Eastern Ruffed Grouse.

I burned a lot of gas and boot leather chasing bush chickens last year and came up empty handed most of the time...and that includes just being able to see/hear birds. It was pretty slim pickings indeed. And, I'm thinking that this year may be even worse given the brutal winter and cold wet and late spring. Nevertheless, I will be out with my hunter apprentice daughter, trying to find and chase the little buggers!
 
Big Bad said:
You're getting some quick variations there, but it does show a generally downward trend more recently. Which means things should be picking up for the next 3-4 years.
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You're reading that differently than I. I see an increase in flush rates until 2011, a drop for 2012 and based on memory, worse for 2013. I don't think things will be looking up for a couple of years yet.
 
Had piles of grouse around my place last year..... seeing lots around the sides of the gravel roads this year as well.... along with plenty of rabbits.... actually bagged my first double in a long time last year.....
 
Chuckbuster said:
I burned a lot of gas and boot leather chasing bush chickens last year and came up empty handed most of the time...and that includes just being able to see/hear birds. It was pretty slim pickings indeed. And, I'm thinking that this year may be even worse given the brutal winter and cold wet and late spring. Nevertheless, I will be out with my hunter apprentice daughter, trying to find and chase the little buggers!
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Echoes my experience (and fall plans) exactly! Here is my young apprentice on our first hunt of 2013. Not a single shot fired, but an amazing time just the same. We spooked one we saw 75 yards away that ran from the edge of a clearing into thick bush and vanished. (still tried to find it anyway) Only other bird we saw was pecking gravel 6' from my truck when we got back to it. lol

ApprenticeHunterDarcyREDUC_zps76833c63.jpg


Superbrad said:
Had piles of grouse around my place last year..... seeing lots around the sides of the gravel roads this year as well.... along with plenty of rabbits.... actually bagged my first double in a long time last year.....
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Sounds great Brad. I'll just need an address. :)
 
Superbrad said:
Had piles of grouse around my place last year..... seeing lots around the sides of the gravel roads this year as well.... along with plenty of rabbits.... actually bagged my first double in a long time last year.....
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Funny - being just across the lake and all.
 
looch said:
You're reading that differently than I. I see an increase in flush rates until 2011, a drop for 2012 and based on memory, worse for 2013. I don't think things will be looking up for a couple of years yet.
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My thought is that when you're dealing with a 7 year cycle (as I believe), two years represents the bottom or the top of the curve and after that things are either improving or getting worse. In this case, improving. Hopefully. Despite the weather.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Echoes my experience (and fall plans) exactly! Here is my young apprentice on our first hunt of 2013. Not a single shot fired, but an amazing time just the same. We spooked one we saw 75 yards away that ran from the edge of a clearing into thick bush and vanished. (still tried to find it anyway) Only other bird we saw was pecking gravel 6' from my truck when we got back to it. lol

ApprenticeHunterDarcyREDUC_zps76833c63.jpg




Sounds great Brad. I'll just need an address. :)
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Cute kid, and obviously Daddy's little girl. If she has access to Facebook, you should consider exposing her to Kendall Jones' FB page. She's the 19 year old sportswoman that was in the news recently, PETA got after her, quite the girl with a gun and apparently a real conservationist. https://www.facebook.com/kendalltakeswild
 
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Big Bad said:
My thought is that when you're dealing with a 7 year cycle (as I believe), two years represents the bottom or the top of the curve and after that things are either improving or getting worse. In this case, improving. Hopefully. Despite the weather.
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I see what you're saying. My thinking is 7 ÷ 2 = 3.5, so 3-4 years up and 3-4 years down. If 2011 was the peak, then the valley will be 2014 or 15.

I hope you're right.
 
Big Bad said:
Cute kid, and obviously Daddy's little girl. If she has access to Facebook, you should consider exposing her to Kendall Jones' FB page. She's the 19 year old sportswoman that was in the news recently, PETA got after her, quite the girl with a gun and apparently a real conservationist. https://www.facebook.com/kendalltakeswild
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Thanks Big Bad~she's a cutie for sure! I remember reading about Kendall, I'll take a look at her page. As for my apprentice~she did just a little groundhog hunting this spring, but is very eager to get out for grouse this fall. In fact, she's run a full case of 20ga. bird shot through that 870 Youth this summer alone, so I have a hunch the grouse won't be so lucky this fall. We just need to find them!
 
.22LRGUY said:
Echoes my experience (and fall plans) exactly! Here is my young apprentice on our first hunt of 2013. Not a single shot fired, but an amazing time just the same. We spooked one we saw 75 yards away that ran from the edge of a clearing into thick bush and vanished. (still tried to find it anyway) Only other bird we saw was pecking gravel 6' from my truck when we got back to it. lol

ApprenticeHunterDarcyREDUC_zps76833c63.jpg
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Glad to see someone else out with their daughter. She looks like she's having a great time with Dad. I like it.
 
I have seen a steady decline in their population here in central ontario for the past 10 years. I rely on their mating drumming calls in spring to get an idea about their numbers. Where 10 years ago their drummings were constant and coming from everywhere, now they are few and far between.

I think it is something other than a cycle. Hares are there so it is not work of starving predators. I suspect something more imposing like weather patterns or maybe some disease at work.
 
looch said:
Funny - being just across the lake and all.
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They seem to be in pockets in my experience..... 3 years ago at one point I had no less than 6 underneath my stand while deer hunting at one point..... then some years if you don't walk in the right spot at the right time you can't buy a flush.....
 
Anyone hunt grouse with a bow? Considering trying it as my archery skills are improving and I think it would be pretty rewarding to take some birds with the bow.
 
jongun said:
Anyone hunt grouse with a bow? Considering trying it as my archery skills are improving and I think it would be pretty rewarding to take some birds with the bow.
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I have taken sitting grouse with a recurve and fru fru arrows. .... it Is rewarding to do so but you will miss your shotgun over time....
 
Haven't hunted them with a shotgun yet as there hasn't been any need to. Took 8 ruffed last year while driving the trails on my trapline. You see one, hop out of the truck with the 22, slap in the mag, chamber a round and take your bird. Think if I were to really be going after them I'd go with a partner. One hunter would have the shotgun for birds that flush and one the 22 for the birds that seem to not mind being dinner.
 
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