Post by: Ellensburg on September 01, 2011, 09:26:00 PM
I went out with my girlfriend today and managed to get 2 nice blue grouse. Let my dog try to retrieve them. He caught an injured one and retrieved one. He is definitely improving.
Saw about 10 grouse in total.
Post by: Heartsblood on September 01, 2011, 10:35:12 PM
Lets start gettin pictures/stories.
You start then.... :chuckle:
Congrats on a nice opener. :tup:
Post by: Ellensburg on September 01, 2011, 11:00:06 PM
Lets start gettin pictures/stories.
You start then.... :chuckle:
Congrats on a nice opener. :tup:
Grouse camp starts tomorrow. Should have pictures of mounds and mounds of grouse.
Post by: Heartsblood on September 02, 2011, 06:47:52 AM
Lets start gettin pictures/stories.
I went out with my girlfriend today and managed to get 2 nice blue grouse. Let my dog try to retrieve them. He caught an injured one and retrieved one. He is definitely improving.
Saw about 10 grouse in total.
Where should I meet ya? :chuckle:
Seriously tho' good luck. Hopefully I'll be able to contribute to this thread and/or a coupla others here sooner than later...
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on September 02, 2011, 06:59:24 AM
Post by: halflife65 on September 02, 2011, 07:06:49 AM
Well, anyway, good luck!
Post by: Heartsblood on September 02, 2011, 07:41:43 AM
Post by: ghosthunter on September 02, 2011, 07:48:15 AM
Just like ghost hunting. :IBCOOL:
Post by: Swatson on September 02, 2011, 08:01:06 AM
Post by: C-Money on September 02, 2011, 08:43:24 AM
Post by: Ramble_On on September 02, 2011, 03:15:19 PM
Post by: shooternme on September 02, 2011, 08:55:30 PM
Post by: HuntNFish on September 02, 2011, 10:20:26 PM
Post by: MtnMuley on September 02, 2011, 10:34:05 PM
Post by: TangoU on September 02, 2011, 11:37:15 PM
Post by: Emptyhanded on September 03, 2011, 01:14:56 PM
Post by: Heartsblood on September 04, 2011, 10:09:40 AM
Just shows ta go ya - it's never over 'til it's over.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-nwFPcvadrv4/TmOtfTmDQnI/AAAAAAAAHSI/7quTgIOCSeQ/s800/P1000691.JPG)
Post by: larryanderson3 on September 04, 2011, 12:49:30 PM
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=47.555422,-121.856969
Post by: Stickerbush on September 04, 2011, 06:31:21 PM
Post by: Forrestrover on September 04, 2011, 09:54:10 PM
Post by: Stickerbush on September 04, 2011, 10:18:25 PM
Post by: alecvg on September 05, 2011, 12:04:58 PM
Post by: johng on September 05, 2011, 01:47:30 PM
Forrest, we will have to get out there soon... maybe this coming Saturday? Good job to Ty!
- Jg
Post by: ICEMAN on September 05, 2011, 07:38:28 PM
You have a grouse camp? Huh.
Well, anyway, good luck!
We have had a grouse camp for the last 20 years atleast. I wasn't able to make it this year....and I surely miss it. Tons of fun. Don't knock it....till you tried it!
Post by: Heartsblood on September 05, 2011, 10:41:45 PM
have gotten 10 since the opener. sorry no pics because everyone knows what grouse are.Well then, ya owe us a story. Them's the rules :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :
Quote
Lets start gettin pictures/stories.
Seriously tho', Congrats on a great first few days! That's awesome! :)
Post by: Heartsblood on September 05, 2011, 10:44:12 PM
Now this is funny, "the sound of a zipper apparently does the trick fairly well!" :chuckle:
- Jg
Yeah we're gonna try and market that call. We're naming it the "Your Fly Is Down", call. Whatcha think? :chuckle:
Post by: Kola16 on September 05, 2011, 10:54:17 PM
Post by: Forrestrover on September 06, 2011, 09:37:11 PM
fyi dont mistake turkeys for grouse :chuckle:Ya, thanks, ha ha! My brother only saw it out of the corner of his eye at first and thought it was a small turkey!
:)
Post by: Forrestrover on September 06, 2011, 09:39:26 PM
Now this is funny, "the sound of a zipper apparently does the trick fairly well!" :chuckle:John, we will do some grouse hunting for sure. I don't know about this sat, as I have been invited to do some fishing in the morning. Keep in touch bro.
Forrest, we will have to get out there soon... maybe this coming Saturday? Good job to Ty!
