Grouse! Let’s See Them

[TheGreek]

A limit of dusky grouse this morning here in NW Colorado with my old Fox 20 bore.

 

[MNHunter67]

Two duskies and a sprucey for the morning

 

[Steelsearchin]

Last bag outta the freezer, season opens the 15th!

 

[802flyfish]

Enjoying this cooler weather. A limit of sharpies and a hun for the day.

 

[jtm307]

Second weekend, second Dusky limit.

 

[MNHunter67]

Finally got my first ruffed grouse of the season (and a bonus snowshoe). I think we flushed 8, but only had shots on 2 and only hit 1. I’m gonna wait until some of the leaves are off to head back to that cover. Should be pretty good hunting in a few weeks.

 

[shrapnel]

Finally got my first ruffed grouse of the season (and a bonus snowshoe). I think we flushed 8, but only had shots on 2 and only hit 1. I’m gonna wait until some of the leaves are off to head back to that cover. Should be pretty good hunting in a few weeks.View attachment 291882

Thank goodness for judo tips when you are elk hunting, so you can keep from coming back empty handed…

 

[tops911]

3 Drahts and 5 spruce grouse.

 

[MNHunter67]

Single sprucey last night and a lone ruffed tonight. Leaves look like they’re about to turn around Missoula. Gonna start getting real fun once the leaves are down.

 

[Flatbrimmer]

Thank goodness for judo tips when you are elk hunting, so you can keep from coming back empty handed…



View attachment 291885View attachment 291886

There’s a scene in fresh tracks where Randy and Michael are elk hunting and get into some grouse, and Randy says, I will use my FINEST arrows and my BEST broadheads for a grouse cracked me up!!

That said, I’ve never found them from preventing me from losing the arrow it’s attached to! So I just use my “dullest” broadhead for the birds..

 

[shrapnel]

 

[shrapnel]

2 more this afternoon…

 

[TheGreek]

Another pair of dusky grouse this morning here in NW CO. Should have been a limit but I missed the easiest shot of the day on what should have been #3 at the end of the morning.

 

[IDHUNTNFISH]

It's been a banner year for birds around here. Especially Blue Grouse. My daughter got her first grouse.

 

[shrapnel]

 

[ammo]

Nothing like a little mtn chicken while out looking for elk

 

[glass eye]

1 trip but a lot of miles.

 

[cedahm]

Opening weekend in CO was good but forgot to take any decent pics, still early season conditions.

Weve only seen one female in 4 total days of hunting, no family groups up high yet in our normal spots, but imagine that is changing fast as the weather has finally turned more Fall-like.

Pup had a nice point on a pair of Bombers Thursday at a new scout spot, managed the easy one and spent 5min trying to get his highness to look at the camera only to notice he’d gotten his right arm through the vest.

 

[Birdbander]

I arrived in Colorado on Sunday afternoon and went right to the woods. Didn't see any grouse, but also didn't go in far. Yesterday I tried a location based on the resort owner's information, again no grouse.

This morning I was heading up the mountain before the sun, going to the locations Bullshot had provided months ago that prompted me to change plans from Montana.

At each of the locations there were large camps set up. I didn't drive from Michigan to not hunt so went around the hilltop and put the first dog down. Within 100 yards he was on point. As I approached the 1st grouse went airborne right, 2 more quickly lifted off quartering away left. My first shot dropped the right bird! I was so happy I forgot to take a shot at the others
The dog and I moved on and took one more.

The old dog (almost 12) is feeling run down but I saw a road bird, unloaded him and circled through the trees. He went on point which turned out to be one that just in the treeline from the road bird. I was able to drop in with the second barrel.

Great morning! First dusky my dog ever encountered was pointed and shot with the first shot I've ever taken at a dusky!

Going to humble myself and look for ptarmigan this afternoon.

 

[shrapnel]

This one is only 20 seconds dead. I Clint Eastwooded him and blew his head “clean off”…