collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: GROUSE 2024...THE LONG COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!  (Read 8712 times)

Offline Dave Workman

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 2946
  • Location: In the woods, by the big tree
GROUSE 2024...THE LONG COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!
« on: June 26, 2024, 06:21:03 PM »
It's almost July, time to start looking for grouse broods, checking out your shotshell supply, and figuring out how and where you'll be hunting this fall.
The opener is on a Sunday, Sept 15.  Last season, I fulfilled a promise to my readers at AMERICAN HANDGUNNER and took my first bird of the season with a .22-caliber pistol. Then out came the 20-gauge Franchi shotgun. As openers go, it went pretty well. By the afternoon, I had three in the cooler, and one soon landed in the frying pan. Can't beat that!

For the next 12 weeks, scout-scout-scout and scout some more!  Break out the shotgun and get some clay birds to get your skills back up to snuff.

It is widely known I prefer No. 6s in my 12- and 20-gauge guns. I use 3-inchers in my .410, which has been a grouse buster for sure.

 
« Last Edit: July 27, 2024, 06:48:17 AM by Dave Workman »
"The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted." - D.H. Lawrence

Offline Boss .300 winmag

  • FLY NAVAL AVIATION
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+22)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 18154
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • How do you measure trying, you do, or you don’t.
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2024, 07:16:48 PM »
This year I’m getting one with my recurve hell or high water.🤣
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

Keep Calm And Duc/Ski Doo On!

Offline hunter399

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8191
  • Location: In Your Hunting Spot
  • Groups: NRA RMEF
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2024, 07:25:28 PM »
I've seen a few ,looks like another good year.

Offline Sakko300wsm

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2015
  • Posts: 1021
  • Location: Lynden
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2024, 03:39:23 PM »
Should be a great year , been seeing a bunch. Last year was amazing
VELOCITY MARINE- ALUMINUM BOATS
I hunt fur and fins!!
23' X 9' custom jet in the works
Haxby 550hp 496"
Hammi 241
Stick steer

Offline Dave Workman

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 2946
  • Location: In the woods, by the big tree
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2024, 07:31:09 AM »
Should be a great year , been seeing a bunch. Last year was amazing

Well, last year was okay, but remember, some places had lots of grouse while other places did not appear to have a very good crop. I hunted South Cle Elum Ridge, Taneum Ridge and the Taneum Creek drainage, where there were lots of birds, and then up the Teanaway and across Teanaway Ridge, where I didn't see many birds at all in the usual places.
There were also some other places where traditionally I've seen good numbers of grouse, but last year didn't produce so good, and I never personally pulled a trigger!

Here's a photo taken on the evening of opening day.  I did NOT shoot this hooter with the .41 Magnum I was packing.  This particular bird was taken with a shotgun, and about 30 minutes after this photo session, it was sizzling in my cast iron skillet in a mix of butter and olive oil, along with a mix of potatoes and onions.

(Share your photos in this thread, too!)
 
"The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted." - D.H. Lawrence

Offline Houmike

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • Join Date: Oct 2023
  • Posts: 1
  • Location: Battle Ground
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2024, 10:43:37 AM »
This is my first grouse season up here, or anywhere. I am looking forward to getting out and finding some birds.

Offline Hirt

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2022
  • Posts: 18
  • Location: Port Orchard
    • Myles Hirtreiter
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2024, 11:05:56 AM »
I always get excited for grouse opener. Do you use dogs or just do a lot of walking? I've put some serious miles on the past two seasons and seem to always be a step behind the fool hens.

Any grouse recipes you could share? I love cooking wild game for my wife. She didn't grow up in a hunting household so everything is new to her.

