Eastern Ruffed Grouse.

Many grouses sighting, walking the fringe of the wood at the farm, should be a couple of recipes of grouse baked beans this year... JP.
 
Went out today for the first time this year. Despite my gloomy predictions, scared up a double flush of grouse within the first half hour, range maybe 15 yards. One vanished into the growth even as I was raising the gun, but I nailed the second about a foot off the ground. Because it came down so close to the edge of some very dense undergrowth, I shot it again with my second barrel, a proven and humane precaution against wounded birds getting away. Drawing out the entrails, (as I like to do on the spot) I found they were pretty chopped up, so it was indeed well hit, a fair sized bird too, either a large bird of the year or a second year. Another hour or so of walking and a third grouse flushed maybe 20 yards ahead of me, flying straight away, always a tricky shot. I think I went high with the first barrel, IC, but the bird dropped abruptly with the second (modified choke). I noted the apparent spot and, thinking there were likely more birds on the way, stopped to reload before walking up. But, after 15 minutes of crashing around in circles where I thought the dead bird (if any) would be, around and over small fallen trees and all kinds of choke and blackberry canes and thicket, no bird was found. It may of course have just been ducking out on me as it flew, but from now on with a shot like that I'm going to resume something I did in years of plenty, which is to sprint forward while never taking my eyes off the exact spot where it seemed the bird went down (safely, remember I'm packing a double barrel so I'll be very aware of its status). Grouse, bless them, are very well camouflaged if they don't move especially the dead ones, but I guess I probably missed clean on a tough shot. Lesson though, one more time, is that I should have a good dog with me. Takes the doubt out of a situation like that. Anyway, an excellent day by local standards: three birds, four shots, one bird in hand. And only walked about 5 km, or half the usual distance. If this is any indication, I'll be having a good year.
 
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