Ruffed grouse

I find myself a variety of small shot works fine for me. Number 7 1/2 target loads are plenty good most of the time. When I do get the odd long range shooting in the open (such as the previously mentioned sharptails) Federal Prairie Storm #6s are just jim dandy for stretching the barrel to 40 yards or thereabouts. In all honestly, I keep a decent stock of 7 1/2s or high brass 6s (only about 2-3 boxes of each) and feel very well prepared for a full season. I use lead shot only.
 
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Cintax said:
What shot size is everyone using for Ruffed Grouse? Also, does anyone here use steel or other non-tox? I have a 20 gauge if that matters.
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I'm a wing shooter only ... with a 12 SxS currently, but have also used a 20 & a 28. Standard Target loads in 7-1/2 work just fine. In early season I usually use either a 1 oz. load of 8's, or even a 24 gram load of 8-1/2's ( Kent "Velocity International" ) as Woodcock are in the mix as well. Grouse are no problem with light loads and small shot. I've even used Skeet loads of 9's for early season birds.
 
2 of my favorite recipes for Ruffy's is first just taking the breasts, deboning and making cordon swiss. The second is time consuming but real tasty, plucking and eviscerating, just like chicken, then stuffing with a mixture of white rice, wild rice, bacon bits, butter and sourkraut, then roasting in the oven, awesome..Either of these can also be used on Sharpie's as well.
 
Brutus said:
Maybe or maybe not. But these two were take in flight, same for the sharpies also.

Cheers.......
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I have a Ruger 10/22 with an excellent scope on it.
I shoot the grouse in the head or neck.
Not an atom of lead in the meat.
Split a back molar on a lead shot from eating a game bird. It was an excruciating, agonizing walk out of the bush and drive to the dentists office.
Never again.
If I want to target shoot I'll shoot clay birds.
I shoot grouse for the stew pot and frying pan.
 
Ruffed Grouse breast also makes one of the finest Fondue treats you will ever enjoy.
Just cut into cubes, season and cook till just done [not too long]
A feast fit for Kings, to be sure!! :)
Regards, Eagleye.
 
Anyone out there hunt grouse with crossbows? I've got birds with in a few minute drive of my place but can't use firearms and the crossbow seems like it would work fine. Just have to use judos and try not to miss is how I see it.
 
jongun said:
Anyone out there hunt grouse with crossbows? I've got birds with in a few minute drive of my place but can't use firearms and the crossbow seems like it would work fine. Just have to use judos and try not to miss is how I see it.
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The archers in our hunt team use the forked arrows to hunt birds.
The kill rate is about 4/5 kills per shots attempted.
These guys are really good.
Friend of mine uses on of those suped-up pellet guns that push a .177 cal pellet to 1600 fps (PAL required) for grouse.
With a perfect head shot it kills them dead.
My .22 cal pellet pistol (495 fps no PAL requ'd and non-restricted at < 500 fps) will knock grouse silly enough with a head shot so that you can grab them and wring their necks before they can recover their senses and fly off but you gotta be fast.
My old German Sheppard dog (now dead) and I were a real grouse hunting team. I'd shoot the birds in the head with the pellet pistol and he's be on them before they could re-orientate themselves and get off the ground.
 
Cintax said:
What shot size is everyone using for Ruffed Grouse? Also, does anyone here use steel or other non-tox? I have a 20 gauge if that matters.
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I use a 20ga too, and stick to #7-1/2..it's all you need. Choke is the next thing to consider. Even a 20ga. will deliver allot of lead to a grouse...depending on it's distance from you, and what choke you're running. I've only been at it a few years, but a 26"-28" barrel with a modified choke has served me well on wing shots, but a little hard on close-range, sitting birds unless you aim high. Most of the birds I saw last year could have easily been sniped by a .22 they were so close. Instead, I tracked-down a second barrel and had a gunsmith cut it to 22" (=no choke) and re-bead it. As planned, it really opened-up the pattern for closer birds (in the thick bush we hunt) meaning I only had 2-3 (or none) pellets in the breast, max.
 
Gunoholic said:
The archers in our hunt team use the forked arrows to hunt birds.
The kill rate is about 4/5 kills per shots attempted.
These guys are really good.
Friend of mine uses on of those suped-up pellet guns that push a .177 cal pellet to 1600 fps (PAL required) for grouse.
With a perfect head shot it kills them dead.
My .22 cal pellet pistol (495 fps no PAL requ'd and non-restricted at < 500 fps) will knock grouse silly enough with a head shot so that you can grab them and wring their necks before they can recover their senses and fly off but you gotta be fast.
My old German Sheppard dog (now dead) and I were a real grouse hunting team. I'd shoot the birds in the head with the pellet pistol and he's be on them before they could re-orientate themselves and get off the ground.
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Unfortunately can't use a sub500fps pellet gun on any game in Quebec. Only recently(last year) were we allowed to use anything less than 1000fps.
 
silverfoxdj said:
I like that description.. lol
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They're from the same family. It is a factual description.

Galliformes is an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding birds, which includes turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. The name derives from "gallus," Latin for "####" or "rooster". Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms. "Wildfowl" or just "fowl" are also often used for Galliformes, but usually these terms also refer to waterfowl (Anseriformes), and occasionally to other commonly hunted birds. This group has about 290 species, one or more of which are found in essentially every part of the world's continents (except for the innermost deserts and perpetual ice). They are more rare on islands, and in contrast to the closely related waterfowl are essentially absent from oceanic islands—unless introduced there by humans. Several species have been domesticated during their long and extensive relationship with humans.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliformes
 
Gunoholic said:
The archers in our hunt team use the forked arrows to hunt birds.
The kill rate is about 4/5 kills per shots attempted.
These guys are really good.
Friend of mine uses on of those suped-up pellet guns that push a .177 cal pellet to 1600 fps (PAL required) for grouse.
With a perfect head shot it kills them dead.
My .22 cal pellet pistol (495 fps no PAL requ'd and non-restricted at < 500 fps) will knock grouse silly enough with a head shot so that you can grab them and wring their necks before they can recover their senses and fly off but you gotta be fast.
My old German Sheppard dog (now dead) and I were a real grouse hunting team. I'd shoot the birds in the head with the pellet pistol and he's be on them before they could re-orientate themselves and get off the ground.
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Never had to wring a grouse neck after shooting it with a crossman 2240, kills them just fine out to 25 yds
 
.22LRGUY said:
You too eh? :) I just got a great new barrel for my 20ga. Wingmaster (VR, finally) but have a hunch it will be dry-docked this September. My daughter is taking her firearms/Hunter's Safety course in a few weeks and is an avid .22 shooter. As her mentor this fall, her .22 will be the only firearm between us...but something tells me watching her in action will be even better than doing the trigger work myself. Can't wait!
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I am looking forward to .22LRGIRL or .22LRDAUGHTER's first post.Please tell her that the the guys on CGN wish her the best of luck on her course and first hunt.
There is nothing better than taking someone out for their first hunt.
Nipigon Jack
 
I use a 16 gauge with 7.5. Way better than a duck. Easy to clean. Step on the wings and pull on the legs.
Then enjoy on the BBQ.
 
Simmered in mushroom soup over wild rice. Mmmmmmm.

Definitely going to try the bacon one though! I still have a dozen in the freezer from last year.

22 works fine but I usually use 410 with 6 or 7 1/2 shot.
 
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