Cold Lake Grouse Action? Update with Imagery

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ArchiePerry

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Fort McMurray
Tomorrow I'm headin out Cold Lake way with a buddy for my first Grouse hunting of the Season, First grouse hunting in Alberta and only 4th or 5th time going ever.

I'm pretty excited. All packed up already. I dont imagine I will be able to sleep much or get much work done tomorrow.

Hows it been out there so far? Anybody had success?
 
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I have not seen any grouse around while out walking my mutt over the last few months. There was (seemed?) less drumming than last year.

Hope you do well!

Cheers
Trev
 
I have seen the grand total of NONE this year and that is even in places that usually always have had a few. Doesn't bode well for the year or the next few at this rate.
 
out scouting a few spots with my dog. we saw 2 dozen deer, 10 grouse, 5 bears and one yotee!! trying to train my dog but all i got was her hair standing straight up every time she saw something. good luck with your hunt as it is great out there.
 
We got out and marched up and down a cut line all day and managed to see about 10 or 20 rabbits and 5 grouse... even managed to get a few too!

The ticket was absolute rabbit mayhem around dusk and some fairly decent grouse action in the early morning just as the sky is bright but the sun is not yet poking through the trees.

We saw 2 grouse through mid day, at separate times but we may as well have gone back to bed rather than keep marching around. In any case, the exercise was good and we got to practice our skills.

This was my first time hunting with the .22. I took 3 shots at the first rabbit of the trip. My first rabbit ever actually. I was very excited and couldn't keep from shaking and I missed every shot! My friend took the rifle and did a better job than I. Got it with the first shot. Headshot.


In the end we managed 3 rabbits and a grouse between the two of us which was more than enough for us beginners.

I left out the graphic content in the interest of not feeding the trolls.
Here are some photos.


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I was out this past weekend and while didn't have any success filling any deer tags, we bagged three grouse mid day. I'm new to the area too and really haven't got a good grasp on the area yet either. Magna, 2 dozen deer, I need to come hunting with you :D
 
I wish we had rabbits here like that! The last few years they've been almost non existent. I don't know if it's just a cyclical thing or the fact that there are too many coyotes. Either way I don't see bunnies around and even the snowshoe hares have disappeared.
 
Hey Big Game how are you doing?
Sunday late afternoon I went for a little stroll to my favored spot & boy it sure was quiet.
My only company was squirrels and a woodpecker. Still it was a nice way to spend the late afternoon and evening.
As one can see by Archie Perry's success, (kudos to you and your friend sir!) there are lots of good spots up here fortuneately.
Usually one sees alot more small game when there are two of you. My regular hunting partner was busy doing important home tasks.

next time maybe........
 
Nice goin' ArchiePerry.

Nice bandAid!:D

Those are some good looking rabbits! I gotta get off my ass (and done with the house and yard renos) and get out into the bush.

Got delayed reaction onset of my wifes 'hunting widow' problem this year. :) Aka, I been busy trying to get all the rest of my life in order, and have not got out in the bush yet.

Cheers
Trev
 
We hunt ruffed grouse and sharptail grouse northeast of Edmonton, too. Our spot is about a hour closer to Edmonton than Cold Lake.

We've been out twice so far this year. First day we saw between 10 and 16 ruffies (got 2). The exact count depends on how many were second bumps of birds we had previously flushed - it's always hard to know for certain if a bird flushed while following a previous bird is actually the same bird, or a new one.

The second day out, we only saw about 5 birds. Came home with 1.

We were hunting the same place on both days. The weather was almost identical both days.
 
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