Eastern Ruffed Grouse.

The accepted principle out west is hunting pressure has no effect on population density. A road might get shot out but walk in a 100 feet and no problem. Different challenges back east. Grouse need certain things and once you establish where these things are in your hunting area you can spend more time hunting and less time walking. Get out in the spring when they are drumming and you do not have to see them to know where they are.
 
Bland said:
The accepted principle out west is hunting pressure has no effect on population density. A road might get shot out but walk in a 100 feet and no problem. Different challenges back east. Grouse need certain things and once you establish where these things are in your hunting area you can spend more time hunting and less time walking. Get out in the spring when they are drumming and you do not have to see them to know where they are.
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That may be accepted, but it's not valid, most especially where there are a lot of hunters. Wild turkeys are a primo example. And I never saw or heard a wild goose until I was into my 20s.
 
Superbrad said:
I have taken sitting grouse with a recurve and fru fru arrows. .... it Is rewarding to do so but you will miss your shotgun over time....
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Flu-Flu... I have taken hundreds of grouse over the past 40+ years with unconventional (not a 12 gauge shotgun) weapons... air rifles and pistols, bows, slingshots and blowguns to name a few... Northern birds are more tolerant of human proximity... try taking a grouse with a slingshot down south and you will surely starve to death...

Polar_Hunter said:
A little past the season limit don't you think :mad:
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There is no season limit in Ontario... there is a "possession limit" but once those have been consumed or distributed, you are free to take as many additional possession limits as you want as long as you do not it exceed it at any one time...

tylerjwitty said:
Did I break a law I was not aware of? If so I'm sorry .

Thought I was allowed the the forage for food for my family
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No laws broken, if you follow the above note...

Big Bad said:
That may be accepted, but it's not valid, most especially where there are a lot of hunters. Wild turkeys are a primo example. And I never saw or heard a wild goose until I was into my 20s.
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How do turkeys and geese have anything to do with grouse? Hunting pressure does have very little to do with regional grouse numbers, but may be significant in localized areas during the hunting season... after the next breeding season however, suitable habitat will be recolonized.
 
Superbrad said:
Flu flu..... I stand corrected..... I am with you on all the unconventional methods, with the exception of the blowgun... I would almost pay to see that.... lol
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You would be amazed how cleanly grouse and hares can be taken with a blow gun... my six footer will drive a broadhead dart clean through the head of a hare... one time I ran into a couple of my old highschool teachers lost in the Northern Ontario woods... I was moose hunting at the time but was walking old grown in logging roads for grouse at midday... with a slingshot... I asked them how they were doing, and they had three grouse between them and had missed a couple... I said I had my limit and was on my way back to the boat (hunt moose by water)... they looked around confused... and said "with what?" I pulled out the slingshot from my backpack... they said "you're kidding!" I took a pop can out of my pack that I had finished earlier and walked 20 paces and stuck it in the crotch of a tree with the bottom facing us... I pulled out a .38 caliber steel ball and put it through the exact center of the can... they were astounded. Slingshotters know that this is no great feat however, it is amazing how accurate you can get after some practice... and I have shot hunting slingshots my whole life and continue to this day. I subsequently drew the fellas a map to get them back to their vehicle... they had been circling for hours when I met them.
 
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Chuckbuster said:
If you ate them as you got them, then no laws were broken. You are only allowed to have 15 in your possession (read: "in the freezer") at any given time, though.
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Breaded and deep fried , shake and baked and fried , soup , stew oh boy the options are ended less with these fine birds .. Chicken of the woods . Spruce hens not so much
 
hoytcanon said:
You would be amazed how cleanly grouse and hares can be taken with a blow gun... my six footer will drive a broadhead dart clean through the head of a hare... one time I ran into a couple of my old highschool teachers lost in the Northern Ontario woods... I was moose hunting at the time but was walking old grown in logging roads for grouse at midday... with a slingshot... I asked them how they were doing, and they had three grouse between them and had missed a couple... I said I had my limit and was on my way back to the boat (hunt moose by water)... they looked around confused... and said "with what?" I pulled out the slingshot from my backpack... they said "you're kidding!" I took a pop can out of my pack that I had finished earlier and walked 20 paces and stuck it in the crotch of a tree with the bottom facing us... I pulled out a .38 caliber steel ball and put it through the exact center of the can... they were astounded. Slingshotters know that this is no great feat however, it is amazing how accurate you can get after some practice... and I have shot hunting slingshots my whole life and continue to this day. I subsequently drew the fellas a map to get them back to their vehicle... they had been circling for hours when I met them.
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I am actually somewhat of a slingshotter myself.... I grew up on them and I would say I am a 3 inch group at 10 yards... they can be real handy to drive deer out of heavy brush too.... I usually keep one on me when hunting..... even the general y variety.....

Great story.... but damn.... taking grouse with a blow gun would be neat..... maybe next time I am up near timmins I will try.... odds down here would be low... although I have come across many ruffies during spot and stalk deer hunts that thought they were hidden...
 
Ruffies are the ultimate free range chicken. The odd piece of lead shot only adds to the eating experience!

A sad story: I worked with a city guy one time that was very curious about them, especially about how I described the flavour, and he'd done me a big favour so I did the ten miles of walking necessary to bag him two nice ones, one for him and one for his wife, cleaned and plucked them and gave them to him, nicely wrapped and refrigerated, with a simple cooking recipe for maximum enjoyment. But later I found out that as an average city doofus he'd been really scared of tasting them and asked around and got other advice to soak them in really strong brine for a couple of days to ensure there was no flavour left, which he did. We never spoke of it, but I could have killed him and his wife and whoever told him to do that. Like pearls before swine, so pass the best meals of our lives....
 
Grouse Breast...sliced thin like bacon, fried over low/moderate heat in butter, or bacon fat, served with home fries and Eggs for Breakfast...We eat ALL our grouse for breakfast.
 
Don't mean to show you guys up... :) ..... but I like it cubed, wrapped in 1/2 a slice of bacon, pierced with a water-soaked bamboo skewer, and roasted over lump charcoal (indirect of course) with a smoldering chunk of apple wood on the edge of the coals. Only seasoning is some fresh cracked pepper just before it goes on the BBQ. My mouth is watering thinking about it!

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.22LRGUY said:
Don't mean to show you guys up... :) ..... but I like it cubed, wrapped in 1/2 a slice of bacon, pierced with a water-soaked bamboo skewer, and roasted over lump charcoal (indirect of course) with a smoldering chunk of apple wood on the edge of the coals. Only seasoning is some fresh cracked pepper just before it goes on the BBQ. My mouth is watering thinking about it!

GrouseHunter2_zpsfb54a090.jpg
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Oh my God...you guys are killing me...how long does it take to cook your little delicacy?
 
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