What's your go-to grouse hunting setup?

A

Aabradsh

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Well, in eastern Ontario, the gun season is over for deer and my duck boat is winterized and put away for the year, that just leaves a month of grouse hunting, before I shift gears to sledding! I go on a grouse hunt/camping trip every fall with a group of buddies and that's this coming weekend, so bush chickens are at the front of my mind.

What are peaopl's favorite or go-to grouse hunting setups? What gun and shells do you typically take into the field?

My more recent favorite is a Citori Lightning 20ga, loaded with 3" Federal Prairie Storm #6. But occasionally I still bring out my grandfather's old Gorosabel SxS 12ga, just for nostalgias sake.

What do you reach for?
 
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I only have a 12ga SxS Baikal I got for free. Use small duck shells (#6?) and aim for the head. Only hit with 1-3 pellets so far. It's my first year.
 
Cooey 410, chiappa 410/22 OU or ill just a semi .22. however this year i used my buddys pellet rifle that is 495 fps and i really liked shooting the birds with that its so quiet i stumbled upon a flock and shot 3 before they even noticed. might have to pick one up for next year me thinks
 
22lr to the head is my go to. Its not the most effective method but I enjoy the challenge and can’t stand having pellets in the meat.
Also sometimes there’s opportunities for longer range shots which are a lot of fun.
Biggest downside is you can’t shoot them out of trees.
 
Arctic87 said:
Cooey 410, chiappa 410/22 OU or ill just a semi .22. however this year i used my buddys pellet rifle that is 495 fps and i really liked shooting the birds with that its so quiet i stumbled upon a flock and shot 3 before they even noticed. might have to pick one up for next year me thinks
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I shot one out of a tree, handed gun to my friend to hold while I went in the bush and then one flew onto the same branch... We both ate good. They are far from being smart animals.
 
When staying in a cabin for grouse hunting I take a vintage JD Dougal sidelever 12 bore. When backpack hunting I bring a 20ga sxs huglu 202b. When chasing the very few around my home area my Beretta a400 xplor 28ga but the sheer lack of birds down here the gun is carried and rarely ever shot. Unless I jump a bunny
 
I don't have a favorite, love them all from my muzzle loaders to my sub gauge guns and my Westely Richards 12 using black powder and brass cases.
I just love hunting upland birds, period!:dancingbanana:
Cat
 
Some form of 12g pump with chokes, lately it’s been one with a 14” or 20” barrel. Both of which have rifle sights, a bead or a red dot worked just as well I find. Not hard to kill a grouse in all reality.
 
During deer and moose rifle season. 45colt or 45-70 suBsonic to the head. Bow season... Break action 495fps pellet gun. Rest of time this year was using stoeger coach 12ga just because.
 
gristle111 said:
During deer and moose rifle season. 45colt or 45-70 suBsonic to the head. Bow season... Break action 495fps pellet gun. Rest of time this year was using stoeger coach 12ga just because.
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Bow season I always have a arrow or 2 with a small game head.
The fast pellet guns sound perfect
 
mikeelliot said:
Bow season I always have a arrow or 2 with a small game head.
The fast pellet guns sound perfect
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Ya i took a few with a claw head just shreds them.. I don't have to dig a pellet out of the ground or stump or when birds in a tree she gone. arrows are expensive. ;)
 
These days I favour a Beretta 689 EELL O/U cannon (ie, a 12), 2 3/4" upland shells with #7.5 or #8 shot, thornproof pants and a smile. Oh yeah, and the required bucket of hope.
 
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