Got invited to hunt chickens... now what?

KDX said:
Easy prey as they are usually fenced in. Shotgun, .22 or golf club all work well.

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Damn, that's a good picture.
Should be a prizewinner at the photogrphy contests at the local fair.
 
...actually no "prairie chickens" left in Manitoba. They were wiped out early in the 20th century. Closest thing you can come to these days are sharptail grouse I would suppose. My Dad always talked of hunting the Pinnated Grouse but I have never seen one alive. Ruffed grouse are fun to hunt if abundant enough but a dwellers of deep shady deciduous and coniferous mixed forest. Nothing more than trap loads in 7 1/2 or 8 shot is all that's needed for these tasty critters.
 
Just remember what you read when you took your PAL about hunting in a group. Also make sure that if your buddies are using different shells....don`t get them mixed up.
Not trying to be little you in anyway, its easy for something to be over looked and go wrong. Happy Hunting!!
 
Blaze orange and "situational awareness" are most important when hunting with even 1 other hunter...let alone a group. Vest and hat. I usually hunt grouse in thick bush here in Ontario, but only have 1 season under my belt. Seems every grouse I flushed (pushing/no dogs) flew right towards my hunting buddy. I simply don't hunt without it on, or with guys who won't wear it.

Aside from that, the common sense stuff already mentioned. High energy snacks, water, comfortable clothes...even more comfortable boots. (waterproof) Shot size~as mentioned, 7-1/2 or 8. The chokes (fixed) on the guns I use are modified, so if you're lining-up a sitting bird that isn't that far away, aim a little high. (head shot, if possible) Not sure what a full load of #8s through a full choke would leave you on a close/sitting bird. I've never tried a full.
 
As for clothes I would wear a heavy pant depending on the cover. A dedicated upland pant has a woven mesh sort of material that you could walk through a big thick bush of thorns and not even feel it.

A blaze orange vest is good. A upland vest will usually be blaze orange and have lots of pockets for shot shells, drinks, snacks, dog gear and of course a giant pocket on the back for birds.

A blaze orange ball cap is also a good idea.

Ideal upland gear may look like this, but nobody will expect you to show up like this. I would probably wear jeans and a t-shirt with a backpack, and if you really like it maybe buy a vest and pants for the future.

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Have fun! I can think of no better way to pass time than to be hunting game with friends. <---- Don't tell my wife I said that!
 
Everyone else has pretty much covered it all. I would just like to reinforce the situational awareness aspect of it, especially if you're hunting with dogs. Don't want to pull a #### Cheney and have to de-lead your buddies face.

Other than that, have fun!

/I always ALWAYS bring an extra pair of socks and comfy shoes for the drive home.

EDIT: If you're going to spend money on a decent vest, make sure it has a game pouch for god's sake! (no need for it to have blood proof lining as Grouse hardly bleed at all)

Also, I did once hit a Grouse from about 6" away with a 20 Ga. 7 1/2 shot with full choke. I thought it was dead, walked up to it and the bugger jumped up into the air right in front of me. Scared the pants off of me and I might have 'accidentally' pulled the trigger on my Citori when it was a little too close. I could only find the head attached to some entrails. I was very PO'ed as it was a decent sized bird. Oh well.
 
Back home in Sask we called Sharp-tailed Grouse Prairie Chickens. They are in fact members of the same family. If I recall they would flush and fly a short distance and then run like hell.
 
Just have fun man.. Learn as you go. Chickens are blast to hunt specially for the novice hunter. Let the boys know your new at it and blast away safely. Welcome to the start of many good memories.
Cheers
Geoff
P.S.
#7 or #8 is fine use whatever is cheapest for grouse.
 
Dont really know how true it is, but someone once told me not to put a grouse in a plastic bag while you are hunting. It can sour the bird supposedly. I got an old denim rucksack i toss my birds into then wash it once in awhile to get the blood stains washed out. Dont know how true it is but i never bothered to chance it. Dont really want to eat a 'sour' chicken and find out.
 
dtkb said:
Dont really know how true it is, but someone once told me not to put a grouse in a plastic bag while you are hunting. It can sour the bird supposedly. I got an old denim rucksack i toss my birds into then wash it once in awhile to get the blood stains washed out. Dont know how true it is but i never bothered to chance it. Dont really want to eat a 'sour' chicken and find out.
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No meat of any kind should be kept in plastic.
A warm bird will sour, probably within the hour, if put in plastic.
 
I grew up hunting grouse/partridge and never had more than my gun and a hunk of string to tie the birds off and hang over my shoulder.

Fast forward many years and now I'm sporting Muck Boots, Filson double front waxed pants, quick dry upland shirts, a Filson strap vest and the right colour ball cap for whatever province I'm hunting in...... who am I?????

Start with a shotgun and a bootlace :redface:, have fun learning from your buddies and then splurge on the fancy kit later.

One more thing: if one of the guys you are hunting with is #### Cheney splurge on the body armor right from the get go. :D:p
 
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