Post by: Dave Workman on June 20, 2014, 05:56:05 PM
Who hunts with a 12?
Who hunts with a 20?
Ditto 16, 28 and .410?
What size of shot do you suggest for grouse and why?
For openers...I use 12, 20 and/or .410 and I prefer No. 6 regardless.
Yee hawwwwwwwww.....Grouse season is just a little more than 2 months away.
Post by: Jason on June 20, 2014, 06:01:09 PM
Post by: bobcat on June 20, 2014, 06:01:11 PM
Post by: h20hunter on June 20, 2014, 06:02:58 PM
Post by: netcoyote on June 20, 2014, 06:04:33 PM
[smg id=11548]
Post by: RadSav on June 20, 2014, 06:06:07 PM
Wife uses Franchi 20 gauge with what ever rounds and shot size we happen to be sitting heavy on. Usually #7.5
Post by: Dave Workman on June 20, 2014, 06:18:00 PM
I almost always will choose my Remington 1100 LT 20 gauge, modified choke, number 6 shot. I've killed a lot if blue grouse with that gun. A few ruffed grouse too, I'm not picky, but very much prefer hunting blue grouse. I've had that gun since I was 11.
That is a classic shotgun, and the mod choke is certainly best for blues. I like a double gun, having three S/S models in 12, 20 and 410, but last year I acquired an O/U Franchi 20-gauge that is just murder on grouse. Run Mod and I/C chokes.
Post by: Dave Workman on June 20, 2014, 06:22:07 PM
10/22 22lr :tup:
HA.
Yer killin' me.
Well done!
Post by: Bean Counter on June 20, 2014, 06:23:45 PM
May I suggest adding a poll? 8)
Bc
Post by: Dave Workman on June 20, 2014, 06:33:31 PM
Dave,
May I suggest adding a poll? 8)
Bc
done...now it's your turn.
Post by: Smossy on June 20, 2014, 06:43:40 PM
Post by: whackmaster on June 20, 2014, 07:14:04 PM
Post by: SCRUBS on June 20, 2014, 07:14:53 PM
100 grain judo tips :chuckle:
I`m with you Smossy :tup:
Post by: Wazukie on June 20, 2014, 07:19:50 PM
Post by: Webfoot on June 20, 2014, 07:20:53 PM
Love this gun.
John
Post by: bowhunterwa87 on June 20, 2014, 07:25:19 PM
Post by: buglebuster on June 20, 2014, 07:32:17 PM
Post by: whackmaster on June 20, 2014, 07:39:19 PM
Post by: 87Ford on June 20, 2014, 07:40:29 PM
Gonna break out the 16ga Gran Lightning this year
Post by: Westside88 on June 20, 2014, 08:00:11 PM
Post by: Hunterman on June 20, 2014, 08:19:06 PM
Hunterman(Tony)
Post by: Smossy on June 20, 2014, 09:02:10 PM
Here's my poisonBuglebuster I think you just posted like 7 times :dunno:
Post by: Jellymon on June 20, 2014, 09:03:36 PM
Post by: Smossy on June 20, 2014, 09:06:47 PM
Heres mine.:tup:
Post by: buglebuster on June 20, 2014, 09:18:55 PM
Post by: sled on June 20, 2014, 09:19:15 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on June 20, 2014, 10:00:59 PM
Dave,
May I suggest adding a poll? 8)
Bc
done...now it's your turn.
M'kay. I voted 12 gauge. Pump action. Bc it's all I have. Id love to have a nice 20 gauge O/U but I just don't bird hunt that much to justify the expense.
Post by: wadu1 on June 20, 2014, 10:09:44 PM
Post by: bobcat on June 20, 2014, 10:22:29 PM
normally it's the .30-06 with 150gr. hand loads.
Hunterman(Tony)
:yike:
Post by: bobcat on June 20, 2014, 10:22:44 PM
normally it's the .30-06 with 150gr. hand loads.
Hunterman(Tony)
:yike:
Post by: Dave Workman on June 21, 2014, 05:56:25 AM
normally it's the .30-06 with 150gr. hand loads.
Hunterman(Tony)
WTF???!!! :yike:
Jeez, Louise. Just how big are these grouse, and do they glow in the dark?
These must be grouse out of a Roger Corman monster flick.
Post by: Bigshooter on June 21, 2014, 06:24:08 AM
Post by: acorn on June 27, 2014, 09:43:55 PM
-.22 lr
-.410 pump
-.30-30 win (head shots while deer hunting)
-12 pump
And I've managed to loose 4 arrows trying with my bow.
Post by: BigGoonTuna on June 28, 2014, 08:24:02 AM
i'd love to have a 28 gauge someday, but i definitely can't complain about my current setup :chuckle:
Post by: jackson7 on June 28, 2014, 10:00:58 AM
Post by: SeaRun1 on June 28, 2014, 10:08:51 AM
Post by: Hunterman on June 28, 2014, 10:14:11 AM
normally it's the .30-06 with 150gr. hand loads.
