Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: Heartsblood on October 13, 2011, 09:56:32 AM

Title: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Heartsblood on October 13, 2011, 09:56:32 AM: So I forked out the extra $82 because last week I was scouting for ducks when I flushed at least 6 pheasants out there. "Man!", I thought. "I coulda limited no problem..."

So yesterday I head out on my lunch break. I walk around a bit and I'll be darned if I come across a ruffed grouse about 70 yards down the path. WTH? I was positive there weren't any grouse around here. So, in my excitement I took a low percentage shot -over 60 yards. I didn't feel confident that I could get much closer, and the brush was too think to try and put a stalk on him. Yet another case of "I wish I could have that one over again..." :bash:

I run over to where I am sure he was and find two feathers attached to each other and that's it. I look around expecting to hear wings flapping but nothing.

I give up the search and walk around a bit more. Maybe an hour later I decide to head back to work as I've seen no pheasants and it's been longer than I like to be away. I end up heading back down the same path when I stop because my head is pounding. Or my heart? Wait a frigging minute here! I'm not out of breath! WTF? Oh. My. Gawd. It's the drumming of a ruffed grouse and I am standing 10 feet beyond where I had shot (at) him. I was positive ruffed grouse only drum in the springtime. What the heck is going on here? So now I know it's my destiny to take this bird. He's calling me in. I creep back into the thick cover slowly, only moving when I hear him drumming. I know he's within range. It takes me 20 minutes to travel 20 yards. I know I;m close, if I could just get beyond this little patch of ::SNAP!::

I freeze. I wait. I listen for the return of his drumming. after about five more minutes of silence I bust through hoping to get a flush. Nothing. I was busted. He obviously wandered off in the general direction of "away". :hello:

I had three good lessons today:
Grouse are present close to home.
Ruffed Grouse drum at other times besides spring.
I am not as patient as I had thought I was (*censored*!).

I walk back to Behemoth with a wide range of feelings - excitement, thrill, frustration, disappointment, gratitude, failure, hope. But mostly what I experience even now thinking about it is the feeling of wanting - desire. I desire to be afield. More. More often. As mush as possible.

This is what hunting has done to me.
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Forrestrover on October 13, 2011, 09:49:16 PM: Wow, I've never seen grouse there. I'll keep my eyes open for them.
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Wingin it on October 14, 2011, 09:30:22 AM: I have crossed paths with a few out there over the years. Usually on the back trails in the woods.
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Smalma on October 17, 2011, 06:33:52 PM: Not surprised that you encountered a ruff. During the mid-1980s actually target them a few times late in the season (leafs off the trees) with some success. As mentioned found them back in the woods.

Curt
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Heartsblood on October 18, 2011, 08:08:40 AM: I went back on Friday to look for him again but instead connected with this guy:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XCqQnokOF68/TpinOWwcQaI/AAAAAAAAIEw/2iidFk8Zf7I/s800/IMG_20111014_132757.jpg)

I'll definitely be more aware from here out. Always learn something it seems...
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Heartsblood on October 19, 2011, 04:38:11 PM: I suppose it;'s not impossible that the grouse I bagged today was the same bird I saw last week. But regardless,I am happy to say that I finally connected with a woodland drummer right near the same area on my lunch break today. :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Heartsblood on October 19, 2011, 07:57:47 PM: Here are a coupla pics. I really blasted the heck outta this bird as he was really close - I nearly took one of his wings completely off. I was fairly bummed out but was pleasantly surprised that I could salvage nearly all or the breast meat.

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CvPTURZnN9U/Tp-ND_Q2utI/AAAAAAAAIPw/pC4ujmZWW7k/s800/P1010004.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5khiTB3ZVX0/Tp-NGz9VF9I/AAAAAAAAIQM/-qjxpgzOlyU/s800/P1010007.JPG)
Title: Re: Pheasant hunting @ Crescent Lake
Post by: Camp David on October 20, 2011, 09:24:37 AM: Nice job on the birds! Glad to see that your getting out. I've seen some grouse in the release sites in Carnation/Duvall (a few years back) also.