Offline ducks4days

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Apr 2021
  • Posts: 870
  • Location: Ravensdale
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2024, 01:21:06 PM »
Ive taken a handful of grouse incidentally, but never targeted them. My new 4 legged hunting partner needs me to find excuses for her to get out ahead of the waterfowl season, and I have an off-season during muzzleloader I plan on filling with grouse. Im looking forward to actually targeting them for the first time this year, success be damned.
What country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

Offline Dave Workman

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 2946
  • Location: In the woods, by the big tree
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2024, 08:50:30 AM »
I always get excited for grouse opener. Do you use dogs or just do a lot of walking? I've put some serious miles on the past two seasons and seem to always be a step behind the fool hens.

Any grouse recipes you could share? I love cooking wild game for my wife. She didn't grow up in a hunting household so everything is new to her.

Lotta walking. No dog. You've got to understand grouse. Around here, it's acceptable to ground sluice them with a rifle, pistol or even a shotgun when they're out there a ways. They will get nervous, try to sneak away, hide behind a bush, fly up into a nearby tree. It's a challenge to hit them on the wing, and sometimes even on the ground, but the ultimate goal is to have something for the table.

For frying: Start your pan slow warming and add a strip or two of bacon, You can rub the breasts in flower and pepper or seasoning and drop them in the hot pan, with  some sliced potatoes and a couple of onion rings. cook to golden brown. Delicious.

Bake them or barbecue them. Put breasts and legs in a baggie with some seasoning of your choice, (teriyaki is good, maybe with a little garlic) let them soak for a couple of hours, toss them on the barbecue or a hibachi and cook away.  Cook again to golden brown.  Mouth watering!


Cook the breasts up and substitute them for chicken breasts and cook up some grouse parmesan with pasta!


Bon apetite!
"The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted." - D.H. Lawrence

Offline Dave Workman

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 2946
  • Location: In the woods, by the big tree
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2024, 06:47:30 AM »
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS.

The Sept. 15 opener is back again...the excuse is that too many hens are getting bopped on Labor Day weekend, but there is lots of suspicion out there the delay is REALLY about keeping hunters out of the field until after Labor Day weekend so the flatlanders can enjoy without all of those people with guns in the woods...so the countdown from now is approximately six weeks.

In the meantime, don't forget to vote in the primary, make sure your shotgun(s) is/are clean and ready to rock. Get to the gun shop and buy some shells. If you hunt with a rimfire, get to the range and make sure you can hit a bottlecap at 25 yards. Don't mess around with this because marksmanship is critical.

Now's a good time to start taking walks around the neighborhood or the local park to get your legs and feet in shape. Then walk some more!

Scouting:  This is a BIG DEAL!  Do not underestimate the importance of scouting grouse haunts. Broods are showing up now, and between now and the opener, they're just fattening up.  Take your binoculars and a map so you can circle the areas you scout for later reference.

The grouse opener is on a Sunday.  I'm taking the following Monday off!  :tup: 


Okay, who has already started any of this? Eh?
"The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted." - D.H. Lawrence

Offline Dave Workman

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2008
  • Posts: 2946
  • Location: In the woods, by the big tree
Re: GROUSE 2024...THE LONG COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2024, 07:24:57 PM »
We are now at about 6 weeks and counting.... SEASON OPENS SEPT. 15.. It's a Sunday and I'm certainly going to be taking Monday off!
Plenty of time to get out some clays, polish your shotgunning skills and do some practice with your .22 rifle and/or pistol. Watch for my September column in 'NORTHWEST SPORTSMAN' magazine.

"The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted." - D.H. Lawrence

Offline Mochi

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Oct 2023
  • Posts: 20
  • Location: Mill Creek
  • Groups: NRA, WAC, FPC, GOA
Re: GROUSE 2024...Let the fool hens fly!!!!
« Reply #11 on: August 18, 2024, 08:33:04 AM »
Should be a great year , been seeing a bunch. Last year was amazing

Well, last year was okay, but remember, some places had lots of grouse while other places did not appear to have a very good crop. I hunted South Cle Elum Ridge, Taneum Ridge and the Taneum Creek drainage, where there were lots of birds, and then up the Teanaway and across Teanaway Ridge, where I didn't see many birds at all in the usual places.
There were also some other places where traditionally I've seen good numbers of grouse, but last year didn't produce so good, and I never personally pulled a trigger!

