We have good numbers around here as well. They are good training for my pup. He locked up solid this morning, and as I walked over to see what he found, he started creeping forward. Then he locked up again, and just as I was almost to him he crept forward slowly again. As I reached him three young huns flushed 12 t 15 feet from us. He held for the flush, but when one bird landed only 40 or so yards away, he broke and ran after it. Having multiple birds moving, was a very different experience than the single planted birds that we use to train pups. Even tough he finally broke, he did good for a 7 month old pup.
Grouse Hunting Ethics
- Thread starter coleman1495
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We have good numbers around here as well. They are good training for my pup. He locked up solid this morning, and as I walked over to see what he found, he started creeping forward. Then he locked up again, and just as I was almost to him he crept forward slowly again. As I reached him three young huns flushed 12 t 15 feet from us. He held for the flush, but when one bird landed only 40 or so yards away, he broke and ran after it. Having multiple birds moving, was a very different experience than the single planted birds that we use to train pups. Even tough he finally broke, he did good for a 7 month old pup.
I'm pretty sure it was just some tongue-in-cheek ribbing.
Usually I find them in thick bush and they tend to fly to a nearby branch behind a tree or two or they run along the ground of the thick bush for a short bit and then sit still. If I have a dog, I shoot them in the air or on a tree branch. If I'm without a dog, I'll shoot them in any legal and safe manner whether on the ground or branch or whatever. They tend not to go too far, but they can hide in thick cover. Only if there is a cut through the woods, they might fly further. Head shots make for better eating lol.
Sometimes we make a whippy stick out of thin willow . Get 2 guys on an ATV , back guy gets the whippy stick . Drive the logging roads fast and when a grouse is spotted on the side of the road the back guy swings the whippy stick and if it works out well the whip will take the grouses head off .
coleman1495
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Whitecourt
I haven't ever hunted with a dog so maybe that changes things. Yeah when I come across a bird its either sitting or flying. If I notice it because it flies away there isn't a hope in hell of identifying it. Especially between a ruffed grouse, sharp tail and a spruce hen. Are you looking at the way its flying? What are the the tell tail signs.
I identify birds by shape, colour and defining characteristics. None of which are visible when you stumble across a bird. You get "flap flap flap" and a blur.
I hunt birds in Yukon and I find they are pretty quick tellingby colour. I find the spruce are a bit more "flighty" and the ruffed are a bit more "runny"... Scientifically speaking...
If you are unsure, study pictures of birds from your area. It will help. The ruffed walk differently than the spruce also, more chicken like imo.
I think when guys talk about identifying the type, it comes with experience
If you are unsure, study pictures of birds from your area. It will help. The ruffed walk differently than the spruce also, more chicken like imo.
I think when guys talk about identifying the type, it comes with experience
No Blues in your area? They're pretty easy to ID. Often nearly the size of a chicken.
You're right about ruffies and sprucies - experience makes it quite easy to ID them when feathered. Once they are naked, it is dead simple (pun?) to ID them.
When a bird flushes from 4 to 15 feet in front of you on average, and you are prepared in advance for the flush, you generally get a very good look at them. I may see sharptailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, pheasant, or ruffed grouse in some locations, and often don't see them until they flush, so I need t be able to tell the species, and in the case of pheasants the ###, before shooting. The size, shape, color, the way that they fly, and the noises they make are all used to identify them.
I have never upland hunted where there are huns, but have upland hunted where there were ruffies and woodcock in play...... And hunted where there are pheasant and chukars in play....... The sound usually gives it away.......
As for "ethics"..... Where I hunt has an abundant roughed grouse population..... My dog is a waterfowl dog and not especially adept at hunting grouse, but she does a great job of beating the bush to flush them..... I shoot all I see keeping in mind my dog's position......
I recently picked up a high powered air rifle and plan to take it out on a few walks as well...... Without the dog if she will let me sneak away......
As for "ethics"..... Where I hunt has an abundant roughed grouse population..... My dog is a waterfowl dog and not especially adept at hunting grouse, but she does a great job of beating the bush to flush them..... I shoot all I see keeping in mind my dog's position......
I recently picked up a high powered air rifle and plan to take it out on a few walks as well...... Without the dog if she will let me sneak away......
No Blues in your area? They're pretty easy to ID. Often nearly the size of a chicken.
You're right about ruffies and sprucies - experience makes it quite easy to ID them when feathered. Once they are naked, it is dead simple (pun?) to ID them.
There are blues up here, just not in the main area I hunt. Have to take a drive
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I prefer to shoot birds on the wing but in some circumstances they don't want to cooperate so ground swatting them is the only option if you want to eat grouse.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Interesting you talk about identification too.
With willow ptarmigan, their plumage changes considerably from summer to fall.
The first ptarmigan I seen in NE Alberta, (early season) had feathers almost exactly the same as a hen spruce grouse.
highly confusing
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
9/10 wont flush around here, so I shoot them on the ground.
Most of them just walk slowly away. If pressured they run. Some just stand still and could be clubbed. That last 10% will flush.
Most of them just walk slowly away. If pressured they run. Some just stand still and could be clubbed. That last 10% will flush.
Yeah I learned on my own... So I use the terms that make sense when I go with new hunters lol.
I agree the colours change throughout the season. Seasons are quite short in Yukon. We kind of have summer and winter here imo... I find it pretty easy to tell between a ruffed and a spruce, not so easy in other regions.
Ill post pics this season.
My thoughts as well but I'll add I don't shoot roosting birds.
These aren't turkeys... and there is nothing in law about "protecting" roosting birds... I find that a strange line to draw, like;
"If the grouse are sitting in a fallen tree, where the main trunk is at 45 degrees or less, they are fair game, but if the tree trunk is leaning at an angle greater than 45 degrees the grouse are considered "roosted" and must be left unmolested...
How is it any less fair to shoot them with a pellet gun from a tree than with a 12 gauge picking rocks on the side of the road?
If it is legal, it is legal... IMO.
Get what you're saying Hoyt. More just my particular situation, I have grouse that roost every night in a big old birch at my camp so it's a personal thing that these birds are off limits. No problem shooting birds out of trees in general.
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