Post by: raydog on February 10, 2013, 08:27:50 AM
Post by: Eli346 on February 10, 2013, 08:33:57 AM
Post by: bobcat on February 10, 2013, 08:52:56 AM
Of course habitat is a big factor as well, and that's where logging practices come in. I think the herbicides that they now regularly spray on clearcuts must negatively affect grouse, just as it does blacktail deer.
We did have a good grouse year in recent years here in SW Washington. It was in 2009. I recall going out several times and getting limits. I assume it was due to favorable spring weather that year.
Post by: npaull on February 10, 2013, 09:00:40 AM
Post by: dreamunelk on February 10, 2013, 09:15:29 AM
Post by: Southpole on February 10, 2013, 09:25:47 AM
Post by: alecvg on February 10, 2013, 09:37:49 AM
Post by: Stilly bay on February 10, 2013, 11:13:22 AM
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/sepoct10/grouse_cycle.html (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/sepoct10/grouse_cycle.html)
I think in western Wa it mainly has to do with habitat: areas that hold many grouse for a few years will mature and not attract them, time to find a new spot.
predators are big reason: when rabbits have a boom in population the predators focus on them allowing the grouse numbers to build back up. the rabbit pop crashes and the predators go back to grouse.
in western Wa: wet winters, springs, and summer cause a lot of die off from pneumonia and other ailments not to mention bad hatches.
2005 -2007 was the last big population boom and then it declined, Im betting in the next few years we start seeing more.
Post by: duckmen1 on February 10, 2013, 11:25:37 AM
Post by: Fishaholic on February 10, 2013, 12:43:41 PM
Post by: snowpack on February 10, 2013, 12:57:04 PM
Post by: raydog on February 10, 2013, 02:42:19 PM
Post by: dreamunelk on February 10, 2013, 03:29:35 PM
brush pickers dont help either they kill everything they can legal or not.
Please state your source or is this just and opinion based on ignorance or racism? Something that is not needed on this forum! Comments like this make hunters & fishermen look bad.
I know WDFW officers, DNR, USFS, Tribal, & most of the timber security people. In fact I have the privilege of working with them. Guess what! None would agree with your statement. In fact it is rare to even find a firearm. They search the rigs completely. No blood, no fur, & no feathers! Not saying it does not happen but, it is so rare that it does not even register. They are not going to risk loosing their permit.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 10, 2013, 03:45:27 PM
Post by: Fishaholic on February 10, 2013, 04:30:02 PM
brush pickers dont help either they kill everything they can legal or not.
Please state your source or is this just and opinion based on ignorance or racism? Something that is not needed on this forum! Comments like this make hunters & fishermen look bad.
I know WDFW officers, DNR, USFS, Tribal, & most of the timber security people. In fact I have the privilege of working with them. Guess what! None would agree with your statement. In fact it is rare to even find a firearm. They search the rigs completely. No blood, no fur, & no feathers! Not saying it does not happen but, it is so rare that it does not even register. They are not going to risk loosing their permit.
not all brush pickers are legal. have you been to gracys harbor lately and who the hell are you to judge me? i spend ever min i can in the woods. I have seen them come out if the woods with 2 or 3 deer in there van. why does everyone always use the race card? are you one of the brush pickers who rape the land why us the tax payers pay for your rent and food while you clam you cant work but your really picking brush. it happens alot around gracys harbor ask any hunter who spends time scouting.
Post by: dreamunelk on February 10, 2013, 05:45:36 PM
brush pickers dont help either they kill everything they can legal or not.
Please state your source or is this just and opinion based on ignorance or racism? Something that is not needed on this forum! Comments like this make hunters & fishermen look bad.
