Opening day grouse...or lack thereof.

Chuckbuster

Chuckbuster

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Not far enough north of Premier Orville Reddenbach
Anybody else go out for grouse in areas where it opened today? I went out and saw nicht, nein, nada in terms of grouse. Not even a distant flush. We ran into several other parties, and they all said the exact same thing. Not sure where they are in terms of population cycle here, I think we are near the bottom, but it may be a case of a double whammy in terms of population low point and poor survival/recruitment due to the harsh winter and spring.
 
Went out tonight to cut my last load of firewood. Meant to bring the shotgun, but forgot. Saw two fly across the dirt road in front of me on the way back, landed in a tree. Probably could have fired up the chainsaw and cut the tree down, and they would have fell to their death, but it just wasn't sporting enough. Think I'll pound the bush tomorrow for real.
 
Saw 4 on a walk with the wife last weekend. Went to the same trail area today in hopes of harvesting them and didn't see a Damn thing, except for 50 or so squirrels
 
Chuckbuster said:
Ontario...Google Kathleen Wynne!
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Naay, will not google it! I value my eyes too much sir.

If it's any cold comfort here in NE Alberta grouse numbers look a tad slim at first glance.
After a few hours of beating the bush in a previously successful spot, I left empty handed and soon stumbled upon a popular travelling chip wagon known as the "Smokehouse" where I indulged in a little poutine. Oil patch country.

Funny thing though, I stopped just down the road to eat and dropped my pop in the dirt after I stopped the truck in a quiet corner that I know from years back.
To observe the one and only ruffie launching itself into the trees! lol....
 
I have not seen any in the Nordegg area for several years, dad keeps asking if it worth going out hunting I can not see the point unless you like going out for an armed hike. Even the Elk population is almost non existent, and Moose is not to far behind the Elk.
 
Went for a drive.. walked a few km's on an old trail n the only bird I saw was a hawk.. but todays another day after work itll be another backroad and another walk will post results.. ps my first hunting season with a license and my own guns.. havnt killex a grouse since I was a wee lad.. hopefully I have bwtter luck today.. and good luck to you too
 
With the winter we had last year (ontario) It might be a bad year for birds
Rabbits were eating tree bark 3 feet up trees last winter -- if they can't find food they starve

in the city and have had cyote problems and nothing I can do about it -- (its bad on garbage night) they roam the streets
I chase them up and down the road in the truck when I get off work when going home

if wolves and cyotes get them the numbers will be down

It goes in cycles
 
Went out to my favorite grousie area and nothing disappointed but found a good pit and unleashed holy hell on some targets so I had fun anyway
 
Well, I'm certainly hoping to run into some this weekend (kids have to be ferried around after work this week...may not get out again until the weekend...). My daughter needs to get her first bird as an apprentice with her new grouse gun (thanks Wolverine) and I need to try out my new (to me) CZ Mallard O/U 20ga that I picked up from a friend. I really hope it is not Groundhog Day with regard to grouse this year as compared to last...many miles, much gas, much boot leather and very few birds.
 
I'm not heading out until the first week of October and you guys are confirming what I feared already. That was a rough winter and spring '1, 2 punch' for the grouse for sure. My regular spot was pretty dry last year as well and we have opted to try out some new areas this year. Fingers crossed...
 
Haven't been out yet.

Might use this Shep of mine for a retriever though. As he retrieves, holds & 'breaks' on command better than any hunting dog I've had in the past. Albeit, that has been with a hockey ball & he's destroyed a few on his walk back to me. Might end up with a lot of Grouse schnitzel... LOL!
 
I have seen more than any other year alongside the roads and such.... We also had a bad winter, but it doesn't seem to have affected them where I am at.... I usually don;t bother with grouse until thanksgiving weekend when the weeds are down after the frost...

On a side note, how do you like the mallard Chuck?.... I can't find one anywhere....
 
Superbrad said:
I have seen more than any other year alongside the roads and such.... We also had a bad winter, but it doesn't seem to have affected them where I am at.... I usually don;t bother with grouse until thanksgiving weekend when the weeds are down after the frost...

On a side note, how do you like the mallard Chuck?.... I can't find one anywhere....
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It is early in the season, but listening for grouse in the leaf litter is a good skills sharpening exercise, especially for a youngster. The Mallard shoulders well for me, and I think will serve me well as an upland gun. I think, though, when I look for another O/U in the near future, Slightly shorter barrels will be the way to go for me. I think it has 28" barrels, and I think 26 or 24 inch tubes would be better for me.
 
Chuckbuster said:
It is early in the season, but listening for grouse in the leaf litter is a good skills sharpening exercise, especially for a youngster. The Mallard shoulders well for me, and I think will serve me well as an upland gun. I think, though, when I look for another O/U in the near future, Slightly shorter barrels will be the way to go for me. I think it has 28" barrels, and I think 26 or 24 inch tubes would be better for me.
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Ya.... I am kind of between the mallrd and the ultralight (which has 26 inch barrels), if they made the ultralight in 20 I would already have one.....
 
Superbrad said:
I have seen more than any other year alongside the roads and such.... We also had a bad winter, but it doesn't seem to have affected them where I am at.... I usually don;t bother with grouse until thanksgiving weekend when the weeds are down after the frost...

On a side note, how do you like the mallard Chuck?.... I can't find one anywhere....
Click to expand...


Same here on both accounts. Last week during the bear hunt I saw more birds just going to and from the bear baits than I did all last year hunting them for a week.
 
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