Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
Amen to that
Grouse Hunting
- Thread starter RM Anderson
- Start date
Amen to that
RM Anderson
Well-known member
Berta, my first hunting dog, was quite a revelation when it came to grouse hunting. For years I had hunted alone and thought I knew the habits of these birds pretty well. I had no idea how much the ruffed grouse resorted to running!
RM
Last edited:
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
RM
"I will tell you a very wise thing. If a man is really intelligent there's practically nothing a good dog can't teach him." The Old Man - Robert Ruark
That pretty much covers it.
VP
"I will tell you a very wise thing. If a man is really intelligent there's practically nothing a good dog can't teach him." The Old Man - Robert Ruark
That pretty much covers it.
VP
Never had a chance to hunt Ruff Grouse but did grow up following a big Gordon setter for quail. I have hunted Blue Grouse in Colorado though while Elk scouting. They just fly up in a tree and set there so no need for my SXS 28 ga just used a 22. After the hunt, cleaned the bird, beautiful meat, and put the bird in the campfire wrapped in foil with vegetables and a little water. Cooked great and when I opened the foil the bird was beautifully cooked and the vegetables were nice. Sat down and took my first bite. Tasted just like eating a well-cooked pine 2x4. Oh well. Never shot another one.
You're plainly a more patient man than I. During the years I ordered my life around Appalachian ruffs, I got pretty good at avoiding lost field time with bumping dogs, no matter how fine their loving owners' coverts might be.
don novicki
Active member
Almost 73 y/o and have yet to ever even see one here in NW Pa.. I do not have a dog so it's doubtful I'd walk the woods hoping for the best. I'd like to head North to hunt them at least once, but it seems doubtful anymore. I enjoy all of everyone's pictures and stories though. Keep em coming.
I like walking the roads too. People need to get off their fat ass and walk.
Having always had Labs, in addition to some Pointers years ago, we had our share of flushing dogs. Gunner points when the birds hold, but closes in and flushes if they run. He's as good an all around bird dog as I've ever hunted over.
Good rail hunting tides always come when you have something else that needs to be done. I think you are correct, it may be a touch early for a flight.
Purgatory
Several people mentioned they enjoyed reading of other's grouse adventures. I think Dani, Carl, Don, maybe someone else? So I'm going to try to remember to post about it sometime this season. I'll be curious to hear how others do, as this is a traditional downcycle year. The traditional cycle runs on a 10 year clock. This phenomenon has been written about since maybe the 1940's. According to proponents, the best years end in 0,1,2, and the worst are usually 5,6,7. So 2026 is no bueno. The areas I hunt exhibit some correlation to this theory IMO, but not always. While I've had great hunts on downcycle years, this one seems to be following the rules. We're seeing very few birds where we normally see then this time of year.
What I also find interesting this year is that there are absolutely no hawks around. Of any kind. No Coopers or Sharp Shinned is good news for us grouse lovers. But I can normally walk out the door of our house in CT or ME and see, or at least hear, one. Nothing. My buddies and I were talking about it last night while working on boats. Yeah, those boats.
I also notice on birdwatching sites, they say the same thing. Counts way down. So I'm wondering if the avian flu is claiming them?
What I also find interesting this year is that there are absolutely no hawks around. Of any kind. No Coopers or Sharp Shinned is good news for us grouse lovers. But I can normally walk out the door of our house in CT or ME and see, or at least hear, one. Nothing. My buddies and I were talking about it last night while working on boats. Yeah, those boats.
I also notice on birdwatching sites, they say the same thing. Counts way down. So I'm wondering if the avian flu is claiming them?
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
Rick,
My best friend and hunting & fishing mentor had a saying. "I'm not a doctor but I have a lot of patience.." He taught me the value of being patient. I do my best to be and it works. Ruffs get bumped by dogs and by dogless hunters, that's all part of the deal. Most all of my Ruffed Grouse hunting was in western and north central PA, eastern Ohio, and some hunting in Ontario and out west as well.
Until the population crash there were always plenty of birds from Oct. to Feb. I missed very few days of grouse hunting with and without dogs. Now I'm in western NY and the crash happened here as well. Before I retired I bought all new grouse hunting togs from top to bottom cuz my old ones were in tatters. (I'm sure you understand). I feel like a fool. All new duds and few birds. Yet I still go and walk far, but slower now at 76.
My library contains many books on the things I love to do outdoors. Plenty of Grouse and Woodcock books that I read from cover to cover. Of all the books and printed material I ever read on Ruffed Grouse NONE is better than A Sand County Almanac, chapter 10, October - By Aldo Leopold
My you have a fine Fall enjoying what matter most to you outdoors.
Best regards
Vince
And you, as well.
Neal Haarberg
Active member
I have been toying with the idea of chasing grouse in the Cascades in SW Washington this year. Years ago I did OK in the coast range in Oregon following my lab on old logging roads and creek bottoms. I have 3 year old lab with plenty of energy and thought I might give a try again after a 20 year hiatus. The biggest problem for me will be time to go and avoiding big game hunters.... you couldn't pay me enough to be out there with my dog during rifle elk or deer season. Not many grouse hunters in the PNW. Most are shot off the road by deer hunters...
Michael McCord1
Active member
i love gated or cabled roads for this very reason. Road hunters just suck.