Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: dwils233 on September 02, 2016, 02:27:24 PM
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I had a really nice plan with a friend for Pend Oreille county to do a little grouse this weekend on some land he knows well, but those plans have all gone sideways for him and I've been left high and dry for grouse. Its my first time after grouse and haven't had an opportunity to look on my own this summer.
I won't ask for a honey hole, but I did search hunt-wa and gleaned as much as I could from that. It looks like I'll check out logging roads around the colville forest, but I would really appreciate any tips or advice that could help me be successful. Thanks!
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Find water in the the NF and you will find grouse up there.
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Winchester Creek off Flowery Trail. Lots of side cuts, look for shaded gravel and water.
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Ruffeds will be mostly where there is moisture and dense hardwoods - riparian bottoms, clearcuts with willow/hazel/aspen/alder/cherry regrowth. They also tend to go to roads for gravel in the early evening. Best way to find blues is drive up and down in elevation until you find a brood, then hunt that elevation band to +500'-1000' elevation, especially along the edge of timber and grassy openings. Remember that elevation, because next time you'll start there and look higher (they migrate up in the fall, eventually wintering in mature conifers, especially Douglas fir, at high elevations).
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If you have dogs keep them close. Wolves in the area...
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Buy an Atlas & Gazetter; a map of the Colville NF as well (if you can find one). All the above tips are great...Get out of the vehicle and walk closed NF roads and abandoned slash roads. Be ready to snap shoot fast; as the cover right now is thick.
Good luck!
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Just a quick update.
Went up on the east side of 49 degrees north on some logging roads and flushed two in heavy cover with no shot. Did see some wolf scat and got snorted by a whitetail buck. Kicked up a hornets nest and had a nice sprint to the truck before calling it a day after a few miles hiking. Thanks for the advice!!!
