Hunting Grouse

mosinmaster

mosinmaster

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Hi,

For hunting grouse with a 12ga, what kind of choke and shot size should one use? Do you have to shoot them in the air or when they are on the ground? And is there a 3 round limit to shots like for waterfowl (i.e. do you need the plug in the mag tube)?
 
Improved cylinder or Modified chokes should be fine. I like 6's but most people like 7 1/2's. I take the birds as I see them, if they are on the ground thats where I shoot them, most of my birds are flushed out of brush and I can't see them until they are in the air.

Your gun needs to be plugged to 3 shells if you are hunting in Ontario.
 
I use 1 1/8 oz loads of 6 or 7 1/2 lead through a mod or imp cyl choke. You can ground shoot if you want, just hold up a bit for a head shot. The sporting way with a shotgun is on the wing, but not as easy as it sounds and much more chalenging.
as for the mag limit it cepends where you live, check your provincial regs. In quebec no restrictions for small game only migratory birds (federal regs) Ontario I believe is 3 round max.
 
So could I just use my Remington Gun Club trap loads? I think they are either 7 1/2 or 8 in shot size. And Lead is ok?
 
Specs on the ammo is 2 3/4'', 3 dr equiv, 1 1/8 oz shot, #8 shot, 1200 fps.

I shouldn't have to worry about the meat being torn up right? What are the usual distances of 'engagement'? Probably what trap has prepared me for? I hope so!
 
I've shot them 3M away and 20M away on the ground and in the air, either way aim for the head and lead them like trap when they are on the wing and you will do fine, be sure when you clean them if you hit them in the breast to take out the feathers from the shot holes. Beware it is alot of fun!!!
 
Shooting grouse on the ground with a 12 ga. is kinda like shooting ducks on the water, make 'em fly, then if you hit them, you've earned them.
 
I hunt with em with a .22 on the ground as they rarely fly in the thick bush I hunt in.

I'll tell you right now it isn't necessarily easy shooting em on the ground either. All depends on the surrounding area.

Sometimes I get lucky and they come out on the trails, but this year I had my share head straight into the thick pines, and had to follow. Getting a shot off is not easy in such conditions.

Sometimes I wish they would fly out into the clearings, but seems they only try to fly after they get a .22 that isn't placed well enough.
 
IMO a .22 is fine if there on the ground but I wouldn't try to hit them in the air..who knows where your bullet will land. It's not easy hitting them on the wing with a shotgun, If there is a lot of hunting pressure where you are going to hunt for them you will very rarely get a shot at them on the ground,as soon as they see or hear you they fly, your best bet is in the evening or early morning when they are in the tree branches.
 
I used to hunt grouse in N.Ont. with a 22 and shot lots. They'd just stand there looking around. When I moved here to NB, I soon learned that a 22 would not cut it. These birds fly as soon as you come near.

With a 12ga, I'd use IC choke with 7.5 shot.

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Shoot them in the air. If the brush is too thick to see them, wait for the leaves to drop.

The satisfaction you get from walking and wingshooting birds is unparalleled.
 
the type of grouse make the difference, ruffed grouse (white meat) are the dumb ones, sharp tails (red meat) fly well before you see them,... I use 22lr for grouse.
 
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