How to spot a healthy grouse

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tnsaf

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New hunter here. It just dawned on me that wild animals carry diseases and that, because I don't kow jack all about birds except that they taste delicious, that I may shoot a grouse that may have a disease, parasite, or sickness and unless it's something obvious I may not notice it because I don't know what to look for. Are there subtle signs to indicate a grouse is sick? How would I know.

So if anyone can impart some wisdom, maybe tell me what to look for, that'd be awesome. Thanks guys!
 
Never saw a sick grouse before, I'd imagine it'd have to look pretty ragedy for me to bother to notice. Shoot em and eat em!

Edit: better yet! Send em to me for inspection and processing!
 
I think the coyotes and wolves will get the sick ones pretty fast...unlike humans, mother nature looks after the health of wildlife species.
 
I would think that 90% of the birds you get are going to be the young ones. Cant recall ever getting one that appeared sick, perhaps one could run into a bird that has been winged by another hunter, but that would be pretty obvious. Maybe one could tell by abnormal internal organs, again it has never come up. Grouse are foul, one does not eat un/under cooked fowl, that would take care of any parasites or disease.
 
As stated earlier, mother nature has a way of keeping the sick in check. Proper cooking will take care of parasites (as with any foul). Hunt away and enjoy. Good luck.
 
You're more likely to find meat from a sick animal from a grocery store. Only difference is, you're not likely ever going to know the meat from the grocery store was from a sick animal until its too late
 
I've gotten a couple ducks that had bad looking livers, so I didn't eat them. With any game animal check the liver, lungs etc. and if it has a smell that shouldn't be there maybe leave it alone. Don't forget thought that the insides of animals smells pretty bad to begin with.
 
I've seen grouse while cleaning that had parasites in their guts, does not mean the breast meat is infected I suppose.
 
Phat Eagle said:
^^^ this! AFAIK only real concern is the potential for dome "mad cow" in some elk in north eastern BC and northern Alberta.
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Agreed. I recall there being a fear of birds being infected with west nile virus, but also recall reading in the hunting regulation handbook that the odd chance a harvested bird was infected, that proper cooking elimated any risk of transmission
 
If it's already lying on the ground dead, don't shoot it and take it home. if it's bobbing it's noggin around and clucking a little, dust him and break out the frying pan.
 
Not sure if it helps or relates, but I rarely find sick chickens, and never find the ones allowed to free range, that get sick. Birds are more perishable than goldfish, and the ones that know something's not right, always find a place to hide before they croak, or die on the way.

Healthy, or dead. Doesn't seem to be much in the middle.
 
I got a ruffie on Van Isle one time that when I cleaned it had what appeared to be a large wart growing on the breast. Was about a quarter in circumference and 1/2" deep with a tiny dimple like hole in the centre. It was coloured all red/blue/purplish and was a pretty disgusting sight. Needless to say we tossed the bird out. Only one I have ever come across that had anything wrong. It apoeared healthy at a glance when I took off to look for it after it flushed and I couldn't get a shot off on the wing.
 
nowarningshot said:
I would think that 90% of the birds you get are going to be the young ones. Cant recall ever getting one that appeared sick, perhaps one could run into a bird that has been winged by another hunter, but that would be pretty obvious. Maybe one could tell by abnormal internal organs, again it has never come up. Grouse are foul, one does not eat un/under cooked fowl, that would take care of any parasites or disease.
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Today I shot one that was winged by another hunter (Must have been a couple weeks ago)
It looked otherwise healthy.
But was nasty where it had been hit.

First time I saw anything like it.
 
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