OK so heres a stupid question. I've never been hunting before and I was thinking I might want to start getting into it. Im interested in hunting grouse to start off with but I have no idea what it even tastes like. I assume it tastes like chicken? Also where would be a good hunting spot? I live in Surrey, B.C.
grouse
- Thread starter epic
- Start date
. I rate them with walleye, moose calf, spec's, low bush cranberries and wild blueberry pie. Top of the eating chain.Asking strangers where they are shooting grouse is not necessarily the best way to get started. I certainly wouldn't be offering up my hunting spots to anyone that asked. Try and find a friend/acquaintance and ask if you can join. Good hunting/fishing spots are always about who you know and how long you've been at it. Don't be afraid to try areas, there may not be much game but at least you will get out and learn something. Hunting is all about finding the game, and someone who has put in the work finding the game is not going to be very receptive to the idea of telling you where it is. Good luck, grouse hunting is the best!
Patrick
Patrick
Ruffed grouse, white meat. Extra lean. Cook carefully to not dry it out.
Sharptail grouse, red meat, also extra lean. Cook like beef. You could remove the breasts from the bone and tie them together like a small roast.
Spruce grouse, white meat, extra lean. No matter how you cook it, it will taste like you've added a little Vick's Vaporub for flavour.
Places to hunt - logging trails, old burned areas, transition zones from forest to meadow, etc. If it's a wild area, it almost certainly has grouse. Just go find some wilderness and walk around. Early morning and before dusk. Middle of the day, go somewhere and nap.
Sharptail grouse, red meat, also extra lean. Cook like beef. You could remove the breasts from the bone and tie them together like a small roast.
Spruce grouse, white meat, extra lean. No matter how you cook it, it will taste like you've added a little Vick's Vaporub for flavour.
Places to hunt - logging trails, old burned areas, transition zones from forest to meadow, etc. If it's a wild area, it almost certainly has grouse. Just go find some wilderness and walk around. Early morning and before dusk. Middle of the day, go somewhere and nap.
Thanks for the info, its very helpfull. Ya, I can understand people not wanting to give away there favorite spot. I have seen some grouse on the logging roads while dirtbiking I guess ill start there. They dont seem like very bright creatures they dont even move when you are riding straight towards them.
Ahsan Ahmed
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Walking the logging trails is a great idea. What type of firearm do you plan on using?
Try "shooing" the bird before you take the shot.
A 12ga shotgun with the most open chokes IC/Sk/Cyl and loaded with #7.5 and/or #8 birdshot will be needed. Try not to shoo if you will be packing something like a rimfire rifle or a .410 bore.
Rocket Surgery
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I find the best areas for grouse are the ones they camo into. That brown'ish tan kind of tall grass on the side of the road, with green clove and pebbles for them to peck at is where I've bagged all mine. Usually there's pine trees around that are dropping needles everywhere.
I also find that they'll come out right after a rain shower, or be hanging out under a cedar bough. Dusk is best for these chickens, don't get up super early to get them because you'll waste your whole day looking for them.
Look for stumps with s**t on the them, they really like to defecate on stumps for some reason. Usually it'll be purple, because that's the kind of berry they're eating.
You can spot them from a way back, they look like japanese anime chickens, like those ones in FFVII. I'm referring to ruffed grouse here.
I personally like bagging them with a 22lr, but you can use a shotgun as well.
I also find that they'll come out right after a rain shower, or be hanging out under a cedar bough. Dusk is best for these chickens, don't get up super early to get them because you'll waste your whole day looking for them.
Look for stumps with s**t on the them, they really like to defecate on stumps for some reason. Usually it'll be purple, because that's the kind of berry they're eating.
You can spot them from a way back, they look like japanese anime chickens, like those ones in FFVII. I'm referring to ruffed grouse here.
I personally like bagging them with a 22lr, but you can use a shotgun as well.
the spank
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Planet Earth Wearing My Tinfoil Hat
You're in BC so you should have access to Blues as well, I shot lots of them on the Island with my Grandfather. They are slightly larger than the other grouse you will encounter out there and white meat as well. The breast is considerably larger than a ruffed grouse. Ruff's and Blue's are #1 table fare.
As for sprucies, the meat is dark red to almost black in colour and tastes like turpentine! I have shot them on occasion but they are not really good table fair though they do work well in a "chicken" style soup recipe. Boil the excess blood off them before adding to your soup though, just a tidbit I have learned along the way.
Hunt the logging roads and trails, we used to find Blues around the high bush blueberries and choke cherry trees often and anywhere a creek crosses a trail or logging road is a high percentage spot, they seek out water often to drink when feeding.
As for sprucies, the meat is dark red to almost black in colour and tastes like turpentine! I have shot them on occasion but they are not really good table fair though they do work well in a "chicken" style soup recipe. Boil the excess blood off them before adding to your soup though, just a tidbit I have learned along the way.
Hunt the logging roads and trails, we used to find Blues around the high bush blueberries and choke cherry trees often and anywhere a creek crosses a trail or logging road is a high percentage spot, they seek out water often to drink when feeding.
Canadian_Zuk
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Pickering, Ontario
Thinking of ruffed maybe? Spruce is white meat, they are what I get the mos of. I like their taste too.
Logan_Lamothe
Regular
- Location
- Big River, Sask
Put some breasts and legs in tinfoil with salt pepper and apple slices then place close to a campfire until meat is cooked through. It is like a shore lunch for hunters. If you find any ripe high bush cranberries toss them in too.
browning nb
Regular
- Location
- Riverview nb canada
Thinking of ruffed maybe? Spruce is white meat, they are what I get the mos of. I like their taste too.
Spruce grouse are dark meat. Ruffed are white. The Ruffed ones are the best to eat.
Spruce grouse are stupid. They will often sit there while you shoot at multiples.
Ruffed grouse after the first day of the season will take off at first sight.
If your just starting out shooting & hunting, shooting them with a .22 is the way to go. But only if there standing still . Always aim for a head shot, this will improve your shooting skills also. A 410 works great also. Getting away from the LML, walk or drive some logging roads. Be sure to check the hunting reg's for legal hunting area's.
- Location
- Back in the Peace Country
Sorry to but in here, but Spruce Grouse are red meat and fine table fair..
In the meat pic,..ruffed is the white and Spruce is the dark
Ruffed Grouse are probably the tastiest fo wild fowl I have had...next to maybe a nice grain ged teal.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
Gotta love the ruffies!!
Cat
Cat
That said, an early spruce grouse is fine table fare. Just don't cook the #### out of it. Later in the season they do get a piney taste to them. I then use Scottish red grouse recipes that call for juniper berries and the leave out the juniper-- seems to work.