I know WDFW officers, DNR, USFS, Tribal, & most of the timber security people. In fact I have the privilege of working with them. Guess what! None would agree with your statement. In fact it is rare to even find a firearm. They search the rigs completely. No blood, no fur, & no feathers! Not saying it does not happen but, it is so rare that it does not even register. They are not going to risk loosing their permit.
not all brush pickers are legal. have you been to gracys harbor lately and who the hell are you to judge me? i spend ever min i can in the woods. I have seen them come out if the woods with 2 or 3 deer in there van. why does everyone always use the race card? are you one of the brush pickers who rape the land why us the tax payers pay for your rent and food while you clam you cant work but your really picking brush. it happens alot around gracys harbor ask any hunter who spends time scouting.
I live and work in Grays Harbor. In fact I work and play in the woods! I can guarantee you I spend more time in the woods than you. I am all over the county and there is not many gates I don't have a key for. You claim to have seen 2 or 3 deer in their van. How did you see in the van? How do you know they are illegal? Did you report to the WDFW? If so let me know the name of the officer. I will check with them as I know them all!
Post by: Fishaholic on February 10, 2013, 06:58:58 PM
Post by: Stump on February 10, 2013, 07:11:11 PM
Post by: Fishaholic on February 10, 2013, 07:13:54 PM
Post by: AspenBud on February 11, 2013, 07:43:04 AM
If you take a look at the lakes states there is a lot of emphasis on cutting Aspen every so often to ensure there is habitat for them.
If herbicides are being used that probably means more cover and food sources for the birds is dying and as a result the grouse die too.
One other thing to consider is that grouse move on. If the habitat in one area changes you can bet that they will seek out something better. Covers age and become less productive. A good strategy for grouse is to always be looking for new covers and get out of the truck and beat the brush with a good dog.
Post by: AspenBud on February 11, 2013, 08:54:11 AM
http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/birds/2006/10/true-cause-grouse-cycles (http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/birds/2006/10/true-cause-grouse-cycles)
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/sepoct10/grouse_cycle.html (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/sepoct10/grouse_cycle.html)
I think in western Wa it mainly has to do with habitat: areas that hold many grouse for a few years will mature and not attract them, time to find a new spot.
predators are big reason: when rabbits have a boom in population the predators focus on them allowing the grouse numbers to build back up. the rabbit pop crashes and the predators go back to grouse.
Poor habitat and predation go hand in hand. Poor habitat for the birds exposes them to airborne predators like hawks and owls.
Bare forest floors are bad news. No food and no place to hide.
I've heard the rabbit theory before and know some guys who buy into it. Generally if you see more rabbits you can expect grouse numbers to crash and vice versa. I've also seen some talk about snowy owls moving south when their traditional prey gets depeleted every so often. If you see more of them you can expect grouse to take a hit for a while. It really is a cyclical thing in some ways on that front.
But again, what was a good cover ten years ago might well be trash today as far as the birds are concerned. A guy wanting to grouse hunt really needs to be constantly scouting for new areas. It's about boot leather, gas, and maybe putting the .22 away and buying a good dog and shotgun.
Post by: PolarBear on February 11, 2013, 09:03:01 AM
Post by: Fishaholic on February 11, 2013, 10:53:30 AM
Post by: AspenBud on February 11, 2013, 11:14:26 AM
cound to much under brush maybe a cause to i mean they use to let things burn now they put it out as fast as they can. nature has a way of taking care of her self. not trying too sound like a hippy at all becasue i an not
Underbrush is something grouse like. But if I understand what you're getting at correctly then yes, the lack of burning is part of the problem. The Ruffed Grouse Society battles the Sierra Club all of the time over clear cutting Aspen in other parts of the country and it's in large part because we don't let forest fires burn. In the absence of fire, logging is the best way to create habitat for grouse and deer etc. Aspen will die after a certain amount of time but it will regenerate when it is cut. If that doesn't happen grouse lose habitat that they need. While Aspen isn't as big a player here on the west side, mixed age forest is, or rather we're losing it over time as logging has gotten more restricted and timber companies favor a monoculture of trees.
