2018 Upland birds, post your picks!

Four more this afternoon, lots more Ruffies this year. Last year was a good mix of ruffs, blues and spruce, I’ve seen a fair amount of blue and spruce but I’ve bagged more ruffies so far.

U9G2RNC.jpg
 
Butcherbill said:
On the ground along the road or old overgrown logging trails is where I see grouse 90% of the time, in fact I’ve renamed my mag fed grizzly the Ground Swatter hahaha. We don’t have much open forest around these parts so flushing with a dog and wingshooting isn’t much of an option, it’s mostly tall and tight around here. They tast the same too ;)
Click to expand...

Hey, I wasn't judging, just asking. I agree they all taste good.
I have to head up quite a ways north to get the birds in numbers that they can be taken along logging roads.
 
Last edited:
smokin'stoegie said:
Hey, I wasn't judging, just asking. I agree they all taste good.
I got head up quite a ways north to get the birds in numbers that they can be taken along logging roads.
Click to expand...

Haha, sorry my bad. There are people round these parts that get their feathers all ruffed up when people don’t wingshoot exclusively, I’d love to shoot over a dog but unfortunately it’s not really an option. Mostly mountain roads with steep cut blocks on either side where I see them, I’d love to have a beagle to flush birds. Today wasn’t such a success, I managed to get two but there were a bunch that got way. Made some grouse breast schnitzels as a test, they were yummy. Fried in butter till golden with a squeeze of lemon on top, really tender.
GdpqhhC.jpg
 
Butcherbill said:
Haha, sorry my bad. There are people round these parts that get their feathers all ruffed up when people don’t wingshoot exclusively, I’d love to shoot over a dog but unfortunately it’s not really an option. Mostly mountain roads with steep cut blocks on either side where I see them, I’d love to have a beagle to flush birds. Today wasn’t such a success, I managed to get two but there were a bunch that got way. Made some grouse breast schnitzels as a test, they were yummy. Fried in butter till golden with a squeeze of lemon on top, really tender.
GdpqhhC.jpg
Click to expand...

That looks awesome Bill. I've thought about doing that same thing. I find no matter how I cook up ruffies, they end up kinda chewy, so tenderizing beforehand could be the answer. I've got a recipe that mixes panko with parmesan for the crust that I've used on chicken, might try that next time.
 
Got back from a successful two-tag moose hunt with my old high school buddies from back home, dropped my young dry cow hind quarter off at the butcher, kissed the wife, picked up Pearl and headed out to pop the top on bird season.


Then went out the next day and did it again!
 
Last edited:
Lexthedestroyer said:
That looks awesome Bill. I've thought about doing that same thing. I find no matter how I cook up ruffies, they end up kinda chewy, so tenderizing beforehand could be the answer. I've got a recipe that mixes panko with parmesan for the crust that I've used on chicken, might try that next time.
Click to expand...

It’s really tender and cooks quick since the breast is pounded flat and thin, I used panko and it was good but I think a finer bread crumb will be the way to go. I’ll have to try the Parmesan cheese idea, sounds like a good one. It was tender, once it was browned on both sides it was cooked perfectly. I’ll have to do a gravy next time from the drippings, mashed potatoes and some pickled red cabbage and a bit of red wine. Mmmmmm mmm good.

My wife just made a dish that was great, she sautéed zucchini, garlic and onions. Cubed two breasts and browned them separately then added everything to some cooked pasta shells in a casserole dish, added some Parmesan cheese and sliced raw tomatoes on top and baked it in the oven. I’m not sure on what she added for spices, it sure was tasty and the grouse chunks were definitely not tough or chewy.


hoytcanon said:
You are really trying to push some "traditionalist" buttons, aren't you!?!!?!? ;)
Click to expand...

I’m serious actually, beagles are great. I know I like to joke around and poke fun but I have a beagle cross that’s 10 and if she was used to gunshots I’d love to hunt with her. She loves to chase critters and has some drive, I doubt she’d bring anything back though haha.

When I was growing up we had an Irish setter my dad tried to hunt grouse with, he was terrified at the gunshot noise and would run away. He unfortunately ran one time into the road and was hit and killed, now that I think about it my dad kind of stopped hunting around that time. I think it really affected him and he never forgave himself for the dog getting killed. I wasn’t in kindergarten yet and I just vaguely remember it.
 
Last edited:
Butcherbill said:
I’m serious actually, beagles are great. I know I like to joke around and poke fun but I have a beagle cross that’s 10 and if she was used to gunshots I’d love to hunt with her. She loves to chase critters and has some drive, I doubt she’d bring anything back though haha.
Click to expand...

Beagles are great little dogs, when had them when I was a kid for rabbit and coon hunting... but they are a terrible breed for upland birds... they range way too far and would likely put up all the birds way out of gun range... they are also not terribly species selective and would end up running rabbits and hares (not a terrible thing). You would be better of with an actual birding breed.
 
I can believe that, all the ones I’ve known over the years had a real will of their own once they set their mind on something, they were very hard to recall once onto something. I don’t see a bird dog happening anyway around here, it’s not the right setting to be out walking with a dog. That is unless you like walking up and down steep cutblocks for hours.
 
You’d be surprised how drastically a well bred and trained bird dog can change the entire game. It’s not for everyone but few people accompany on a hunt with a good dog and aren’t changed at least a little. The okanagan hold some great bird country as you’ve proved already.
 
leveractionjunkie said:
You’d be surprised how drastically a well bred and trained bird dog can change the entire game. It’s not for everyone but few people accompany on a hunt with a good dog and aren’t changed at least a little. The okanagan hold some great bird country as you’ve proved already.
Click to expand...

Thanks, there definitely is some good upland activity in the Okanagan. The area I’m in is in the mountains though, not a ton of low lying areas to access. There’s a bit I wander around on but not enough to make me get a bird dog, the next dog we get will likely be a livestock guardian dog, Akbash most likely. I like to get out and explore new areas out on the logging roads and old trails, so I’m quite happy to shoot them where I find them.
 
Butcherbill said:
Thanks, there definitely is some good upland activity in the Okanagan. The area I’m in is in the mountains though, not a ton of low lying areas to access. There’s a bit I wander around on but not enough to make me get a bird dog, the next dog we get will likely be a livestock guardian dog, Akbash most likely. I like to get out and explore new areas out on the logging roads and old trails, so I’m quite happy to shoot them where I find them.
Click to expand...

Yes for sure I understand where you’re coming from and it’s a perfectly successful way to bag grouseand explore new areas. Thanks for sharing with us on here. Always nice to see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom