Post by: SnowDog on June 14, 2013, 01:57:07 PM
I'm happy to trade some of my waterfowl experience in trade :)
Cheers!
SD
Post by: Southpole on June 14, 2013, 02:02:05 PM
Post by: AspenBud on June 14, 2013, 02:43:13 PM
Early morning and late afternoon are going to be the better times to look.
If you are friends with a logger ask where they know of newer growth forest. Old growth is junk to ruffed grouse and new clear cuts aren't really ideal either.
If you have ever hunted bear and know what they like to eat you stand a good chance of finding grouse in the same food sources.
Where you find grouse in the Spring and Summer may not be where you find them in the Fall.
Let the dog do some investigating for you when the quiet season is over next month.
Google Earth is your friend (look for newer forest).
Post by: Jonathan_S on June 14, 2013, 02:50:10 PM
walk/drive roads on N/E facing mountain slopes in newer growth forest areas and near water sources.
Look in ditches
Post by: h20hunter on June 14, 2013, 02:58:48 PM
First option is to hunt off gate/ungated forest roads for deer. See, what I usually do is get out and hunt all afternoon or evening with my rifle. Then, once I'm working my way back hoping a deer will walk out in those magic last 15 minutes a grouse busts right at my feet and scares the stuffing out of me. Pretty much I end up not shooting either deer or grouse.
Second option which is by far my most successfull and has resulted in my one and only double. Hunt for deer for a few days then decide to go road hunting one morning. I like to keep a shotgun all the way in the back of the truck, cased, and of course unloaded. Drive along and don't see any deer. Then, once you get lulled into a sense of calm, you will see a grouse pecking gravel along the road. Stop the truck, slowly get out, uncase the gun, grab a shell, shoot the grouse. Sometimes, just maybe, there will be two grouse standing on a log in the brush. From about 10 feet you can just maybe line them up and blast one flush in the breast effectively rendng the entire bird into a poof of feathers while oh so skillfully removing the head of the one that was standing behind the first one. Thats how you get a double.
Now, for the skilled grouse hunter you should take the tips already written. I especially like gated forest roads with a combo of shade and light and gravel and grass along the sides. Slow hunt it with your smoothbore. If you spook one just slow down a bit more and look for them to perch closeby. Then blast the sucker.
Post by: paulf919 on June 14, 2013, 08:36:36 PM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on June 14, 2013, 08:44:06 PM
Post by: BigGoonTuna on June 15, 2013, 07:56:29 AM
Post by: Turner89 on June 15, 2013, 08:37:24 AM
Post by: paulf919 on June 15, 2013, 07:08:21 PM
It will be a good year for grouse in my area. I have'nt seen this many grouse since I was in high school.
Awesome! What part of the state?
Post by: johnnyaustin44 on June 15, 2013, 07:29:11 PM
Post by: fastdam on June 15, 2013, 09:38:26 PM
Post by: bigelk1030 on June 15, 2013, 10:33:48 PM
Post by: Dave Workman on June 16, 2013, 07:42:27 AM
GROUSE RULE!!!!!!
:IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: :yike: :bash: :bash: :chuckle: :tup:
Post by: paulf919 on June 19, 2013, 10:09:29 PM
Post by: Dave Workman on June 20, 2013, 05:01:26 PM
Heard it was raining over the past couple days over in Wenatchee/Leavenworth. How much rain does it take to drown the young ones?
It's not that they drown...they often die of hypothermia...
Post by: Stilly bay on June 20, 2013, 08:37:21 PM
Post by: Dave Workman on June 24, 2013, 05:45:22 PM
one of the biggest killers of grouse is pneumonia.
hell, all these years, I thought it was Remington..
:chuckle:
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on June 24, 2013, 05:54:41 PM
Heard it was raining over the past couple days over in Wenatchee/Leavenworth. How much rain does it take to drown the young ones?
It doesn't take a lot of rain this time of year to affect the Grouse populations. This series of little storms coming on shore won't be good, but there is warming this weekend so I'm hopeful.
-Steve
Post by: Skyvalhunter on June 24, 2013, 06:08:05 PM
Post by: paulf919 on June 24, 2013, 07:28:25 PM
Heard quite a few hooters last weekend making noise. More promising that the past couple years. Methow not as good.
Like to hear that! Need a good season!
Post by: Dave Workman on June 27, 2013, 05:28:31 PM
Blue grouse are not called "fool hens" for nothing. He snapped this image with a Canon camera and telephoto lens. Next time we meet, I have a feeling he'll be shooting with something besides a digital camera!
A bit more than two months to go and I'm primed.
Post by: barracuda163 on June 27, 2013, 05:51:37 PM
awesome scenery, good excuse to get lost and find a grouse or two.
Post by: paulf919 on June 27, 2013, 07:36:22 PM
Flushed dozens of ruffed out up in the swakane unit last muzzle deer. http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/chelan/Swakane/ (http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/wildlife_areas/chelan/Swakane/)
awesome scenery, good excuse to get lost and find a grouse or two.
how far in did you have to drive? Did you get out and do much wandering out and about? My first time will be this year...trying to get as much info as I can!
Post by: barracuda163 on June 28, 2013, 12:59:17 PM