Post by: AspenBud on February 11, 2013, 11:45:33 AM
Ruffed Grouse Hunting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV-ME8rfXFI#)
Post by: Stilly bay on February 11, 2013, 03:07:36 PM
But again, what was a good cover ten years ago might well be trash today as far as the birds are concerned. A guy wanting to grouse hunt really needs to be constantly scouting for new areas. It's about boot leather, gas, and maybe putting the .22 away and buying a good dog and shotgun.
exactly
Aspen bud, we need more serious grousers like you on this board to show everyone how its done. you got a chair in my camp any day.
Post by: AspenBud on February 12, 2013, 01:52:59 PM
It's really a shame that the RGS isn't more active here. Timber companies will do whatever they need to do to make a profit and if that includes less than ideal habitat so be it. That leaves state and federal forest land for the rest of us, and the Sierra Club and other misguided organizations have caused no small amount harm with their no logging stance and no opposition based in science against them.
That's how I see it at least.
Post by: Stilly bay on February 12, 2013, 02:31:12 PM
In some ways it's a simple proposition. Looking for new covers with a bird dog is a net gain. On one hand you increase your odds of filling your game bag by finding new honey holes and on the other your dog learns to handle in the woods and how to handle grouse. Just make sure you buy a Garmin Alpha or Astro before doing so. ;)
Astros are great investments, I can't figure out how we did without them so long... huge game changers.
It's really a shame that the RGS isn't more active here. Timber companies will do whatever they need to do to make a profit and if that includes less than ideal habitat so be it. That leaves state and federal forest land for the rest of us, and the Sierra Club and other misguided organizations have caused no small amount harm with their no logging stance and no opposition based in science against them.
That's how I see it at least.
granted if we managed for grouse or got the timber companies to cut trees to the RGS's bidding there would be more ruffed grouse, but I don't think we need RGS over here on the westside. many of the timber companies do a pretty good job of leaving "micro covers" and shelter belts, when their clear cuts come of age they all hold grouse. the hardest part is getting access to these areas. more often than not you are parking at a gate and spending the whole day hiking on the hopes of locating some good cover. I agree state and federal forest land could use some manicuring but atleast we have the ability to drive in and do some exploring. not to mention cover that is good for the ruffed grouse isn't always good for the blue (now dusky and sooty) grouse or the spruce grouse... and I would rather hunt blues (with a dog) they make ruffeds look like chumps.
Post by: AspenBud on February 13, 2013, 09:46:33 AM
In some ways it's a simple proposition. Looking for new covers with a bird dog is a net gain. On one hand you increase your odds of filling your game bag by finding new honey holes and on the other your dog learns to handle in the woods and how to handle grouse. Just make sure you buy a Garmin Alpha or Astro before doing so. ;)
Astros are great investments, I can't figure out how we did without them so long... huge game changers.
It's really a shame that the RGS isn't more active here. Timber companies will do whatever they need to do to make a profit and if that includes less than ideal habitat so be it. That leaves state and federal forest land for the rest of us, and the Sierra Club and other misguided organizations have caused no small amount harm with their no logging stance and no opposition based in science against them.
That's how I see it at least.
granted if we managed for grouse or got the timber companies to cut trees to the RGS's bidding there would be more ruffed grouse, but I don't think we need RGS over here on the westside. many of the timber companies do a pretty good job of leaving "micro covers" and shelter belts, when their clear cuts come of age they all hold grouse. the hardest part is getting access to these areas. more often than not you are parking at a gate and spending the whole day hiking on the hopes of locating some good cover. I agree state and federal forest land could use some manicuring but atleast we have the ability to drive in and do some exploring. not to mention cover that is good for the ruffed grouse isn't always good for the blue (now dusky and sooty) grouse or the spruce grouse... and I would rather hunt blues (with a dog) they make ruffeds look like chumps.
