Grouse hunting 2014

[The Guide]

It is almost grouse season here in Montana.  We are aloud to hunt mountain grouse with rifles and pistols here.  I hunted my mountain grouse with only my AG's last year and I really enjoyed it.  I am looking forward to this year's season as it opens in under a week. 

Who else hunts grouse with an AG?

Jay

[UCChris]

Hunting game animals isn't allowed here in Utah. But I'm working with my DNR right now to change that.

[RedRiderF26]

In Cali we can hunt grouse with air rifles.... I would definitely hunt them if I knew where to go. But im really looking forward to turkey season, i wanna bag a big gobbler

[longislandhunter]

I just found out recently that here in NY you can take ruffed grouse with a rifle/airgun.  I always thought you had to use a shotgun for them but I was wrong.  I'm very excited about this because the property that I own up in the Catskill Mountains has a very good population of grouse on it.  I've hunted them with the shotgun of course, but  I'd much rather use the airgun and now I know I can      Season opens here on Oct 1st.... can't wait 

Jeff

[Chako]

Hunting game animals isn't allowed here in Utah. But I'm working with my DNR right now to change that.

I hope you work hard on that Chris

[Deckard1973]

I have Grouse on my property (though have not seen many this year . . .).
Only time I have seen them is when me or the dogs out walking around have startled them and flushed them out.  Same with woodcock.
Taking one with a AG . . . how do you do that?  From a blind?  Tree stand?

[Chako]

I have Grouse on my property (though have not seen many this year . . .).
Only time I have seen them is when me or the dogs out walking around have startled them and flushed them out.  Same with woodcock.
Taking one with a AG . . . how do you do that?  From a blind?  Tree stand?

By pulling the trigger...

[longislandhunter]

The key is to know the land you are hunting very well and thus know where the grouse on your land "hang out".  Slowly work your way through the woods trying to spot the birds before they flush.  If they do flush they usually don't fly very far before landing again.  When that happens watch them and mark the spot they set down.   Work your way over to that spot because you now have the edge by knowing they are there.  Hopefully you'll spot the grouse before it flushes again and put a pellet into it.   I'm not saying it's easy, far from it, but it is possible and very challenging.   There have been plenty of times I've gotten close to grouse on the ground while I'm deer hunting and using the "still hunt" tactic.  Matter of fact this year when I go deer hunting besides my deer rifle I'll be packing my Marauder pistol in case I'm lucky enough to sneak up on any grouse 

JEff

[The Guide]

We walk old logging roads, clear cuts, and areas with water in heavily treed sections.  The will often be found on the edges of the meadows or on the roads scratching for gravel.  For me it is a head shot only game.  I carry my .22 Disco or .22 Prod when just hunting grouse.  I have my Prod or 2240 while bow hunting.  Some shoot them with arrows or a BP pistol while bow hunting but I use carbon fiber arrows and they are ~$20 each and don't like to mess them up and prefer to keep quiet so the AG is my weapon of choice.  Using chairgun my 1" kill zone is 13-38 yards on my Prod with Predator Polymag's, 12-47 yards with my disco and the 18 grain JSB, and I'm good to 25 feet with the 2240.  Again, head shots only for me both as to preserve the meat (YUM) and to provide a quick kill.

Jay

[LDP]

Jay i live in MT also up north from you in Hamilton and I will hopefully be getting some grouse also.

[Bicycleman]

Good luck to all of you.  No grouse here, but I would like to read about the hunts.

[Benny]

I have 20 days before our season starts. In my area grouse hunting is usually a close range affair. Shots are usually less than 10 yards due to the underbrush. I usually only get ruffies but I know that there should be some Blue grouse close by too. I hope to find some this year. The attached picture is from a couple of years ago.

[HatsanPhantom]

How do they taste? I have wanted to hunt grouse here in VA but everbody says they're all gone. I don't believe that but they do seem to be scarce and I cover all types of ground on my permissions.They are all different but I never see any grouse.

[The Guide]

How do they taste?

To me they are just wild chickens.  They have very little fat content.  I enjoy the meat (both legs, thighs, and breasts) wrapped in bacon and then fried until the bacon is cooked.  These can be eaten alone or served with wild rice casserole (wild rice, cream of mushroom soup, and a little sour cream).  Great camp food or an appetizer for a large meal of sporting event.  I will post some pictures of the hunts and cooking them after the season opens.

Jay

[Bicycleman]

Sounds good, Jay; and there is a Gate at the top of the Hunting Gate for recipes and stuff - check it out and maybe you will want to add some recipes of your own.

I look forward to your next post!

[HatsanPhantom]

sounds very good

[mooseslayer]

I'll be heading up for my archery moose hunt in a few weeks and usually lots of Ruffed and Spruce grouse. Last year was slow and I got about a dozen with the airgun just going down back roads to my moose spots. I used to shoot them with my bow but arrows are expensive.

[CORider]

Blue grouse are the only grouse legal to hunt with an AG here in CO.  This will be my first year for them.  Sadly, they seem to be scarce along the Front Range where I'm located. 

[The Guide]

Blue grouse are the only grouse legal to hunt with an AG here in CO.  This will be my first year for them.  Sadly, they seem to be scarce along the Front Range where I'm located.

I saw many of them while working in the Somerset area.

Jay

[The Guide]

I used to shoot them with my bow but arrows are expensive.

I agree.  That is my reason for not using my bow also.

Jay