- Jg
Post by: WildBear on September 08, 2011, 05:15:03 AM
Post by: JKEEN33 on September 08, 2011, 09:12:32 AM
Post by: Heartsblood on September 08, 2011, 09:48:37 AM
Spent some time in 204 looking for deer and grouse. Knocked these two down the first day. My dog kicked up a lot of birds while there. I was able to knock down 6 for him.I'm headed out that way this weekend. Can't wait.
Post by: Buckmark on September 08, 2011, 10:11:53 AM
After hitting the usual "spots" that during good years produce limits in the first hour and not seeing a whole lot we hit some "new" ie never had to hunt them before draws and found some birds, figured out what they were eating and the side of the mountain they liked and the hunting got pretty good, was able to put a few in the cooler every morning after that.
The deer hunting was also promising, did not notch my tag, saw bucks everyday, 4x4 & basket 3x3 (not counting eye guards) opening evening hunt but could not get closer than 80yrds, doe's that i let walk, a lone spotted fawn i saw every day and started to feel sorry for it, a broken horn buck that has the broken spike still attached to hide and bothering him, would shake his head every few mintues, i named him floopy the wonder buck LB really wanted me to take him and was trying really hard to get me to hunt him, i said if he is still around come late season maybe ;) and had a nice 3x3 at 22yds that busted me when i started to draw (my fault i should have waited).
Going back over the 16th-25th or when i tag out...should get some more grouse then...
Post by: Heartsblood on September 08, 2011, 11:12:23 AM
Spent the 1-5th hunting grouse in the morning and deer in the late afternoon/evening, was not real hopefull for groue considering the cold spring/summer we had in my area and the lack of grouse i had heard/seen during my time scouting/cutting wood.
After hitting the usual "spots" that during good years produce limits in the first hour and not seeing a whole lot we hit some "new" ie never had to hunt them before draws and found some birds, figured out what they were eating and the side of the mountain they liked and the hunting got pretty good, was able to put a few in the cooler every morning after that.
The deer hunting was also promising, did not notch my tag, saw bucks everyday, 4x4 & basket 3x3 (not counting eye guards) opening evening hunt but could not get closer than 80yrds, doe's that i let walk, a lone spotted fawn i saw every day and started to feel sorry for it, a broken horn buck that has the broken spike still attached to hide and bothering him, would shake his head every few mintues, i named him floopy the wonder buck LB really wanted me to take him and was trying really hard to get me to hunt him, i said if he is still around come late season maybe ;) and had a nice 3x3 at 22yds that busted me when i started to draw (my fault i should have waited).
Going back over the 16th-25th or when i tag out...should get some more grouse then...
Nice! Thanks for the report. I was thinking about you guys yesterday and wondering how it went. Glad to hear there are birds around. I have plans to hunt the Twisp area on sunday and hope to hike up to the ridge above our place on Tonasket maybe monday morning. I'm told there are birds up there so we'll see. Still looking to find good grouse areas closer to the ranch so, maybe this is it.
Post by: 2dognight on September 08, 2011, 07:22:46 PM
Post by: fethrduster on September 09, 2011, 04:09:28 PM
Post by: Shoffy on September 10, 2011, 06:36:24 PM
Post by: Dave Workman on September 12, 2011, 04:44:01 PM
What I did notice though is that the blues are lower on the slopes a bit and they are hugging the timber because of the heat. And it is dry out there. Awfully dry.
Post by: jamesjett on September 13, 2011, 12:39:58 AM
found grouse...Two days, two limits!
Post by: Heartsblood on September 13, 2011, 09:00:23 PM
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wc-VvnQ1SXk/TnARd9pQOcI/AAAAAAAAHXU/QHzkDUKPhO4/s800/P1000738.JPG)
Post by: Buckmark on September 13, 2011, 09:13:03 PM
Post by: Cap.Silver on September 13, 2011, 09:30:30 PM
Post by: Heartsblood on September 13, 2011, 10:35:36 PM
Good job heartsblood, those look like blues ;)Here's another picture of 'em. Being that I am newish to grouse hunting, I had a heck of a time trying to I.D. them. Maybe I was incorrect?
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VynFCCiCSAs/TnARNTok6PI/AAAAAAAAHWw/dQoNTdmeMb0/s800/P1000730.JPG)
I also assumed by what was in their crops:
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--A4nJn4OYeU/TnASF8ZZ3VI/AAAAAAAAHYo/rz0Ia34-UeM/s800/P1000750.JPG)
Besides the berries and ants, pine needles!
