Opening day grouse...or lack thereof.

I tried to grab a spruce grouse out of the tree that 3 of them flew into. Got within a foot of him ! They are almost tame. So stupid. I have binoculars handy so I don't shoot one by accident. However, if you like eating them, have at 'er !
 
Went out for the first time last Saturday. 2 hours, flushed 6, only saw one - no shots. Good numbers but southern birds are a totally different beast.
 
A budy of mines grandpa did grab a spruce grouse and brought it back to camp alive. Seems the bird was drunk from eating over ripe elder berries that had started to ferment into wine while still on the vine.
 
Yes, I recall not being able to shoot spruces back east, but I don't recall seeing that many hunting in NS. I do miss pheasant hunting, and especially pheasant eating, used to be a christmas tradition. I can recall shooting Hungarian partridge, at least that's what I seem to recall them being, when I was duck hunting up somewhere around the Minas Basin.

We get ruffies, sprucies and sharp tails up here in N. On, all of which are shot on sight. Sharp tails are fairly cagey, usually found in cut overs, often requiring a long shot. The .22 comes in handy for them. I went out tonight in a swirling snow, walked a new trail, and got skunked. First time this year. Moose hunters will be filling up all the back roads this weekend, gonna be so many in 21A this year I'm going to hunt birds only until November.
 
Well I saw 6 the other day chased the last one around the bush a few times but the lil bastard was sneaky.. got two shots off with my 22 but I was too close and didnt ajust on my crosshairs so I missed.. I think im gunna have to pack my 12 gauge for my next walk cause I woulda had atleast 3 of them with the shotty. Since I had my 22 I was hesitating for the perfect shot.. stupid brush!! Owell.. back out again tomorrow possibly even tonight after work who knows...
 
Not so great around here. In two trips, I only heard one and I saw a second one at a terrible opportunity.

Dry leaves like walking on corn flakes right now.

Even the rabbits are evading me right now. I did see some tracks in the fallen hemlock needles that informed me of an early departure.
 
owensgreg said:
Well I saw 6 the other day chased the last one around the bush a few times but the lil bastard was sneaky.. got two shots off with my 22 but I was too close and didnt ajust on my crosshairs so I missed.. I think im gunna have to pack my 12 gauge for my next walk cause I woulda had atleast 3 of them with the shotty. Since I had my 22 I was hesitating for the perfect shot.. stupid brush!! Owell.. back out again tomorrow possibly even tonight after work who knows...
Click to expand...

That's the main reason I picked up a 20ga pump to use over the 22 after missing shots on birds due to them hiding in brush.
 
My birds seen count is now 5. After a few more outings including several hours between Sunday and Monday, I managed to spot another 3 to add to the previous 2. We saw 2 singles on the road, and 1 that flushed at the moment we saw him after peeking around a tree following the rustling of leaves. Since this promises to be a busy week with work, I probably won't get out again until Saturday. Maybe after another 5 or 6 hours of walking I'll see another one! Then again, maybe the seventh one will be my lucky number.
 
So I went out again yesterday!! Got the bird that was evading me the last two times out in the same spot... ended up locking my keys in the truck and carved a slim jim out of a small tree after I tried the radio antenna( was to flexable) but the stick acually worked thank god.. the realized I dropped two 25rd 10/22 mags and was hopeing it was at the kill sight... went back to check and spotted another bird.. took my shot but missed cause of the heavy brush and three of the flushed in different directions no more luck after that but I did end up finding my mags right close to where I killed the bird... all in all was still a good day out(definitly better than no birds) then back to town for a 3rd turkey dinner
.. tonight im cookin up my birdie
 
I've found this to be the best grouse season in my 40 years of hunting. Not a single sign of rabbit however this year. I'm gonna wait for that first snowfall and see how that changes my luck. But for grouse, I'm very satisfied (as am I pleased in the new .410 I added this year just for grouse)! Nice to see again after so many years of one-bird-seasons.
 
Porschemann said:
I've found this to be the best grouse season in my 40 years of hunting. Not a single sign of rabbit however this year. I'm gonna wait for that first snowfall and see how that changes my luck. But for grouse, I'm very satisfied (as am I pleased in the new .410 I added this year just for grouse)! Nice to see again after so many years of one-bird-seasons.
Click to expand...

Whereabouts?
 
Porschemann said:
I've found this to be the best grouse season in my 40 years of hunting. Not a single sign of rabbit however this year. I'm gonna wait for that first snowfall and see how that changes my luck. But for grouse, I'm very satisfied (as am I pleased in the new .410 I added this year just for grouse)! Nice to see again after so many years of one-bird-seasons.
Click to expand...

Out of curiosity, where are you located (generally speaking)?
 
I went out for my first time this weekend. Heard one and then tried to shoot one flying straight away but could not recover (or missed). Will go out again. A great hike and we surprised a mommy moose and her calf. Was a nice sight to see.
 
I'm not a grouse hunter, but I am in the woods every Saturday for squirrels from late September through December.

So far this year I have been out 3 times and have only scared up a single grouse; in previous years it would have been 3-4 per day.

I am in the Flamborough area, about 15 minutes north of Hamilton.
 
After a few more outings and...10?...12?...14?...or more, hours of walking, I saw and connected on a bird today. He was only the 6th one I have seen thus far this season. And then, I get home and find one of the crested bassturds walking through my backyard...LIKE A BOSS!! I nearly busted a gut laughing! I need to buy a pellet gun.
 
Ha ha, that's funny! I've been slowing down, starting to think about moose now that most of the hordes have returned home. Think my last count for birdies was about 35.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom