grouse in southern Ontario

[davecasey]

hey guys
I went grouse hunting last week in gravenhurst and got skunked, I know its early in the season so that might have something to do with it.
anyway im looking to get back out in a couple weeks but was thinking to try the parry sound area, anyone know of a good piece of crown land to hunt up that way? Doesnt have to be in perry sound but, I dont want to go too much further north than that.

 

[diemaco]

The hunting will improve when the leaves drop.

 

[wayne37]

Last week of Oct.to end of Nov. I'll always come out with at least two ,and some good exercise to........

 

[2strklvr]

While not super plentiful, there are grouse around the Gravenhurst area if you know where to go. They are spooky birds though - don't expect them to sit there looking at you stupidly like they do further up north. They usally won't flush until you are on top of them and then you really have to be on your game to get any. Hunting with a dog helps with putting birds in the air, but you still have to do your part. Forget about finding them in the fields or open areas either, they are always in thicker cover it seems. Mixed bush, just heavy enough that it makes it tough to swing a shotgun is about right.

 

[PeakXV]

If it's warmish & there's been no good killin frost then a good chance 'they ain't out of the woods yet' .... as me grandpappy used to say.

 

[davecasey]

While not super plentiful, there are grouse around the Gravenhurst area if you know where to go. They are spooky birds though - don't expect them to sit there looking at you stupidly like they do further up north. They usally won't flush until you are on top of them and then you really have to be on your game to get any. Hunting with a dog helps with putting birds in the air, but you still have to do your part. Forget about finding them in the fields or open areas either, they are always in thicker cover it seems. Mixed bush, just heavy enough that it makes it tough to swing a shotgun is about right.

thats exactly where the one i saw was plus it was the end of the day and i wasnt expecting it when it flushed so i never even got the shot off
lol

 

[PeakXV]

Of course, if it is warm & sunny - you should be hearing the males drumming if their is a decent crop of birds.

 

[blasted_saber]

As someone who grew up in Parry Sound district, and still hunts there, take my word for it that the hunting will drastically improve once the leaves are off. Birds around here are often very hard to flush, thus when they see you (and you dont see them) they simply wander off through the brush without busting to alert you to their presence. Once the leaves are down, you have a much easier time spotting them as they run.

Also, be aware that the moose hunt is from Oct 18-23 and the deer hunt from Nov 1st-13th. The bush will be a lot more active with hunters then then it is now.

 

[davecasey]

As someone who grew up in Parry Sound district, and still hunts there, take my word for it that the hunting will drastically improve once the leaves are off. Birds around here are often very hard to flush, thus when they see you (and you dont see them) they simply wander off through the brush without busting to alert you to their presence. Once the leaves are down, you have a much easier time spotting them as they run.

Also, be aware that the moose hunt is from Oct 18-23 and the deer hunt from Nov 1st-13th. The bush will be a lot more active with hunters then then it is now.

do you hunt on private land in parry sound or on crown land?

 

[John Y Cannuck]

The coyote population I think, is up generally across the province, and that may cause a drop in the grouse pop.
The cycle will turn around, if we get another mild winter, so they can't catch the deer.

 

[davecasey]

The coyote population I think, is up generally across the province, and that may cause a drop in the grouse pop.
The cycle will turn around, if we get another mild winter, so they can't catch the deer.

maybe i should try hunting coyote lol

 

[2strklvr]

The coyote population I think, is up generally across the province, and that may cause a drop in the grouse pop.
The cycle will turn around, if we get another mild winter, so they can't catch the deer.

Around here I think that it's more the fishers than coyotes that have knocked the hell out of the grouse population.

 

[blasted_saber]

do you hunt on private land in parry sound or on crown land?

Private. My family owns a good chunk of land. Crown is pretty slim around my part of the district.

As for coyotes, we do have some, we also have a population of eastern wolves. Although their seems to be less around my parts this year.

Usually after the moose hunt my grouse success skyrockets.

 

[davecasey]

so i just got back from grouse hunting in Kearney in muskoka area and i scored my first grouse
it was the only grouse i saw all day but ima head back to the same spot in a few weeek and see if i cant get a couple more.