Hunterman(Tony)
:yike:
normally it's the .30-06 with 150gr. hand loads.
Hunterman(Tony)
WTF???!!! :yike:
Jeez, Louise. Just how big are these grouse, and do they glow in the dark?
These must be grouse out of a Roger Corman monster flick.
Just your everyday size grouse. Head shot and you just have to wait until they quit flopping around :tup: No messed up meat, and keeping my shooting ability up :tup: That's why I shoot deer and elk in the same spot.
Hunterman(Tony)
Post by: joe_dumy on June 29, 2014, 07:59:31 AM
I use reloads.
First barrel 1 1/4 oz spreader load #9 shot
Second Barrel 1 oz load fast load 7 1/2 shot.
Grouse are a hard bird to hit, not a hard bird to kill. Is what I was told and it seems to be true. So I try and give myself every advantage in my loads to bring them down.
Post by: The scout on June 29, 2014, 08:15:18 AM
Post by: winshooter88 on June 29, 2014, 08:51:53 AM
Post by: Don Fischer on June 29, 2014, 09:38:07 AM
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on June 29, 2014, 09:44:09 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on June 29, 2014, 09:55:10 AM
22lr from my ruger if I am hunting deer or elk and happen across a bird.
Post by: ghosthunter on June 29, 2014, 10:18:42 AM
Big game hunting I carry a judge revolver.
Post by: Hermit on July 18, 2014, 09:42:13 PM
Post by: Lee Root on July 18, 2014, 09:58:10 PM
Post by: packmule on July 19, 2014, 08:29:33 PM
Do you focus on blues or ruffed grouse when you're doing that? Sounds fun if you have decent grouse numbers.
Post by: pcal on July 19, 2014, 08:58:06 PM
Post by: WA hunter14 on July 19, 2014, 09:13:42 PM
ruger 10/22
Post by: Lee Root on July 22, 2014, 06:39:10 PM
Packmule: Ruffs here, blues and Franklins when we run into them.
Post by: Southpole on July 22, 2014, 07:35:30 PM
Post by: packmule on July 22, 2014, 08:38:55 PM
Post by: Special T on July 22, 2014, 09:01:51 PM
Post by: ing on July 22, 2014, 09:08:01 PM
Post by: merkelman on July 22, 2014, 10:16:46 PM
Post by: bobcat on July 22, 2014, 10:24:42 PM
Post by: ing on July 23, 2014, 12:21:24 AM
Good old Winchester model 24!Yep. It's a solid gun for how old it is. 1949 is manufacture date on this one if I remember right.
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on July 23, 2014, 02:50:00 AM
In order of most grouse killed (by me):
-.22 lr
-.410 pump
-.30-30 win (head shots while deer hunting)
-12 pump
And I've managed to loose 4 arrows trying with my bow.
Very similar...... Mine would be
.22 lr ....... also have taken most of my ptarmigan with a .22.
410 pump and single shot
.22 mag pistol with birdshot. I usually pack that with me when rifle hunting, just for grouse I jump.
12 gauge and 20 gauge before I decided they were both too much for grouse
30-06 those times when I'm deer hunting and forgot my .22 mag pistol.
sticks...... I've actually taken two grouse with a thrown stick. Knocked them out of trees and wrung their necks.
Never gotten one with a bow, but have tried.
Post by: Lee Root on July 23, 2014, 09:22:55 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi196.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa171%2Fvomokanogan%2FIMGP0322_zps51ebc9fb.jpg&hash=eb1c38c55d0ead892a27c27b6b445820180218eb)
Got to love a long season.
Post by: Axle on July 23, 2014, 09:48:12 PM
Post by: tonymiller7 on July 31, 2014, 12:43:59 PM
10/22 22lr :tup:
:yeah:
And just to be sporting the rule is head shots only at anything under 50 yards.
Post by: Dave Workman on August 04, 2014, 04:44:07 AM
Well, less than a month to go. I'm already working out my kinks...at my age, I've got plenty of them! ...and am rarin' to hit it hard on the opener. Drat that it opens on Labor Day Monday. Ah, but the following weekend....
DEATH TO GROUSE!
(Is that un-American?)
With the big fires, I sure hope at least SOME good grouse country is being spared. Now's the time to be buying a box of clays and putting them to work. I already shot up a bunch, with hunting buddy Glockster. We've got a couple of spots to visit.
Good luck to all and thanks for participating in the poll. Stay safe out there!
Post by: Don Fischer on August 05, 2014, 11:10:03 AM
So, another question I would like to see Dave ask: How many of you hunt grouse with a trained dog and only shoot them on the wing? It is a hell of a good time.
