Ruffed Grouse - nature's alarm system...

Boonie Boy

Boonie Boy

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Watching your back.
Opening day for deer (rifle) here, I head out to a location I haven't hunted before and worked my way through the bush toward a lengthy swamp that was showing up on gps and satellite. I was moving like a freakin' ninja and I made it to within 10 feet of the marsh edge when I (literally) stepped on a damn grouse and the fat bugger went up like a buzz-bomb underneath me! Before I could regain my composure and ignore the load in my drawers, a big doe and buck jumped up from the grass just on the other side of the marsh (about 50 yards) and threw themselves into the brush...

I caught up to the feathered meatball on the other side and was sorely tempted to thump him while he stood there chirping and flicking his tail feathers at me...
 
Had one under the tree stand this morning, fired my orange hat at him and he puffed up all his feathers and strutted around it for a few minutes. Sure scare the chit out of you when they explode from under your feet when you're in stealth mode.
 
They can give one a bit of a scare alright
I have almost stepped on them when they were buried in the fluffy snow.
Scared the crap out of me, besides giving me a free mini-blizzard of snow.
Sure does alert nearby game, too.
Eagleye.
 
Makes good stories too......aye.
Ruff tuff cream puffs chit their drawers by the likes of a few feathers.



This one got to live for another scare......
 
kamlooky said:
Makes good stories too......aye.
Ruff tuff cream puffs chit their drawers by the likes of a few feathers.



This one got to live for another scare......
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Spruce Grouse/Foolhen? Looks a little dark for a Ruff Grouse Looky.;)Here's a couple of pictures I took of Spruce Grouse feeding on berries in the front yard at my cabin in the interior.

MillgangMoosehunt-1.jpg


SpruceGrouse1.jpg


SpruceGrouse3.jpg
 
They sure can be annoying bastards at times. Last season I was sitting in a treestand watching a couple of them that had been nearby all morning when one came flying out of a tree about 30 yards away directly towards me. I started thinking, 'well, this is going to be interesting...' as it was on a direct path towards my head. I was getting ready to try and grab it out of midair when within the last 6 feet it did a quick 90 degree turn away.
 
I was going to spend daybreak hunting the edge of a field. It was overcast and I arrived in the dark. I stepped into the cedar brush at the side of the field and one flushed about 16" from my nose. Impressive adrenalin rush.
 
And that is the reason that people love hunting rufffed grouse. That explosive fury of wings from out of nowhere, at the most unexpected times, that demands composure and skill to score a hit on a blur weaving it's way through branches. That is why the ruffie is the king of upland birds, that is why dedicated hunters go to great lengths to hunt them, that is where the passion for this bird comes from.
 
That's rough. You should have thumped it! It would have made you feel better, and get a nice little feed out of the fiasco!! I don't know how many times those little balls of feathers exploded in my face! Nearly drop a load every time!
 
Grouse Man said:
And that is the reason that people love hunting rufffed grouse. That explosive fury of wings from out of nowhere, at the most unexpected times, that demands composure and skill to score a hit on a blur weaving it's way through branches. That is why the ruffie is the king of upland birds, that is why dedicated hunters go to great lengths to hunt them, that is where the passion for this bird comes from.
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I agree. And to my way of thinking, also the best of the upland birds as table fare.
 
Grouse Man said:
And that is the reason that people love hunting rufffed grouse. That explosive fury of wings from out of nowhere, at the most unexpected times, that demands composure and skill to score a hit on a blur weaving it's way through branches. That is why the ruffie is the king of upland birds, that is why dedicated hunters go to great lengths to hunt them, that is where the passion for this bird comes from.
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Yep! Nothing like blasting them on old logging roads and trails and listening to those wings thumping against the ground kicking up a dust cloud as you walk over to pick them up. Then as you do you see a couple more on the edge of the trail and blast them too, nothing like killing em northern style.......LOL!!
 
the spank said:
Yep! Nothing like blasting them on old logging roads and trails and listening to those wings thumping against the ground kicking up a dust cloud as you walk over to pick them up. Then as you do you see a couple more on the edge of the trail and blast them too, nothing like killing em northern style.......LOL!!
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Ha! It's good times!!!
 
Worst "scare" was when I literally stepped over one and started up a small 2 or 3 foot mound of dirt. When I slipped backward on the wet leaves, it broke from right behind my heel. Think I cleared the mound in one jump. Funny thing, I was actually hunting grouse that day, but needless to say, I didn't get a shot off at him.
 
Grouse Man said:
And that is the reason that people love hunting rufffed grouse. That explosive fury of wings from out of nowhere, at the most unexpected times, that demands composure and skill to score a hit on a blur weaving it's way through branches. That is why the ruffie is the king of upland birds, that is why dedicated hunters go to great lengths to hunt them, that is where the passion for this bird comes from.
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Any they are yummy ...having just had one for part of my lunch:D
 
the spank said:
Yep! Nothing like blasting them on old logging roads and trails and listening to those wings thumping against the ground kicking up a dust cloud as you walk over to pick them up. Then as you do you see a couple more on the edge of the trail and blast them too, nothing like killing em northern style.......LOL!!
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You must be so proud of your skills. Maybe when you become a big boy you'll learn how to wingshoot. LOL!!!
 
Had a better day today - I saw the little bugger before I stepped on him. Watched him pick away at the leaves for a few minutes before sneaking past. That makes 6 in two days - where are they when I'm not carrying a .30 cal rifle??
 
the spank said:
Yep! Nothing like blasting them on old logging roads and trails and listening to those wings thumping against the ground kicking up a dust cloud as you walk over to pick them up. Then as you do you see a couple more on the edge of the trail and blast them too, nothing like killing em northern style.......LOL!!
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Yes northern style that's how we do it east of you.
 
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