The Astro is great but I highly recommend the extended range antenna for the handheld and the tougher and longer antenna for the collar that DoubleU sells. The stock stuff that comes with the Astro is junk.
Closed gates, Google maps is your friend if you can figure out how to identify cuts with it. It's a great way to "scout" an area before you take the time and gas to physically check it out.
Blues are a bird i haven't tried before. Let me know if you ever need a hunting partner. ;)
Post by: Stilly bay on February 13, 2013, 02:24:18 PM
The Astro is great but I highly recommend the extended range antenna for the handheld and the tougher and longer antenna for the collar that DoubleU sells. The stock stuff that comes with the Astro is junk.
Closed gates, Google maps is your friend if you can figure out how to identify cuts with it. It's a great way to "scout" an area before you take the time and gas to physically check it out.
Blues are a bird i haven't tried before. Let me know if you ever need a hunting partner. ;)
the extended range antenna and the tough skin are a must for the 320, I kinda wish I waited for the alpha... but then Im still pretty happy with the 320 and my dog's necks are long enough to accommodate an ecollar, a GPS collar, and their normal ID collar.
if your still using google maps for scouting; check out google earth, garmin basecamp, and garmin birdseye. its almost as good as actually being there. :tup:
Post by: BigGoonTuna on February 13, 2013, 07:55:11 PM
i've seen some while fishing this winter, and jumped a couple while deer scouting back in september.
wish i could get back into what i call "grouse alley". it's owned by rayonier, and since i've lived here it's gone from green dot all winter until spring, to being closed after modern firearm deer season, to being just red dotted. i don't mind road closures but i'm not gonna walk in 5 miles for grouse!
Post by: fethrduster on February 17, 2013, 11:22:53 AM
These guys are in the Midwest so the terrain is a little different, but ask yourself if the areas you're hunting have vegetation like this. I remember seeing something similar here back in the 80's, but how often do you see early successional forest like this anymore? For that matter, how much food (berries etc) do you see where you hunt them? If you're just road hunting you probably won't know, but if not, look around.
Ruffed Grouse Hunting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV-ME8rfXFI#)
I don't think I've ever seen this kind of habitat here in WA. That kind of flat land grouse hunting looks easy compared to the hilly, thick cover we have here in western WA.
Post by: Stilly bay on February 17, 2013, 11:34:11 AM
Post by: AspenBud on February 17, 2013, 12:13:19 PM
Post by: gamekeeper on February 20, 2013, 01:48:30 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on February 20, 2013, 02:04:39 PM
i am from england and worked for years as a upland moor keeper with red grouse
my dream job... someday I will make it over there and get a couple driven red grouse or do some rough shooting.
interesting about the worms, I think I remember hearing something about the intestinal worms being affected by the aspen buds ( which have a toxicity) which works into the famous cycle.
I know west of the cascades there are scant few aspens and pneumonia plays a big part in mortality since it never dries up over here.
Post by: singleshot12 on February 21, 2013, 11:33:47 AM
Post by: joe_dumy on February 22, 2013, 07:22:12 PM
I hunt without a dog and grouse hunting can be a crazy challenge to say the least and easy as pie when you slip out of the truck and shoot it on the ground. I have grown out of the whole meat theory and into the love of the hunt. But I cant pass up a grouse on the road. I walk up to it and flush it only to take the easy shot once it has lifted off. I am not especially proud of these birds but they happen and they kinda make up for the 30 blind flushes I will have in a day. I was so happy when I finally had a theory work as I worked a forest to the edge and I saw two grouse run across the road and continued to push and a prefect away and across shot happened and I downed my first grouse using this tech. I tried the rest of the day to no use. My theory was blown and I am back to the drawing board.
I enjoy the challenge and look forward to fishing for wild steelhead and drumming in the distance. It has to be one of my favorite times on earth. I cant wait.
Post by: madcow41 on February 23, 2013, 04:50:47 PM
A big trick to find them is to find areas that you have to hike to that arent easy to get to by vehicle.
