Ontario Sharptail Grouse

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Has anyone hunted them recently, we are heading North this fall for a week with my two dogs and I’m going to try a get a Sharpy or two.

I have heard mixed reports on them but nothing recent or consistent.

We will be around Kapuskasing, we will probably dedicate a day or two to chasing them, the lodge owner/Outfitter has had reasonable success. But I would love to hear from others about their experiences.

Sharptails and Spruce Grouse are the only two Upland birds I have left to shoot over my dogs in Ontario (discounting ptarmigan).

 

[Dorian Gray]

Not sure what it's like around Kap but I've always had luck in swampy black spruce filled areas and also just open areas in general. Places that have been cut in the previous 5 years are a good spot to be. They like to fly so it seems as though they stick to wide open terrain.

I've seen a bunch so far this year between Fraserdale and Moosonee but I might not be the best guy to ask about them. I work for the railroad up there and see a lot more prime sharptail country than most would. We always see lots. Either way, good luck. They're one of my favorite birds to hunt and I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

From my understanding we have access to some wheat fields that will likely be harvested by the time we get there. Aside from them I am also going to see what I can find for Topographic maps or use Google earth to see what areas I should be pinpointing.

I’ve never hunted Sharptails, or been up north for 13 years for that matter, but I think my dogs are up for it. It’s a bit of an exploratory trip for us, so I’m managing my expectations.

Thanks for the info, we are really looking forward to the trip.

 

[hoytcanon]

There are decent sharpie numbers North of Kap. Concentrate on 5-8 year old cuts. The flocks will hold for a shot or two early in the season, but flush wild later on. Once they flush, there will likely be a couple birds that land high in tree tops while the rest scatter on the ground. If you want to run the dogs on the ground birds, you have to snipe the look-out birds first, if they give an alarm call the ground birds will flush wild. Once the look-outs are down, you can run the dogs on the ground birds. I hunt them North of Nakina and generally take daily limits hunting over my Springers. You will also see lots of ruffles and spruce grouse... it makes for a nice mixed bag.

 

[Dorian Gray]

Totally not a trip into Moosonee a few falls ago...