Opening day grouse...or lack thereof.

I shot 1 on opening day. There was another 1 with it but the bush being so green still it was impossible to see where the little bugger flew. Saw about 7 spruce hens the day afterwards when driving around but I figured we'd leave them for someone who appreciates them more than us. Like some other guys said, it'll be better after more frost.
 
Went to the local hardware store today, had my eye on a 12 gauge BPS he's had hanging around for a year. Put it to my shoulder and didn't like it, too big, I don't have long arms. For shots and giggles, I picked up a maverick 88 he just got in…..felt pretty good, started to think how I would like a cheap pump for canoe trips, so bought it. Took it down a bush road to fire off a box of shells, came back with two ruffs, just finished eating them!
 
100km driving, 4 hours walking and we saw and got 1 bird...which my nephew proceeded to blow all to hell. The bird flew from one side of the trail to the other and poked his head up amongst the vegetation. All I could see was the head and I assumed the same went for my nephew. He proceeded to shoot it right through the body from about 20feet. He is currently trying to trim away the chaff from salvageable meat. He'll never do that again!
 
Chuckbuster said:
100km driving, 4 hours walking and we saw and got 1 bird...which my nephew proceeded to blow all to hell. The bird flew from one side of the trail to the other and poked his head up amongst the vegetation. All I could see was the head and I assumed the same went for my nephew. He proceeded to shoot it right through the body from about 20feet. He is currently trying to trim away the chaff from salvageable meat. He'll never do that again!
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I shoot light 12 gauge loads.... I have done everything from a wing shot to full on destructiveness.... never had an issue and any pellets that do hit the breast are easily dug out with my knife.... what loads are you using?
 
Grouse just opened up here today n can't to get up north and after some woods chickens. Should be able to work it in in a couple weeks and have high hopes of bagging a few as the population appears to be very healthy. Good luck out there fellas.
 
Superbrad said:
I shoot light 12 gauge loads.... I have done everything from a wing shot to full on destructiveness.... never had an issue and any pellets that do hit the breast are easily dug out with my knife.... what loads are you using?
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Winchester bulk 20ga 71/2 field loads...I normally use a 12 but I have been carrying the new Mallard 20 this season.
 
Good numbers in our region. Bush dry and already frosted, looking forward to a good season.
 
meanwhile in BC... (watch it in 1080p full screen)
[video=youtube;_pTQARSLbcs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=_pTQARSLbcs[/video]
 
I'm using light skeet loads, 7.5. Popped the first bird on the wing, he dropped and started to run, popped him again, not so clean. Pellets were not to bad though. Second one was a clean head shot on a sitter. It was raining enough to build an ark today, didn't expect to see anything, supposed to be sunny and cold tomorrow, can't wait to go for a long walk.
 
Went out today for sharp tails, swear I walked 20km. Saw 4 birds all day, all at the last spot. Took my limit of 2 home. Think I might leave them alone now for this year.
 
j_06 said:
Got 7 with my jr carbine last night. Girlfriend got 4. Must have seen two dozen.
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Badass! I've shot 'em with .45 Long Colts before and you better hit 'em in the head or...well....lets just say it can be...messy...yeah....we'll go with messy..... :cheers:

Jmiverson said:
Went out today for sharp tails, swear I walked 20km. Saw 4 birds all day, all at the last spot. Took my limit of 2 home. Think I might leave them alone now for this year.
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Only 2? That's pretty ####ty. If you can find 'em here in NEO we're allowed 5. My father and I purposely go out looking for them. We drive 100's km's up and down cut roads to do it. It takes a while to find some but it's a helluva lot of fun when you do. :D
 
memaquay said:
I'm using light skeet loads, 7.5. Popped the first bird on the wing, he dropped and started to run, popped him again, not so clean. Pellets were not to bad though. Second one was a clean head shot on a sitter. It was raining enough to build an ark today, didn't expect to see anything, supposed to be sunny and cold tomorrow, can't wait to go for a long walk.
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We were supposed to have partly cloudy and cool weather here today...they got the cloudy part right, but the wind is roaring through pretty good in my neck of the woods this morning, and it's cold. My nephew is still up from "Trawnna", and he and my favourite daughter with braces are hoping to go out today...not sure when he has to head back today, but if we can, we are going to try near Killarney, in 42. It'll be another 100km+ day.
 
legi0n said:
meanwhile in BC... (watch it in 1080p full screen)
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Used to be just like that in my area. I once came back to my cabin from a day of deer hunting to find some 15-20 of them chilling on my porch/shed area and basically trying to bok-bok me off!

Not anymore. Something hammered their population in my area starting 5-6 years ago and they haven't come back.
 
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