Here's a photo taken on the evening of opening day.  I did NOT shoot this hooter with the .41 Magnum I was packing.  This particular bird was taken with a shotgun, and about 30 minutes after this photo session, it was sizzling in my cast iron skillet in a mix of butter and olive oil, along with a mix of potatoes and onions.

(Share your photos in this thread, too!)

Went out that way yesterday and was surprised at how few birds I saw.  I saw one ruffed that got hit on the road on the way in and thought it was a sign there was going to be a lot of birds.  I only saw one all day and talked to another guy scouting for deer who also was surprised at not seeing any birds at all.

I did check out some other areas west of the mountains in July and saw lots of birds with their chicks so not sure what’s going on out near Cle Elum.

Online jrebel

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+23)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Feb 2008
  • Posts: 11010
  • Location: East Wenatchee
Re: GROUSE 2024...THE LONG COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!
« Reply #12 on: August 18, 2024, 08:38:26 AM »
We have as many grouse as I have ever seen.  It should be another good grouse year.  Blues and ruffs are looking real good. 

Happy hunting to all the grouse getters out there.   :tup:

Offline Chris57

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Sep 2020
  • Posts: 77
  • Location: Granite Falls, WA
    • none
  • Groups: NRA, Seattle Rifle & Pistol Association.
Re: GROUSE 2024...THE LONG COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!
« Reply #13 on: August 18, 2024, 10:34:11 AM »
We used to see dozens of grouse above Winthrop a couple of years ago but the last two years was a total bust. This year while picking morels we saw one bird in 2 weeks, not looking good for our normal area around Boulder Creek.

Offline Sakko300wsm

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2015
  • Posts: 1021
  • Location: Lynden
Re: GROUSE 2024...THE LONG COUNTDOWN BEGINS!!!!
« Reply #14 on: August 18, 2024, 11:07:50 AM »
Went out yesterday on the sxs for a couple hrs - saw atleast 20 grouse (combination) here in Ferry
Looks like it will be another great year
Tons of young birds as well
Looks like grouse and turkeys are doing very well
VELOCITY MARINE- ALUMINUM BOATS
I hunt fur and fins!!
23' X 9' custom jet in the works
Haxby 550hp 496"
Hammi 241
Stick steer

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

15 Years - Chiwawa 2024 by hunter_sean08
[Today at 07:18:19 PM]


New Grouse Hunter by JProper
[Today at 06:46:32 PM]


2024 deer. Let’s see um! by jrebel
[Today at 06:43:18 PM]


2024 H-W 14th Annual Christmas Gift Exchange by Wetwoodshunter
[Today at 05:48:26 PM]


What's going on with skagit island unit? by burritosupreme2
[Today at 05:08:50 PM]


379 archery buck by Sandberm
[Today at 04:39:35 PM]


Heart Breaking by Jpmiller
[Today at 04:02:10 PM]


Cougar season closures by time2hunt
[Today at 03:41:22 PM]


Steelhead on the Methow! by OutHouse
[Today at 02:09:48 PM]


Snoqualmie Tree Farm Cougar ideas? by rainshadow1
[Today at 12:54:22 PM]


Blue MTN foothills west by geauxtigers
[Today at 11:59:12 AM]


Chamber Vacuum Sealers by GWP
[Today at 11:30:34 AM]


Pe Ell North Elk Hunting by Cspahman99
[Today at 08:33:22 AM]


2024 Elk Success Thread by PeninsulaPariah
[Today at 07:44:29 AM]


North Idaho whitetail rut by TeacherMan
[Today at 07:21:12 AM]


Avian Flu & Botulism by metlhead
[Today at 06:57:40 AM]


621 Olympic Rifle Elk by dagon
[Today at 05:44:39 AM]


My first quality tag - Chiwawa by NOCK NOCK
[Today at 05:15:54 AM]


Manson Sheep by Buckjunkie
[Today at 05:07:30 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal