Ditch Chickens A- Plenty

[the spank]

Well I kind of suspected this summers hot dry season would be a boon for the local grouse population. The little guys(chicks) survival rates soar in these kind of conditions. After chasing waterfowl for the past month and a half 3 of us decided to go after grouse so we booked a cabin for an overnight in our favorite area and set off. The day we arrived saw the 3 of us collect our 3 man limit by evening. Next morning we put another 3 man limit in the truck by 11 a.m and we set off for home with 30 grouse in the cooler. In all we took 9 spruce grouse and 21 ruffies. Was a great time.

 

[fogducker]

sure were a plenty in WMU #s,8-9-9a..
just got back from there...bush chickens were all over the place...but i noticed lots were skinny little ####s...maybe they had a second brood...
but have to ask...why take the spruce grouse?they taste like #### to me

 

[stuckon308]

but have to ask...why take the spruce grouse?they taste like s**t to me

It's all in how you cook em. You can make almost any meat taste good with the right preparation.

 

[togojeff]

I haven't seen 30 grouse in the last 10 years(Sask zone 37)!
You're lucky to have those numbers.

 

[Fall Guy]

Well I kind of suspected this summers hot dry season would be a boon for the local grouse population. The little guys(chicks) survival rates soar in these kind of conditions.

Yes it was a great spring...really dry and warm. Although it it very uncommonm for a partridge to nest twice in a year, I saw a hen with a pretty young brood in early August, I wonder if it was her second?

Good haul, enjoy.

 

[seth]

You're lucky, I've been hunting in three different counties here in Nova Scotia and haven't seen ####.

 

[Grouse Man]

Geez, why can't I find a hotspot like that?

 

[dumbdawg]

Geez, why can't I find a hotspot like that?

easy come to Ontario

 

[mlehtovaara]

Well it took me 3 days, a scope, and a pair of Oakley sun glasses to get 3!

Some expensive Bush Chickens, but I say it was worth it! LOL

 

[straightshooter]

Decent year for ruffed grouse in North-Central Alberta this year. Sharptail numbers, on the other hand, seem way down.

They both had the same kind of spring and both have to deal with the high coyote population cycle so, either the coyotes are more successful at raiding Sharptail nests, or the defoliation spraying that took place on range land in the area last year damaged the habitat or the eggshells.

 

[the spank]

sure were a plenty in WMU #s,8-9-9a..
just got back from there...bush chickens were all over the place...but i noticed lots were skinny little s**ts...maybe they had a second brood...
but have to ask...why take the spruce grouse?they taste like s**t to me

Sprucey's are great if you boil off the excess blood then drain them and throw them in a chicken based soup stock. Just make sure to use onion and celery in the soup. They turn out fantastic, I use them instead of chicken for a a chicken rice soup. MMM, TASTY!!

 

[M12shooter]

Nice job on the ruffies. You can have the spruce though;-))