Grouse! Let’s See Them

[MNHunter67]

It’s been a good year for spruce grouse. I’m not gonna pass up a bonus snowshoe hare when given the opportunity either.

 

[X13]

 

[Birdbander]

Taking an overnight camping trip north of the Mackinaw Bridge to get into good bird cover.

It's been since last season that I've shot at a ruffed grouse. The blues in Colorado last month spoiled me being bigger & slower. Finally got a shot off at the 3rd and went 2 for 3 after that.

The woodcock took a minute to find hung up in a spruce.

The tailless grouse was a cripple that tried hiding in a hole and the dog couldn't pry it out.

 

[Elktrack]

 

[Elktrack]

Spruce grouse crop was almost entirely huckleberries. Oct. 11th and there’s still huckleberries everywhere up high. Crazy

 

[FairWeather]

Just bagged my first one tonight! Took it with my Rossi brawler. Carrying this thing when deer hunting finally paid off hahaha.

 

[X13]

 

[MTGunner]

One year old female lab. First pic is her first grouse, Francolin grouse. 2nd is her first rooster pheasant. Had I known the grouse was a Francolin I would not have taken it. She flushed it straight up over my head and was a snap shot. Oh well. The other lab is my 11 year old female. She is a bird machine. MTG

 

[mechanic1908]

I haven't had the pleasure of hunting grouse or partridge in a long time but thanks for all the pics, its making me kinda homesick. Lol

 

[coleL]

I got this one while elk hunting.

 

[Dakota man]

View attachment 388345

Always thought about doing this, they look good!

 

[shrapnel]

W.W. Greener 12 gauge…

 

[MTGunner]

My two labs. My young lab Chloe with her first flush and retrieve.

 

[Goodfish]

T Minus 4 days! Or so the dogs are telling me!

 

[MNHunter67]

Opening day blue in Montana. First bird with my new Weatherby Orion 20 gauge. Anyone else get out today?

 

[Hem]

Opening day blue in Montana. First bird with my new Weatherby Orion 20 gauge. Anyone else get out today?View attachment 416101

Some of us are dedicated to our jobs.
I used to always do a morning hunt on the opener. For years. Its a pretty sad state of affairs.
Good work.

 

[MNHunter67]

Some of us are dedicated to our jobs.
I used to always do a morning hunt on the opener. For years. Its a pretty sad state of affairs.
Good work.

I hear that. This was a quick after work hunt. I’m lucky to be able to get into grouse country fairly quickly from home.

 

[huntingman121]

I am in western MT. Yesterday it was 38 degrees when I left the truck, my hands froze and did a 5.5 mile loop and dog got birdy 3 times but we never saw a bird.

Today I went to a ruff grouse spot and jumped 3 blues. I am 65 years old and refuse to call them duskies. Glad I got one for the dog. Did 4 miles today and heading back to the cabin to clean up and head home. Tomorrow grandpa has to babysit.

 

[cedahm]

After rescheduling a two day trip several times due to some family issues, I was able to sneak up for opener yesterday.

Last year on our annual trip to SD my Uncle gave me the old 20ga single shot that Grandpa had given him, so I took it for a spin.

I missed 4 birds yesterday (not the most accurate weapon…and doesn’t help that it’s the youth model so it’s tiny for a full grown man), but scratched out a limit after a long hike. That’s the first time in many years I can recall a 7-shell limit If I’d shot them out of trees we’d have been finished in 45 minutes, the birds seem lazier than normal this year.

Got a pic for my Uncle with the old trusty Amazon tripod of the first dusky grouse that shotgun had ever seen.