Help with grouse?

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Shep546

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Hey guys, I have never hunted upland bird before.

Myself and 2 friends tried our luck at it yesterday evening but were unsuccessful. Is it even worth trying without a dog?

We were mostly walking along logging roads. For starters we would never hear the birds, I always hear guys talking about the "flush" and the beating of the wings, we saw 6 or 7 grouse but it was always just the ass end of them darting straight into the trees and then vanishing.

Is there a trick to this? Are we hunting the wrong locations?
 
Where I live grouse are not in the normal numbers the experienced hunters are usually seeing. Talked to a older gentleman who has hunted them for years, said he saw 2 during a entire days hunting and to him that is the sign to not try again, too scarce as we had a miserable spring so mortality was probably higher than normal.

Come to think of it I usually see lots where I live in the city but none this year which is rather troubling.
 
Like I said we saw about 6 or so in a 2 hours walk... not sure if that is typical.

our problem is they were just too fast to get a shot off. I know grouse is about being really quick but I can't see how it's possible to shoulder, safety off and pull off a shot when they dart straight into the scrub like that.
 
I don't think you need any help . You saw 6-7 of them? That's fantastic, you just need to be quicker on the draw. The " flush" means to push them up and out of the bush , dogs are best at that. If I were you I'd go back there and everything the same except try to be faster on the trigger.
 
Walk slower... Stop every 50 or so steps... Look around at the base of apple trees and cedars... Try early morning where there is frost on the ground... They are more reluctant to fly and you can sometimes hear them muttering to themselves... As the sun comes up look for them to be warming themselves up on ridges...
 
I don't know where you are but where I hunt (Central Ontario) their population has been disappearing fast. Some people believe it is a cyclical thing, others blame whether, raccoons, Foxes, ....name it. I personally believe that, as it is getting warmer year after year here, these cold weather loving birds are retreating further north. In other words, their habitat is shrinking fast. By the same token, I have started seeing Turkeys IN Algonquin Park!

first day of Grouse session, I saw 2 where I should have seen two dozen. I only heard two shots all day from other hunt camps around me, which means the others had same experience.

Drive further North and try your luck again. I hear they are still plenty of them further up North.
 
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Shep546 said:
Like I said we saw about 6 or so in a 2 hours walk... not sure if that is typical.

our problem is they were just too fast to get a shot off. I know grouse is about being really quick but I can't see how it's possible to shoulder, safety off and pull off a shot when they dart straight into the scrub like that.
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I agree with cyclops, I don't think you need any tips or help. Just shoot faster.
 
Well, not knowing the numbers where you live(grouse numbers that is) we just came back from a deer trip and would shoot grouse as opportune target.
We hunted the roads and would either see them as they would move from graveling or they would bust cover after we walked by.
It is all about finding the right area to sustain them, cover, feed and gravel and if it is raining they will be near bushes for cover.
They will come to the road to dry/warm up and feed. I have great success after a rain and the sun starts to come out and the dandelions start to bloom or the rosehips are exposed or other wild berries that are low to the ground.
These are tips I employ here on the Westcoast, but might work for you in your area.
As for Blues, they are to smart for me or I am to slow for them as all I ever hear is the drumming of wings as they head downhill at 90 miles an hour.
Rob
 
Good tips from the guys! I will echo the fact that if you are seeing 6 birds in 2 hours, that's good!

Now, your pace is the issue! And you MUST be quiet as well! Try walking a couple steps slowly, stop, look around, listen...

You will know you are walking at the right pace when you hear your first 'worry call' from a grouse... It sounds like a whoop whoop whoop & is the sound that they make when they are not sure if they should sit tight, walk, run OR FLY away!

Good luck & enjoy!

Cheers
Jay
P.S. You don't need a dog, but man oh man do I love to hunt with dogs!
 
I think grouse numbers are down in large parts of Ontario. Yes, there are still good pockets, but overall they seem to be down. Where I am, it looks like their population cycle is bottoming out, as they are few and far between. That, combined with an unseasonable spring which likely caused a much higher rate of nesting failure and chick mortality, has apparently caused a dramatic drop in recruitment.

If you are seeing grouse in the numbers you say, rejoice my good man! Go back, walk a little slower and you'll likely make a few connections.
 
If you see them flush and they are close enough to shoot, but you feel you are too late.........shoot anyways. You will be surprised when you start getting a few.
 