Without a dog I wouldn't hunt birds at all! Squirt and Bodie haven't had much experience with them and Stormy not much with anything!
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1363.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr706%2Ffischerantlp%2FBodie%2FDSC_0020_zps1a248ae6.jpg&hash=213419da4b138cefe9bb57aa93776bf0bb21447f) (http://s1363.photobucket.com/user/fischerantlp/media/Bodie/DSC_0020_zps1a248ae6.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1363.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr706%2Ffischerantlp%2FSquirt%2FDSC_0029_zps9193ba85.jpg&hash=684db36e54953c26b653f66281c6d6b8411cc242) (http://s1363.photobucket.com/user/fischerantlp/media/Squirt/DSC_0029_zps9193ba85.jpg.html)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1363.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr706%2Ffischerantlp%2FStormy%2520field%2520work%2FDSC_0004800_zps107d60fc.jpg&hash=9d5bab5e35630362125001088fd56121841cefbd) (http://s1363.photobucket.com/user/fischerantlp/media/Stormy%20field%20work/DSC_0004800_zps107d60fc.jpg.html)
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 05, 2014, 11:16:21 AM
Post by: 87Ford on August 05, 2014, 12:14:30 PM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2FP1080985.JPG&hash=737eacc1da317a40f06a32885b4b5042a4051128)
Post by: BiggLuke on August 05, 2014, 11:24:38 PM
Couple more weeks and it is a free for all ...Bear hunting - deer hunting - elk hunting and grouse hunting ...How in the heck did it get here so dang fast :yike: :dunno: :archery_smiley: :cmp1: :bfg: :whoo: :whoo: I am excited to get my NEW DOG out on some grouse ..they seem to be thick this year :tup:
...You forgot rabbit and dove :tup:
Post by: hunterrcc on August 05, 2014, 11:28:47 PM
Post by: BigGoonTuna on August 06, 2014, 07:28:06 AM
Post by: gundogr on August 21, 2014, 09:54:12 PM
REM 11-87 Upland Special 20
Post by: madmack76 on August 21, 2014, 10:13:40 PM
Post by: Dave Workman on August 24, 2014, 09:52:18 AM
Yes, I hunt 'em with a dog, in the good years. Problem is it's been 5 years since I've seen good grouse numbers. Here's a couple of pictures from 2009:
Nice photos..
See, a lot of this depends upon where you hunt. Grouse are cyclic in a way. I think they are in pretty good shape in a lot of spots, and you might not find them where you used to simply because someone else found them first.
Years ago, I did a map story on one of my honey holes. That's what I get paid for, not for keeping secrets. A week later I was back and not a bird to be seen, but I ran into a guy who told me about the four guys who read the story, showed up with a couple of dogs and shot the hell out of the grouse. That's good and bad because it's almost genocide.
Another time I ran into a guy who killed 14 grouse out of one good area in one season. For the next couple of years, there wasn't a bird to be seen. Then last year they bounced back real good. This past month, a forest fire burned their habitat.
The birds survived presumably, but they will be found elsewhere.
My advantage is age. I've been around a long time and found A LOT of good grouse areas; places I can try and bring home birds. I will do that again starting next week.
When I retire...if that day ever comes...I'm going to load up my camping gear and spend days wandering the slopes, just hunting grouse, enjoying the solitude and the silence, and maybe some company from new friends and old I run into along the way.
In the meantime...don't kill 'em all. Reserve that for coyotes. :chuckle:
Post by: huntingaddiction on August 24, 2014, 11:34:11 AM
Post by: Dave Workman on August 25, 2014, 08:53:11 AM
My grouse spot has an aggressive lion in it and I refuse to take my dog up there until I have killed that lion!
Good luck with that. I suspect there are more mountain lions in this state than the WDFW says. One good reason for mule deer problems bouncing back from the problem they had a couple of years ago.
Post by: huntingaddiction on August 25, 2014, 09:35:16 AM
Post by: Dave Workman on August 26, 2014, 07:56:31 AM
I have seen him both times I have been up there. And I think you're right.
Well, ahem, I am typically right. ;) :chuckle:
Some say even Far Right.....
Post by: Mo on August 31, 2014, 10:31:25 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myhostedpics.com%2Fimages%2FPathfinder%2Fmg2262.jpg&hash=47b8c2d241b7e5b19eeee357bdcf7ca5b3011181)
Post by: Cap.Silver on August 31, 2014, 10:56:46 AM
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on August 31, 2014, 01:43:29 PM
The vast majority have been with my Single Six.
Mo, that's exactly what I use, with the .22 mag cylinder in and bird shot, for my grouse gun when I'm big game hunting. Then it's my 10/22 with solid slugs for when I'm just after grouse, ptarmigan, or small game such as hares.
Post by: JJB11B on August 31, 2014, 02:44:23 PM