Post by: Heartsblood on September 13, 2011, 11:42:17 PM
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VGR49hXn-kw/TnBJVbjIcLI/AAAAAAAAHdw/gv6aNvsxgKs/s800/P1000766.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kYvFYubb9II/TnBJWxEkbwI/AAAAAAAAHdg/RabnLXwzVkY/s800/P1000767.JPG)
Post by: Stickerbush on September 14, 2011, 08:28:05 AM
Had a good day on Sunday - made new friends and nearly limited on Spruce Grouse.limits 4 right? I only see 3 birds there. Better than I ever done though, great job
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wc-VvnQ1SXk/TnARd9pQOcI/AAAAAAAAHXU/QHzkDUKPhO4/s800/P1000738.JPG)
Post by: netcoyote on September 14, 2011, 09:48:03 AM
Quote
Here's another picture of 'em. Being that I am newish to grouse hunting, I had a heck of a time trying to I.D. them. Maybe I was incorrect?Good hunting on Sunday with ya there, Heartsblood. I've been trying to get a better ID on those birds since we got back. The one bomber that I got on Saturday was definitely a Blue. A Blue male at that. As soon as I heard the "thump" when he hit the ground, I knew he was a big Blue.
I've been searching for some good ID information and pics and the best that I could find is this one:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/biggame.aspx?id=10 (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/biggame.aspx?id=10)
Spruce grouse or Blue?? It's really tough to tell the difference between young birds if they are both female. Pretty sure that they were females. Did you notice any combs above the eyes? It appears that the Spruce have a bit more white on the belly feathers than the Blues. Mature Blues will always be larger than Spruce. Regional differences may also make ID'ing difficult if we try to compare western birds with eastern.
Friday I bagged a smallish bird because I was starting to think this year was like the last and I may not get another shot at one. Since it appears there are a lot of birds out there, I decided to be picky and only take the biggest. What a welcome change from last year!
Post by: Heartsblood on September 14, 2011, 10:27:27 AM
It was great to meet ya (and Boomer!) sunday. I had an awesome time. We should do it again sooner than later. And let's talk turkey when it gets closer too ;).
Post by: SkookumJeff on September 14, 2011, 12:48:34 PM
Both of the grouse I took this weekend were Spruce grouse. Beautiful birds with black feathers, white accent feathers and brilliant red eye combs. I noticed that one of these birds were walking around with their tail erect and fanned, like a strutting turkey. I'd never seen that behavior before in the field. Always something new to learn....
Skook
Similar to these images...
Post by: Heartsblood on September 14, 2011, 03:31:23 PM
Wow. I guess I hadn't realized that you got a coupla males. Beautiful! I gotta see that sometime - Spruces struttin' around and such. Very cool!
Post by: Ellensburg on September 17, 2011, 10:31:03 PM
Post by: CamoDup on September 17, 2011, 10:40:38 PM
Post by: Heartsblood on September 18, 2011, 12:10:35 AM
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EqZ-Bzpq3z0/TnUjJSbhMwI/AAAAAAAAHgM/Reva_kEwieQ/s800/P1000781.JPG)
Found a good new spot where I busted up two coveys - one blue grouse, one ruffed. Chased around both groups and got several flushes outta each. Amazing how they seem to put cover between you and them on the flush. Good times!
Post by: larryanderson3 on September 19, 2011, 11:00:11 PM
What a glorious thread.I agree
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=47.555438,-121.857672
Post by: Mo on September 22, 2011, 08:49:15 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myhostedpics.com%2Fimages%2FPathfinder%2Fmg2262.jpg&hash=47b8c2d241b7e5b19eeee357bdcf7ca5b3011181)
There were plenty of Fajitas to go around. Looks like it'll be a good year.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myhostedpics.com%2Fimages%2FPathfinder%2Fmg2272.jpg&hash=37d221e99cc752ae812590c3b9b82358c328ddca)
Post by: Heartsblood on September 22, 2011, 12:36:06 PM
Barbecued one of these birds the other night:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Al7EAXyUao8/TnAREpXHg1I/AAAAAAAAHWc/_OtfVlOccxs/s800/P1000729.JPG)
Just a little creole seasoning and nothing else. Little less than 4 minutes on the grill. Pulled off the still pink in the middle grill job! :IBCOOL:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cqyPXpMiCk4/TnlYlIgB_7I/AAAAAAAAHj8/wqVDzazJxjk/s800/IMG_20110920_202132.jpg)
Post by: Huntboy on September 22, 2011, 01:04:19 PM
Post by: PaulM on September 22, 2011, 07:15:01 PM
Post by: ldjbuff on September 25, 2011, 09:45:59 AM
Post by: JKEEN33 on September 30, 2011, 08:49:12 PM