While elk hunting, never shoot a grouse unless it's in last half of the day. One evening, I'm heading back to camp and I spot 3 grouse at about 10 yards. Been living on Mountain House for several days by then. Seems like too easy a shot to pass up. Nice grassy backdrop to catch my arrow. I line up a shot, putting 20 yard pin on head of bird, and punch the trigger. "Punch" is the wrong thing to do when bowhunting, by the way. The arrow zips past the bird, narrowly missing and the birds scatter a little but still within a few feet of starting position. I pull another arrow from the quiver to waste (was using thunderheads at the time). This time I line up and "squeeze" the trigger. Bird drops in its spot. Now remaining grouse scatter out of sight. I walk in to retrieve my arrows and my bird. I pick up the bird, then go for the first one, neatly sticking out of the grass. I look over, and about 3 feet from me is a grouse. My 28 inch arrow, plus the length of my arm quickly impales that one. I walk over to get my other arrow that went into the bush behind the second bird I shot at. I see another grouse flopping around with its neck under the second arrow I had shot. I grab that grouse and dispatch it. That night I ate well.
