Author Topic: Limited Out on Ruffies (Read 5067 times))

rsterne · « **on:** September 11, 2012, 10:43:34 PM »

Went out this afternoon for just over an hour just across the river.... We saw a total of 9, shot at 5 and got all 5.... 4 headshots and one at the base of the neck as he was facing away.... They were all Ruffed Grouse, two adults, two decent size youngsters, and one that was the smallest I've ever shot.... I'm guessing he was either hatched late, or possibly from a second brood....

Molly did a great job again today, although a couple she dropped on the side of the road near me and took off into the bush to chase more.... When I clean them, I do the "step on the wings and pull up on the feet" to separate the breast from the rest.... Cut off the wings, wash them up, bag them and freeze them....

I haven't shot my limit in a day for two years, so it was quite a treat.... especially to do it in just over an hour....

Bob

thekid · « **Reply #1 on:** September 11, 2012, 10:45:16 PM »

Great hunt.

dk1677 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 11, 2012, 11:09:51 PM »

Very nice Bob!

BerkshireHunter · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2012, 12:01:45 AM »

Whoa, impressed would be an understatement! I doubt I could go in the woods and even find a ruffie. Might consider them in a combination hunt later but MA limits the season to only about a month.

amb5500c · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2012, 12:09:25 AM »

Very very cool. I sure wish we had birds like that in south Louisiana.
Richard

ShakySarge · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2012, 08:26:11 AM »

Congrats on the full quarry!! Sounds like you had quite the enjoyable outing!! And looks as if you will have some very nice meals!

Matt

bradyman1 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:36:38 AM »

Sounds like another great day in the field. Great shooting and congrats on the full bag!

Trackmyer · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:28:48 AM »

"When I clean them, I do the "step on the wings and pull up on the feet" to separate the breast from the rest.... Cut off the wings, wash them up, bag them and freeze them.... "

I do pretty much the same thing, but first I grab them by the head and snap downwards and the body pops off and onto the ground. The only other thing is once your down to just breast and wings, grab both wings and quick snap back towards each other and they break off as well.

Ruffled Grouse is the only bird I can clean in less than a minute using no knife. Wish I had some right now.

Awesome bunch, you decide how they'll be served yet? Mouth's watering already.

longislandhunter · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:30:54 AM »

What a terrific hunt. That's some great shooting, I'm really impressed.

I have a lot of grouse on my property up in the catskills cept I go after em with the shotgun. I think next time I'll try the air rifle instead and try some "spot and stalk".

Really, great hunt, thanks for sharing. Those grouse breasts are gonna be real tasty....

Jeff

Rico14 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2012, 06:52:06 PM »

great day in the field. How big are these birds? There's nothing to compare them to in the picture. Looks like you're going to have a nice meal

1377x · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2012, 07:11:58 PM »

congrats to the max limit! in an hour

their heads are a small target excellent shooting,mr.sterne!

rsterne · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:01:43 PM »

The size of a small chicken.... Mature birds weigh over a pound.... Blue Grouse run 2-2.5 lbs.... Spruce Grouse only about 1/2 lb....

The Ruffed Grouse breasts as shown in the photos are about the length of the palm of your hand....

Bob

Trackmyer · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:21:47 PM »

8 birds in a couple days is looking pretty good Bob. I got so excited to see another fella who cleans them like I do I forgot to congratulate you on your harvest.

Sorry, and Congratulations

Since I moved back to NY from the West Coast none of my hunting buddies ever seen that way of doing it, and looked at me kinda odd the first time I did it.

Does Molly hunt waterfowl too or just land birds?

ogre8472 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2012, 09:23:40 PM »

Nice work!

rsterne · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2012, 10:46:53 PM »

I don't hunt waterfowl, so neither does she, although given the chance she'd probably do great.... She LOVES the water....

Bob

Shoot Straight · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2012, 11:01:15 PM »

Nice shooting.

BenjiHunter · « **Reply #16 on:** September 13, 2012, 01:20:46 AM »

Good job! Bon appetite!
Great pics.

shadow · « **Reply #17 on:** September 13, 2012, 08:55:20 AM »

Outstanding and the meat look's moth watering.

Ed

topwaterjim · « **Reply #18 on:** September 13, 2012, 04:53:58 PM »

Nice bird hunting with the ag. Makes me look foeward to doing the same..Jim..

VAFarmer · « **Reply #19 on:** September 13, 2012, 10:15:34 PM »

Grouse is hard to find anymore, least around here.

Last one I had was years ago, in my 20s.

I like to fix them just like cornish hen, with a little stuffing.

They are THE BEST game fowl, IMO. Wild turkey is a close 2nd.

God bless, and congrats.

Farmer

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Limited Out on Ruffies

Author Topic: Limited Out on Ruffies (Read 5067 times))