Grouse in Ontario - what can you use?
- Thread starter phronq
- Start date
In northern Ont (Hearst area) at our camp, all we used was a 22lr. Most birds that north had never seen people and didn't fly. A 22 in the head was perfect.
In southern Ont, a shotgun with open choke was the only way to go. The southern birds were way scary and didn't wait around for you to snipe them in the head with a 22.
.
In southern Ont, a shotgun with open choke was the only way to go. The southern birds were way scary and didn't wait around for you to snipe them in the head with a 22.
.
JohnC
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I use either a short barreld 870, my buddy's sweet 16 single shot or a scout in .22 hornet/410. I have some subcaliber adapters (.308, .300WM to .32ACP) but have yet to see a grouse that gave me enough time to change rounds
.
Chas' Savage Model 24 in .22/20ga is probably the ultimate grouse gun for the Canadian woods.
.Chas' Savage Model 24 in .22/20ga is probably the ultimate grouse gun for the Canadian woods.
Last edited:
beautiful bird
how long does it take to train one of those (is that a falcon?
Yes he is a falcon and in the pic he was 5 months old. The training never stops as I raised him from out of the egg.
I cant imagine the amount of patiance and dedication to train falcon for hunting, my hat is off to you
how large is the falconry community in Canada?
PM sent, don't want to hijack the thread.
Sorry, don't have a camera of my own (sigh). They look pretty mean! There's a video of them in action as well.
*graphic shots of turkeys losing their heads*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVKCfrKwWw
Forget PM's - you should start a new thread about Falconry and your experiences. I'd love to hear more about how you got into it and how you trained your bird.
- Location
- interior b.c.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Ive been doing the job with a 12 gauge for the last couple of years but Ive also used a .22 lr which is more of a challenge.
Not much wing shooting around here, you would just be blasting at branches and trees anyways.......
That being said, ive seen a few of their heads disapear after being hit by 8mm bullets. I know of no restrictions for Grouse. Correct me if Im wrong.
Not much wing shooting around here, you would just be blasting at branches and trees anyways.......
That being said, ive seen a few of their heads disapear after being hit by 8mm bullets. I know of no restrictions for Grouse. Correct me if Im wrong.
Last edited:
- Location
- London,Ontario
personally, I think .410's suck and have crap accuracy and little distance.
I use a 12 gauge with a mod choke with 1 1/8oz #7 and aim a little higher on the head, and wham. head shot, no pellets in the meat.
But then you have your weekend warriors that say they forbid shooting them in the trees or on the ground and probably only shoot a couple a year. Well all the power to you. I paid for my hunting course,pal,guns,ammo and hunting license's and I will shoot them how ever the hell I want in a legal/ humane fashion
And yes, that also includes on the wing under the right circumstances
I use a 12 gauge with a mod choke with 1 1/8oz #7 and aim a little higher on the head, and wham. head shot, no pellets in the meat.
But then you have your weekend warriors that say they forbid shooting them in the trees or on the ground and probably only shoot a couple a year. Well all the power to you. I paid for my hunting course,pal,guns,ammo and hunting license's and I will shoot them how ever the hell I want in a legal/ humane fashion
And yes, that also includes on the wing under the right circumstances
For years I used a .22/.410(full) over and yonder with #4 shot. I rarely missed a wing or running shot. I am 5 for seven on woodcock with the same gun. I don't see why one would need anything else.
smokin'stoegie
CGN Regular
- Location
- S/West Ontario
In regards to the comment about "ground sluicing" I feel the pain.
For years I was a bona-fide "ATV, 410 in the rack, take a few birds home" kinda guy.
However with my new class of friends with their German wire-haired pointers and my recent purchase of a Italian SXS 20 guage I think I may buy a Fedora and a nice tweed coat.
For years I was a bona-fide "ATV, 410 in the rack, take a few birds home" kinda guy.
However with my new class of friends with their German wire-haired pointers and my recent purchase of a Italian SXS 20 guage I think I may buy a Fedora and a nice tweed coat.
12g, #6 or 7, 2 to 3 ft ahead and above the head is the never miss combination. Last year, new member of the camp introduced #2 shot instead, some misses, but you can only find one or two pellets in the bird...
PS. the reason I used 12g is, I big game hunting at the same time, I chambered a slug followed by a bird shot...grouse always allow me to reject the slug before I shot em with the second shell in the shotgun, but not deer, moose, coyote...which I stepped on
PS. the reason I used 12g is, I big game hunting at the same time, I chambered a slug followed by a bird shot...grouse always allow me to reject the slug before I shot em with the second shell in the shotgun, but not deer, moose, coyote...which I stepped on
Last edited:
- Location
- Watching your back.
Straight from the horses mouth, so to speak. #6 does it for me as well...12g, #6 or 7, 2 to 3 ft ahead and above the head is the never miss combination. Last year, new member of the camp introduced #2 shot instead, some misses, but you can only find one or two pellets in the bird...
- Location
- Watching your back.
Isn't that the truth! And once the deer hunt starts, they're all scared out of their wits...
