Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Bendejo on May 22, 2022, 08:02:23 PM

Title: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: Bendejo on May 22, 2022, 08:02:23 PM: I've been hearing what feel like heart palpitations in the woods while turkey hunting. Then my friend heard it too, and said it was a ruffed grouse, I saw some vids on it, but it's so surprising to me how it resonates to the listener.
Can anyone else confirm this phenomenon before I go and schedule and appt with a cardiologist?.. Kinda joking.

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Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: Iveexcaped3 on May 22, 2022, 08:07:50 PM: Quote from: Bendejo on May 22, 2022, 08:02:23 PM
I've been hearing what feel like heart palpitations in the woods while turkey hunting. Then my friend heard it too, and said it was a ruffed grouse, I saw some vids on it, but it's so surprising to me how it resonates to the listener.
Can anyone else confirm this phenomenon before I go and schedule and appt with a cardiologist?.. Kinda joking.

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All the time this time of year. It might not of been ruffed but a sooty or dusky theirs tend to be more booming and heard at a father distance. It’s awesome to watch them and their colored pouch appear while drumming if you can figure out what tree they’re in.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: 444Marlin on May 22, 2022, 08:23:17 PM: Those buggers have given me more heart palpitations when they flush unexpectedly...usually right when I'm looking down at some bear scat!

My most memorable 'drum session' was up on the Oly Pen a few summers ago. My son was sleeping in the tent and it was still dusk at like 9:30. The grouse would stop drumming for just long enough for you to forget about it, and then start ramping up. Then others would start drumming up the valley in response.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: 7mmfan on May 22, 2022, 10:03:27 PM: One of my favorite sounds. Commonplace along the rivers in April steelhead fishing.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: builtfordtough on May 22, 2022, 10:10:00 PM: This year turkey hunting outta chewelah it was constant. All day and all night. Several miles hiked as well as driving to New areas. Opening weekend and then again last weekend Same thing. Has to be a good sign I would think.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: fly-by on May 23, 2022, 06:52:42 AM: Ruffed make more of a helicopter sound using wingbeats while Blues make a deep whump whump whump vocalization.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: Okanagan on May 23, 2022, 07:39:11 AM: A young hunter in BC mistook a drumming grouse for a grizzly. He came back big eyed after a day of hunting spring black bear, and told me that a grizzly had threatened him though he did not see it in the brush. He said it made a sound that started slowly and built to a rapid repetition of what he took to be threat grunts. He demoed the sound for me: whomp… whomp.. whomp.whompwhompwhopwhopwhpwhp
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: Skyvalhunter on May 23, 2022, 08:02:23 AM: I saw a mother ruffed with 6 or so chicks this weekend.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: hunter399 on May 23, 2022, 08:24:00 AM: Kinda sounds like a junky lawn mower starting then dying.
Title: Re: Ruffed grouse drumming
Post by: jackelope on May 23, 2022, 08:31:12 AM: They're rutting this time of year. Be careful!! They get aggressive and will attack unprovoked!!