It's often a 'game time' decision and depends on what stage of the grouse cycle they are at in the particular region that you hunting. Wind speed is as much or more a factor in the decision as well. Low cycle year, moderate to heavy rain is a waste of time imo. Light rain, no wind, high cycle year - I'm there in a heartbeat.
Grouse in the rain?
- Thread starter Beer Ogre
- Start date
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
Make the trip to Englehart, I lived in South River for two years and could count on one hand the number of grouse my stepson and I saw putting on miles and miles down old trails and logging roads in that area. You need to get about 2 hrs north of North Bay to find good grouse hunting any more. North Bay southward is tough hunting, too many people, cottages and their cats IMO. For myself, I used to take one or two weekends each fall and take the GF and stepson up to the Elk Lake area. We shot a limit each day without a lot of effort and always had a lot of fun, not to mention there was some fantastic Walleye fishing to be had as well. Made for a great combo trip.
- Location
- Claresholm Alberta
Weather was ####ty all weekend, but we still managed to flush 6 - 8 grouse.... A few more weeks, when all the leaves come off the trees the hunting should be easier. We did see TONS of deer sign, and even put out a couple mineral licks at a couple prime locations for the hunt.
Sbarkowski
Regular
Just before and soon after a heavy rain you will find grouse in their feeding areas filling up on what they can. 20-30 min after a heavy rain that is followed by bright sunny sky they tend to wander out into clearings where then sun is starting to warm things up. They will still be in the cover of young saplings and other short vegetation or on the edge of the clearing. During a rain I've found them huddled at the base of thick evergreens where the branches grow closer to the ground or about 5ft up in the branches. Here they are very hard to spot, especially early season. I've had several flush within 4 ft of my face, scared the crap out of me lol. This is where a good dog would be very useful. If it's been raining for a few days, head to higher ground especially if the rain stops. Higher ground and large open clearings tend to warm up first. If you find a clearing on high ground as the sun comes out then even better. Grouse hunting around here is hard because all the best places are littered with other hunters. Nothing is 100% when it comes to hunting but I've been successful where others haven't by paying attention and keeping a log when birds are spotted, where they are spotted, and under what weather conditions. Took a several seasons to figure it out but it's been very helpful.
If you didn't hunt in the rain you wouldn't be hunting at al in BC
Before and after the downpour, sure. Scattered showers or light rain, no problem.
Pouring rain? I don't know 'cause I have no desire to get myself, my gear, and my gun drenched. One thing is certain - they won't be as active in the rain, so you'll have to work harder and smarter.
In Alberta, we don't often get more than a day or two of rain in a row. Rainy days, for me, are rest and prep days.
Pouring rain? I don't know 'cause I have no desire to get myself, my gear, and my gun drenched. One thing is certain - they won't be as active in the rain, so you'll have to work harder and smarter.
In Alberta, we don't often get more than a day or two of rain in a row. Rainy days, for me, are rest and prep days.
xx22
