Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Carwash on January 18, 2025, 02:47:14 PM

Title: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: Carwash on January 18, 2025, 02:47:14 PM: Greetings,

I recently moved to Kitsap county. I’ve been upland game bird hunting all my life (Quail, Chukar) in Northern Nevada and Dove in central Texas. Washington Grouse is a new beast for me, in addition I plan to only hunt with a bow. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. And if there are any other bird bow hunters, please reach out.

V/R

Carwash
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: greenhead_killer on January 18, 2025, 03:39:41 PM: Go east, find areas with gated roads and walk them. You’ll find grouse, just not high densities. Good luck!
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: nwwanderer on February 19, 2025, 07:05:08 AM: Go for a slam, all the species. Have you thought of the great big transplanted grouse, turkeys, we have? Patience is a virtue!!!!
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: Sundance on February 19, 2025, 09:15:46 AM: Any access roads up to the Olympics always produce grouse for us. I've had great success out on the coast in logging country as well, don't be afraid to grab a bike and get behind a few gates. Walking/driving doesn't seem to make a huge difference, if there are getting gravel them you'll see them.
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: Special T on February 19, 2025, 10:08:56 AM: https://www.washingtonstatearchery.com/Clubs-&-Shops

Waiting bowmen in Port angles and KBH in Belfair are 2 of the closer archery club/ranges to you.

Are you shooting a compound or recurve? I normally use either a Judo or rubber blunt. Judo tips work good because they flip up in the grass and twigs if you miss. You should tell us more about your bowhunting.
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: CasterlyRock on February 19, 2025, 12:25:09 PM: Grouse are a pretty easy target, they don't have a lot of self preservation instinct. I use the magnus head choppers with flu flus for turkey with my bow, they fly like laser beams and scream so loud but it's fun. Don't know if they would perform ok with a grouse or just turn them to dust.

Judos are probably the way to go though.
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: chukardogs on February 19, 2025, 03:59:05 PM: Head northeast about 4 to 6 hours. Find mountains in the 4 to 6000 foot elevation range. Find gated roads that'll take you up onto the rocky ridges and start flingin arrows. The birds have been plentiful the last few years. I haven't used a bow in years but I've killed far more Grouse without my dog's and my 22 rifle than I have with my bird dogs and a shotgun.
Please don't tell my bird dogs I said that.
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: Special T on February 19, 2025, 08:50:01 PM: Quote from: chukardogs on February 19, 2025, 03:59:05 PM
Head northeast about 4 to 6 hours. Find mountains in the 4 to 6000 foot elevation range. Find gated roads that'll take you up onto the rocky ridges and start flingin arrows. The birds have been plentiful the last few years. I haven't used a bow in years but I've killed far more Grouse without my dog's and my 22 rifle than I have with my bird dogs and a shotgun.
Please don't tell my bird dogs I said that.

I killed more in the spokes of my motorcycle as a kid than I ever have hunting on the west side
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: Skyvalhunter on February 20, 2025, 07:38:25 AM: Quote from: chukardogs on February 19, 2025, 03:59:05 PM
Head northeast about 4 to 6 hours. Find mountains in the 4 to 6000 foot elevation range. Find gated roads that'll take you up onto the rocky ridges and start flingin arrows. The birds have been plentiful the last few years. I haven't used a bow in years but I've killed far more Grouse without my dog's and my 22 rifle than I have with my bird dogs and a shotgun.
Please don't tell my bird dogs I said that.

I am sure you have seen more grouse with a dog than without in the same amount of of time. That is if it's a bird dog
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: chukardogs on February 20, 2025, 08:02:18 AM: Quote from: Skyvalhunter on February 20, 2025, 07:38:25 AM
Quote from: chukardogs on February 19, 2025, 03:59:05 PM
Head northeast about 4 to 6 hours. Find mountains in the 4 to 6000 foot elevation range. Find gated roads that'll take you up onto the rocky ridges and start flingin arrows. The birds have been plentiful the last few years. I haven't used a bow in years but I've killed far more Grouse without my dog's and my 22 rifle than I have with my bird dogs and a shotgun.
Please don't tell my bird dogs I said that.

I am sure you have seen more grouse with a dog than without in the same amount of of time. That is if it's a bird dog

Didn't say "seen," said killed. Kinda like in dead, ready for oil, spices and into my frying pan or grill over the fire.
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: chukardogs on February 20, 2025, 08:12:07 AM: Grouse grilled over the fire is delish!
Title: Re: Just moved to Washington SOS
Post by: danjabellza on March 06, 2025, 07:50:09 AM: It’s been over a decade since I’ve done any upland bird hunt, but I Always had a great time stomping around for birds in the soap lake area. There were quite a few back then. Though, I’ve heard a lot of the spots have been drying up.