Home3 said:
I don't know where you are but where I hunt (Central Ontario) their population has been disappearing fast. Some people believe it is a cyclical thing, others blame whether, raccoons, Foxes, ....name it. I personally believe that, as it is getting warmer year after year here, these cold weather loving birds are retreating further north. In other words, their habitat is shrinking fast. By the same token, I have started seeing Turkeys IN Algonquin Park!

first day of Grouse session, I saw 2 where I should have seen two dozen. I only heard two shots all day from other hunt camps around me, which means the others had same experience.

Drive further North and try your luck again. I hear they are still plenty of them further up North.
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IMO... disregard this global warming propaganda... birds have always been cyclical... in my 45 years of hunting them I have seen 4 or 5 complete cycles... when the population is high everyone is quiet... when it bottoms out the theories fly.

As said above, you had a good day... just adjust your pace and get a little closer "before" the flush. I don't think you mentioned if you are using a shotgun? If they are flushing wild (further out) try a 12 gauge with light modified choke (or mod or improved cylinder) and use a quality lead game load in #6 or #7 1/2 and wing shoot them after they flush... you have to have your gun at "port arms" and be mentally prepared to react quickly. In northern Ontario, 99% of birds are shot on the ground or out of a tree that they have flushed to... a .410 or even .22 is ideal for head shooting sitting birds... I have become inclined to carry a 28 gauge and can either wing shoot or "pot shoot" the birds... 28 gauges are probably not your best choice due to payload, and cost/availability of ammo... a 20 gauge is probably your best all round grouse gun... good luck.
 
hoytcanon said:
IMO... disregard this global warming propaganda... birds have always been cyclical... in my 45 years of hunting them I have seen 4 or 5 complete cycles... when the population is high everyone is quiet... when it bottoms out the theories fly.

As said above, you had a good day... just adjust your pace and get a little closer "before" the flush. I don't think you mentioned if you are using a shotgun? If they are flushing wild (further out) try a 12 gauge with light modified choke (or mod or improved cylinder) and use a quality lead game load in #6 or #7 1/2 and wing shoot them after they flush... you have to have your gun at "port arms" and be mentally prepared to react quickly. In northern Ontario, 99% of birds are shot on the ground or out of a tree that they have flushed to... a .410 or even .22 is ideal for head shooting sitting birds... I have become inclined to carry a 28 gauge and can either wing shoot or "pot shoot" the birds... 28 gauges are probably not your best choice due to payload, and cost/availability of ammo... a 20 gauge is probably your best all round grouse gun... good luck.
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I was carrying a 12 gauge with #6 shot and a skeet choke (I was told this is ideal for grouse as they are close shots)

Every time we spooked one we were very close probably within 12 feet. The problem being they would always dart straight from low lying cover where we couldnt see them, into the the thick pines where we could no longer see them.
 
I'd say you're in good grouse country. You don't need a dog, although it does help. Once they flush into the bush, leave one guy on the trail and send someone in after it.

You've got to be 100% ready, all the time, for when that flush hits. You've got to be split-second quick. Think video game reaction times, times two. That's why an open-choked gun and LOTS of little pellets are required. #6 is far too big in your situation. Biggest you need is 7.5, even 8 is deadly.

Walk, stop, and listen. Repeat.
 
If they are flushing from 12 feet then a skeet choke is ideal... it originally sounded like they may have been flushing wild... just gotta walk with your gun in ready position and be quick.
 
I carry a 12 gauge over under with improved cylinder and modified chokes... I use number 6 because I typically hunt rabbits at the same time as grouse and 7 1/2 is a little light for bunnies... Either will work... Only takes one pellet and they give up... They aren't overly hearty birds... As someone said earlier, as long as it's a safe shot don't be afraid to try that hail mary shot... You'd be surprise how many times you'll blast a cedar or pine as they dissapear into it and find a dead bird on the other side...
 
Try some #4 lead shot with your skeet choke for those longer shots.
I'm shooting an 1100 with a 28'' barrel and modified choke and I use #4 lead too.
I adjust for head/pot shots and if they bust cover there are three shots total if need be ;)
Its called '' Grouse Hunting'' and not ''grouse killing '' for a reason... and you have spotted game so that helps keep the interest.
What I do works for me and might not work for you, but it sure is fun chasing them buggers through the bush. By the way Tag Soup is pretty thin and I have added lots of Salt to improve the flavor in years past... and it still tastes the same...
Best of Luck,
Rob
 
After they flush...don't give up on them. Follow them in a half circle of about 60-80 yards, they don't usually fly very far. Walk slow like you are still-hunting deer, and be prepared for a fast shot.
 
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