Book titled Serious Grouse Hunting, Book 1

Big Bad

Big Bad

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In Little Syria.
This arrived from 'Amaxxon' the other day and despite its having been written in 2010 there does not seen to have been a Book 2. That's a pity, really, because this one is good reading and, just as it claims, has new information and new views over the classic older books on the subject. I recommend it, but with the caution that it may mostly be of interest to those hunting ruffies (and woodcock) in the well-trodden East where the birds are smart and wary and wing shots are the rule.

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It is funny how outdoor writers and urban experts romanticize the hunting of ruffed grouse. I love hunting over my springers, and I love nice double guns, and wingshooting (cooperative) grouse... however, in most areas of Canada and for most hunters, classic grouse scenarios rarely occur. I would hazzard a guess that 99% of grouse are harvested by driving or walking roads and "ground-swatting." It is still a beautiful thing when it comes together over your dog and a good swing is followed by a bird twirling to the ground. Woodcock are a different bird all together, close to 100% are shot on the wing.
 
hoytcanon said:
It is funny how outdoor writers and urban experts romanticize the hunting of ruffed grouse. I love hunting over my springers, and I love nice double guns, and wingshooting (cooperative) grouse... however, in most areas of Canada and for most hunters, classic grouse scenarios rarely occur. I would hazzard a guess that 99% of grouse are harvested by driving or walking roads and "ground-swatting." It is still a beautiful thing when it comes together over your dog and a good swing is followed by a bird twirling to the ground. Woodcock are a different bird all together, close to 100% are shot on the wing.
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Agreed, I can count on one hand the amount of times I get the chance at wing shooting unfortunately. I wish I had some variation in terrain here where wing shots presented themselves, 99% of the time it’s on a road in the mountains where I don’t want them to flush. I’ve had birds I’ve squarely hit flap away down the mountain never to be found again and I always search for them, so ground swatting them really is the best scenario where I am. Would be fun to shoot them over a dog I would expect.
 
hoytcanon said:
It is funny how outdoor writers and urban experts romanticize the hunting of ruffed grouse. I love hunting over my springers, and I love nice double guns, and wingshooting (cooperative) grouse... however, in most areas of Canada and for most hunters, classic grouse scenarios rarely occur. I would hazzard a guess that 99% of grouse are harvested by driving or walking roads and "ground-swatting." It is still a beautiful thing when it comes together over your dog and a good swing is followed by a bird twirling to the ground. Woodcock are a different bird all together, close to 100% are shot on the wing.
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Not that I didn't know it and appreciate it, but I've been very lucky in my shooting life then. For years, I was mounting my gun at the thunderous sound of a flushing ruffie right up till the last half or quarter second, when if the shot was to be any good the shotgun almost magically came into line with a sight of it and boom! Woodcock are of course great too, but nothing compares to such scoring such a ruffed grouse.
 
I road hunt here in Alberta but always let the dogs out to flush. Not quite like an unexpected flush from a spooky Partridge back east but still a lot of fun. Most days we walk the cut lines and older wood roads but the Alberta birds are very spread out in spite of high numbers. You can walk many miles with nothing and then limit out driving home.
 
I started hunting Ruffed Grouse (bush partridge in our area) when I was about 10, tagging along with my Dad. We just drove the little old roads that he knew so well. Sadly, hardly any exist now. All big wide roads to accommodate big machines moving from farm to farm. I honestly don't recall ever actually shooting a bush partridge on the wing. I was 10 66 years ago. I might have shot a very few as they took off on a little trail, but for sure not in the bush. Prairie Chicken and Huns, yes.

My dad spent all his life in the area and always knew where to go to find Prairie Chicken. As a young whipper snapper, he showed me places where the Chicken would "dance". He taught me other tricks about Prairie Chicken. There are so few these days, I usually just take one and be satisfied. Same with bush partridge. I've only ever shot two pheasants, down in the Willow Bunch area, while out hunting with my old Metis buddy and his friend.

I like reading the books about hunting, though.
 
Hi kjohn, Those Prairie Chickens are technically Sharp-Tailed grouse and the dancing ground is called a”lek”. Seems to be fewer every year.
 
Sharp-tails are far more wary than Ruffed or Spruce grouse, at least in my experience. Shot a few Ruffed and Spruce this fall, just walking/driving trails with the 22. Only saw a couple bunches of Sharps, and they don't tend to hang around long. Plus they fly far further than Ruffed or Spruce do, so they are are harder to follow up on
 
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