. I have a hard time justifiying, to myself, getting up at 0400 to find  forest chickens.