Grouse Poll

[CP]

As you can see she’s spotted you and she’s nervous.  She will fly any second now.  You have a shotgun and you have to make a decision.  Shoot her now on the ground or wait for her to fly. 

[buckfvr]

Head shot for me on the ground, no pellets to spit out .  Option 2.....on the wing.

[netcoyote]

I usually hesitate a bit if they are on the ground. I would prefer to take them on the fly. If they refuse to fly, I nail 'em.

[PolarBear]

If I am using a bow, anything goes, if using a shotgun it has to be in the air or I won't shoot it.

[muzzlebuck]

...

[Shoffy]

On the ground. No questions asked. Wouldn't even think twice about it.

[seth30]

On the ground. No questions asked. Wouldn't even think twice about it.

[Stilly bay]

If its brown and on the ground its ready to pound... I will use a rock if I have to. a frappucino bottle makes a pretty handy grouse bonker in a pinch.

but if I am hunting with my dogs, I won't shoot if the labs didn't flush it or the setter didn't point. grouse are too few and far between to pass up on a learning experience and chance for bird work. not to mention its just not safe to shoot at something on the ground with dogs in the mix.

[Pathfinder101]

I agree.  If I've got the dog with me, I'll wait for a flush.  If not, he's dinner right there on the ground.  If my boy is with me; we're pounding him in the grass. 
If I am bowhunting...I think I am saving my arrow...

[h20hunter]

Boom.......no hesitation unless I'm in prime deer country with a un-notched tag...

[Ducknut97]

On the ground for sure, all of my grouse so far have been shot on the ground.

[fethrduster]

Personally, I feel like I don't need a grouse so bad that I have to shoot one on the ground, so generally I take them on the wing or not at all.  Last year however I had one up in a tree when I was hunting huns that wouldn't flush, even after I literally hit it with a rock.  It just hopped a couple feet but wouldn't fly.   I was on a meat hunt, and so I went ahead and shot it, but now I regret it, as per my first sentence.  I should have just had pity on a bird that dumb and let it be.

[Woodchuck]

On the ground. No questions asked. Wouldn't even think twice about it.

I call it payback for all the times they have exploded from brush next to me shortening my life by at least a year every time they do it.

[Curly]

I should have just had pity on a bird that dumb and let it be.

Don't feel bad........a bird that dumb probably would have been eaten by some other predator.

[MHWASH]

Hopefully she'll stay put until I can get the atv to stop.