Late Fall Grouse Hunting?

[Mochi]

Just curious if anybody hunts grouse past October and into the later months as the weather gets colder.  I never see many at all once the rainy season or once snow starts falling east of the mountains.  Seems like they just vanish and I imagine they go deeper in the forest.  Areas that I’ve seen them all the time early season become void of any grouse as the days get shorter and the weather colder.

Anybody know if it’s even worth a shot to go looking this time of year or even into December? 

[Humptulips]

I always pack my gun when I'm trapping in December. I see more grouse that time of year than early. It seems like they are less apt to fly too. Where in September grouse often fly 100 yards before I get to them, when it is rainy and cold they sit until I can get closer.
This year because I ended my deer and elk season with my injury, I'm hoping I can substitute a little more grouse.

[Mochi]

With your username, I’m guessing you’re on the coast?  Only places I’ve hunted grouse is Eastern WA and it’s starting to get cold out there, some decent freezes and light snow on the ground yesterday.

[ghosthunter]

Seems that I read that grouse move higher in elevation when it gets cold?

[Mochi]

Seems that I read that grouse move higher in elevation when it gets cold?

That’s blue grouse that do that from what I read.  Not sure if the ruffed grouse stay in the same areas or move lower.  Where I’ve been hunting it sure seems like the moved out or went into the thick forest.

[22shtur]

Grouse hunting is my passion. Deer and elk hunting take days away from my grouse hunting. I usually hunt them until the first part of Dec, if the forest roads are accessible into my areas.

[bmc02]

i've shot grouse in the NE corner in November and into early December. road access obviously becomes a limiting factor once the snow starts.

my thought is after rifle seasons the "road grouse" have been wiped out and it takes some quiet time for the road areas to fill in again. so you just don't see as many late in October through mid November. get off the roads a ways and you'll find them.

I sure love shooting grouse!

[KP-Skagit]

Funny how experiences can vary from person to person.

In my experience the grouse can still be found in November and December. I find that the ruffed grouse are spooky after rifle deer season, usually hard to get a shot. This is specific to eastside.

When the snow really starts to fly they will move further down from what I have seen. I will jump blues out of the buckbrush and sage while hunting other birds. Then again, I also can't get up to where I usually find them so this could be a false trend. Similarly with ruffed grouse which I will find way lower than usual, in river bottom thickets etc.

[Mochi]

I found a new area to hunt and while I saw 6 grouse today, and they all were extremely spooky so I agree that the deer and elk hunting has them in edge.  Of the 3in shooting range with a shotgun I had a chance at, only one was driving the roads, the rest were walking on foot and all flushed too early to even get a shot off.  The one on the road ran out in front of me and stopped at about 20 feet away and took off into the forest as soon as I opened the door, 

Even though I got skunked, great to see quite a few birds and it got me motivated to keep at it the next few weeks.

[bmc02]

i've found over the years while road hunting with my wife and kids - I keep the shotgun handy for the majority of opportunities. I also almost always have a 22 within reach for when they are out of shotgun range. Either for when you spot them far away or for when they flush to a tree. it's nice to have options!

[hunter399]

Ya,I'm always looking for a few grouse.
Look in the brush and trees along the roads. In the mourning when it's frosty and cold. Afternoon sun, little warmer part of the day.
Look more to the ground.
Winter time seems like when flushed ,more likely to fly up in a tree.

That's all the advise I got.

[Platensek-po]

I found a new area to hunt and while I saw 6 grouse today, and they all were extremely spooky so I agree that the deer and elk hunting has them in edge.  Of the 3in shooting range with a shotgun I had a chance at, only one was driving the roads, the rest were walking on foot and all flushed too early to even get a shot off.  The one on the road ran out in front of me and stopped at about 20 feet away and took off into the forest as soon as I opened the door, 

Even though I got skunked, great to see quite a few birds and it got me motivated to keep at it the next few weeks.

I always attributed their spookiness due to lack of foliage. Once the woods become more visible they get more skittish.