grouse on the ground?

david doyle

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I was just browsing a thread where a member gave the following advice to a new hunter:

"...If you are hunting grouse and you've got a shotgun in your hands, you are obligated as a fair chase hunter to shoot them on the wing...."

My question is where does this ludicrous concept originate? And why is it fairer? And what does fair have to do with anything?

Would 'nt a sure thing gound shot with no meat damage be more ethical then a shot splattered breast and an increased chance of a lost, wounded bird?

I love ruffed grouse above all game and can probably claim as many on the wing as anyone but I also would never pass up a grouse on the ground. Should we also wait until a moose is going full bore through the spruce?

New hunters, please take grouse on the ground, aim appropriately high, clean em immediately, wrap em in bacon and feed them to your loved ones.

only 9 months left till the season opens!

Cheers
 
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Well, seeing as how that was my quote, ;) , I should maybe stay out of the debate for now and see how other guys view it.

Have at 'er! I'll check in later.
 
As said before it is nice to get them in the air but I shoot them any way that I can.I shoot most of mine in the head with my 243,try that trick in the air.
 
Monty said:
If we're trying to be "fair", then let's just hunt with our bare hands...
I'm with you guys.
X2 if im hunting ill shoot that damned grouse on foot, wing, tree or right on the ground.
talk to ya all later
Riley
 
I will ask a couple questions of all of you guys as you're posting.

How do you normally go about grouse hunting?

Which game animal do you enjoy hunting the most?
Also describe your hunting method for that animal.

Thanks in advance.
 
If I'm out serious bird hunting, with dogs, shotgun and the whole bit, then I'll only shoot them on the wing. IMO it's the only 'sporting way'.
If I'm moose hunting and a nice pump willow will kindly allow be to pop it's head off, then I'll thankfully oblige and invite him to supper.
 
There are 3 ways I hunt grouse:

#1 I am driving to or from a big gmae hunting area, and I see a grouse, so I get out and shoot it with a 20 guage or .22

#3 I am returning form a big gmae hunting foray, and stuumble into some grouse, that I want to eat for dinner, so I knock thier heads off with my centerfire rifle. 270, 30-06, 303, 7RM, 300WM 300WSM, 30-030...I've used them all

#3 I take my 20 Guage O/U Citori out for a walk, and hopefully see some grouse. When I do, I somewhat hope they wilol take flight, because wingshots are indeed more gratifying. Since many of them just try to run off, I will sluice them, too.

I don'[t have a dog, so if I can't get them to flush bywlaking towards them, then they get shot on the ground.

I have no moral or ethical problems with it.;)
 
Depends where you hunt. If you hunt alone, out in the woods, you can shoot them however you like. You can even make a toe loop before you pull the trigger. In a group you may kill you next neighbour. If you shoot in Europe a bird on its legs they kick you in the butt and you were the last time on a social hunt. It's that easy!:)

Martin
 
grouse

I agree there as many ways to hunt the grouse as there are ways to fish trout.

My favorite is to walk around an overgrown eastern farm and have them sail in a perfect arc out of the crab apple trees. apple feed ruffys yum.

second favorite would be to get cranberry fattened northern BC spruce grouse off the side of the road or out of spruce trees. cranberry fed grouse yum.

third favorite would be to take blues in the coast mountains while sucking for wind on some too steep to stand cliff face. Big grouse yum.

Oh wait the best absolute best way to shoot grouse is with a wife, son, daughter, parent or friend. especially when they are a new hunter.

Hey Grouseman, may the birds always rise in pairs at your feet with the sun at your back, Best regards from a fellow CGNer who would as soon chase feather as hoof!
 
Not fair to shoot on the ground, LOLOL sounds like someone has had a few too many. I stopped shooting at Blue's on the wing after wounding a few too many, now it's on the ground only!
 
Some wanker tried "educating " my boys when they were 12 about wing shooting being the only ethical way. Me and my boys were heading to the van with their limits of Ruffies taken with a single shot Cooey, buddy was empty handed. We laughed till we cried.
 
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