Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: michaelcx38 on November 02, 2016, 11:06:07 PM

Title: Coming out of retirement, need some help
Post by: michaelcx38 on November 02, 2016, 11:06:07 PM: New to the forum! I'm currently a senior in college in downtown Seattle, about to finish up my last year and I'm just excited to hopefully be able to get back out sometime soon. Before my family moved to Florida after my high school graduation, my dad and I tried several times for grouse around multiple Cle Elum and Greenwater logging roads (obviously we lived westside) and we only ever flushed a couple birds never bringing any home.

I haven't been out for grouse in years (been out quail hunting the past two years with a buddy, also no dice) and with my duplicate hunter certification coming in, hopefully a new shotgun for the holidays, and without the help of dad, I'm just hoping I can start to get my bearings and learn whatever I can. I would never ask for any sweet spots, dad taught me better than that. But I'd never pass up the opportunity for any pointers or general areas. I've spent hours looking over the GoHunt and old pages on this site, and its obvious that east side has the best upland populations, so distance shouldn't really be a factor anyway if I wanna be successful right? :chuckle:

Thanks!
Title: Re: Coming out of retirement, need some help
Post by: Special T on November 03, 2016, 07:36:35 AM: I've always hunted them west side. I've normally seen them along the road after a good rain near the salmon,thimble,black,huckleberry berry bushes earlier in the season. Normally near mature timber.
Title: Re: Coming out of retirement, need some help
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 03, 2016, 07:45:08 AM: Hit the logging roads, ruffed grouse will be found low and blue grouse in higher elevations.
Title: Re: Coming out of retirement, need some help
Post by: AspenBud on November 03, 2016, 12:30:32 PM: Hitting the logging roads alone is hit and miss. Get off the road a ways and make your way through some brush and you might see more. This time of year the birds have been shot at a lot, they are going to be more skittish and hidden.
Title: Re: Coming out of retirement, need some help
Post by: michaelcx38 on November 03, 2016, 06:48:32 PM: Quote from: AspenBud on November 03, 2016, 12:30:32 PM
Hitting the logging roads alone is hit and miss. Get off the road a ways and make your way through some brush and you might see more. This time of year the birds have been shot at a lot, they are going to be more skittish and hidden.

Yeah that seemed like it was the case whenever we went out. Anything we ever flushed was always off the road and up in some thick cover so I'll try heading back around there.
Title: Re: Coming out of retirement, need some help
Post by: John B on November 03, 2016, 09:18:49 PM: Find logging roads that don't have any motorized traffic. I find grouse in much better numbers when I get away from areas with atvs and dirtbikes.