Post by: raydog on February 23, 2013, 10:10:27 PM
All of my spots are still abundantly stocked...ihave noticed that as well
A big trick to find them is to find areas that you have to hike to that arent easy to get to by vehicle.
Post by: splitshot on February 23, 2013, 10:14:48 PM
Post by: whitey on February 28, 2013, 05:32:27 AM
The tree hugging, bunny loving a$$cap wearing freaks think its all wonderful, but they dont understand. :yike:
Just my :twocents:.
Having worked in the nuisance wildlife control business Ive seen this first hand. :dunno:
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 28, 2013, 05:39:18 AM
Post by: Fl0und3rz on February 28, 2013, 05:46:22 AM
i am from england and worked for years as a upland moor keeper with red grouse , i know the grouse you have are differant but grouse are grouse and the biggest factor that produced low numbers was wet springs and a worm called strongloses the build up of these worms leads to poor condiotion and becoming easy prey for predators
In english, please! Just kidding, of course.
I never fail to get busted by a few grouse while out hunting big game. They are typically along edges (clear cuts, roads, trails) and typically within a short distance of the grit that they use on roads or trails or rock outcroppings. This is all on national forest land and hiking distances vary, but it always involves some elevation change.
Post by: madcow41 on March 07, 2013, 09:00:03 PM
Post by: Hangfire on March 09, 2013, 06:39:00 PM
Post by: bear hunter on March 09, 2013, 06:50:12 PM
Post by: Hangfire on March 09, 2013, 07:23:29 PM
Post by: bear hunter on March 09, 2013, 07:28:36 PM
I think the most pleasure I have had bird hunting was one of my spots in Ferry county with a long dead Springer. I would hunt with my CVA double barrel 12 ga.muzzleloader. I like to walk old grown up roads. The birds like the berries that grow along the edge. So often when flushed they fly from the shoulder of the road or just a few feet in the woods. They fly down the road a short distance before going right or left. That time going down the road gives a great shot. When we got to the ridge top we would go out on the south face for Blues. I don't think I ever lost a bird with that dog. She found some that I thought I had missed. The last trip up there with my current springer I saw one blue and no ruffed. I have had my wife drop me off and she would road hunt a mile or two. I would follow behind with the dog. I have limited when she did not see a bird. The year that the limit went to four birds I had my limit in 10 minutes and could have shot 40. We have had wet springs ever since.:tup: I love to hunt with my CVA 12 SXS to. Last year was my first year using it. I also use it for deer. Nice to see people that like the muzzle shotguns.
Post by: Hangfire on March 09, 2013, 10:33:23 PM
Post by: bear hunter on March 09, 2013, 11:26:11 PM
Post by: Hangfire on March 10, 2013, 07:24:52 AM
Post by: bear hunter on March 10, 2013, 07:56:58 AM
There are a lot of turkeys in 121. If we have a good spring there will be grouse in some areas. Get a land status map, priviate and public land. This unit has a lot: upland birds, deer, bear, moose and now wolves.Where do you pickup a land status map?
Post by: Hangfire on March 10, 2013, 09:40:33 PM
Post by: cardboard slayer on April 14, 2013, 03:06:42 PM
Post by: Fishaholic on April 14, 2013, 05:04:15 PM
Found 2 in my crock pot last fall :chuckle:
did you make grouse noodle soup? lol
Post by: RifleRidge on April 14, 2013, 05:24:25 PM
Found 2 in my crock pot last fall :chuckle:
:tup: :EAT: :yeah:
Post by: RifleRidge on April 14, 2013, 05:26:08 PM
Found 2 in my crock pot last fall :chuckle:
:tup: :EAT: :yeah:
I would love to get the recipe for Crock Pot Grouse... Please play that forward... Thank you... :EAT:
Post by: cardboard slayer on April 18, 2013, 08:48:17 PM