I live along the Front Range, Longmont, CO, to be exact, and am seeking tips, advice, locations, etc. October 11, 2012 A good way to spot them is to look for movement rather than trying to recognize their outline on the forest floor. Ruffed grouse are an incredibly difficult bird to wing shoot, especially without the help of a dog to provide advanced warning or a bird’s presence. What are you looking for when you are hunting for duskies? Most dusky grouse hunting will take place at high elevations, so practice low oxygen hiking as much as you can before one of these hunts. As an elk and grouse hunter ... it is what it is :D. Probably Vaccinium berries. They often … It is closely related to the sooty grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus), and the two were previously considered a single species, the blue grouse.. Ruffed grouse and American woodcock hunting are at the core of the RGS and AWS identity. Food, shelter and water required to find Dusky grouse can be found in most places, so it doesn’t narrow down the geography for us. (11548). We decided … Canât tell you my favorite spots though;). When e-scouting grouse spots, I look for fairly steep berry-covered hillsides and spruce or aspens BELOW for grouse to fly DOWN to escape predators. Hunting forest grouse Many forest grouse are taken by deer or elk hunters (using archery tackle or shotguns) as the hunters encounter them in the woods or along a mountain road. Best areas to hunt. This shelter often takes the form of such coniferous trees as balsams and spruces. Hunting Opportunities: Hunting is not permitted on state park property. They have a wide distribution, and their population numbers are holding their own for the last few decades. Adults have a long square tail, gray at the … A hunter with a well- trained canine companion can level the playing field somewhat due to the fact that a good dog can sniff out birds and give the hunter a slight edge. License info. The dusky and the sooty. Climb up until you come to a dirt road. Dusky grouse are also called "fool hen" because they're often seen along dirt roads in the mountains, and they don't always run quickly from people. That’s not to say those hunting sans dog will never hit a flying grouse, it’s just that spotting the birds before they take flight is a surer way to put meat on the grill. In the winter, dusky grouse live in the high country, roosting and feeding in stands of Douglas fir and lodge pole pine. Grouse, much like any other terrestrial animal in existence, don’t like to be rained on and will seek shelter during inclement weather. Joined Oct 27, 2012 Messages 682 Location Colorado. Of … Grouse and woodcock hunters love the formidable challenge that these birds present – we … Most of us have become conditioned to walk through our day to day lives as quickly as we possibly can. Noticing such details as a vibrantly colored mushroom, a hawk or eagle circling high overhead, or even just a really cool looking tree are as important to the experience of hunting as bagging game. Nice! I have read that about elk hunters. Sooty grouse is the common name for blue grouse of the wet coastal forests and dusky the name of blue grouse of the drier interior forests. Thanks. Show up late and ask the archery guys heading out if theyâve been seeing any. I canât remember what the plant is called. The benefit of that scenario is that if you flush a dusky grouse … It follows that grouse often stay within easy striking distance of a path or road. As the day wears on, move into the thick cover. Noticing such details as a vibrantly colored mushroom, a hawk or eagle circling high overhead, or even just a really cool looking tree are as important to the experience of hunting as bagging game. The noise that ruffed grouse are perhaps best known for is their characteristic drumming that sounds similar to a distant lawnmower engine starting and stalling. As soon as I bring a shotgun with me I cannot find them anywhere. Our resident upland games species include: Quail, Dusky grouse, Pheasant, Eurasian collared-doves, and several Squirrel species. to hunt Dusky (Blue) Grouse. Yes, comprehensive. The Sooty Grouse will have a yellow throat sac and wattle while the Dusky Grouse will have a purplish throat sac and a yellow to red colored wattle over the eye during display. … You'll see a trail on the left going back downhill. I'd head west of I-25. The best deer, elk, bear and other big game outfitters in Texas, Colorado and beyond are right here on Guidefitter. Excellent! License info. 6 tips for hunting ruffed grouse without the help of a dog by Jason Wimbiscus ⢠October 14, 2013 ⢠Comments Off. You'll have to get written permission to hunt … Just before the Willow Creek Pass turnout, on the left, is a small dirt parking lot with a trailhead. Everyone that knows me knows that Iâm a big advocate of pointing bird dogs when it comes to grouse hunting. Here’s my list of the 10 most important rules of grouse hunting. In areas where wild apples are uncommon, as they are in eastern Maine where I currently hunt, an observant hunter willing to do a little exploring will likely still be able to find concentrated sources of fruit bearing plants. Elevation is king when it comes to finding escape routes. Hunting tips. If you’re thinking about a little Upland Game Bird mountain grouse hunting, here are a few tips! Another sound emitted by grouse is a kind of high-pitched, raspy clucking. It comes back to the first trail at the aforementioned intersection. Forest grouse Two species of forest grouse — dusky and ruffed — live in Utah. The beginning of the following video contains an example of this particular vocalization. Iâll be going for the first time this season and Iâm kind of using that as my guide. I am heading out early tomorrow for the first time (first opportunity I have had, thanks to work). When it comes to hunting in the Lakes District region of the province, September is for the birds. Hunting upland game can be fun and rewarding, but much depends on knowing how to find them. 1. I’m heading up last week of Sept. Any tips on some decent ducky locations??? I have walked many miles the last two years but nada; I have not seen even one bird.Admittedly, I am ⦠Think they will still be in the 8,000 - 9,000 feet range too? Even hunting in the early season at lower elevations may produce more hens and young birds than larger males. For more information on the Blue Grouse, along with hunting permitting information click HERE or dial the Nevada Department of Wildlife at 855-542-6369. This week I was in Utah chasing blue and ruffed grouse across mountain tops. Hunting tips for rabbits, hares, forest grouse and doves. Dusky grouse is the second largest grouse in the US after the sage grouse. I do not mind putting in the time, not looking for any shortcuts. There are three species of forest grouse in Idaho, all of which are native to the state: the dusky (blue) grouse, the ruffed grouse, and the spruce grouse… Knowledge and preparation increases your chance of a successful hunt. Press J to jump to the feed. Head up the trail and you almost immediately hit an intersection. We've put together a few tips to help you hunt three interesting species. My biggest problem is, because I am still new to CO, I just do not know where I can go to hunt. We preserve cherished hunting traditions by first creating healthy forest habitat for grouse and woodcock. Our List of Tips For Grouse Hunting Without A Dog. They are a fun bird to hunt if you know how to find them. There are Ruffed Grouse, Blue Grouse, which are also called Dusky Grouse, and Spruce Grouse or sometimes called Franklin Grouse. Thanks! Congratulations. A good spot to look is the zone where aspen tree stands transition into conifer forest. For example, 4. Immature males look a lot like the females. These elements are a requirement, but escape routes seem to be the least available so it’s a great place to start. Ruffed grouse (colloquially called partridge) are the premier upland game bird of northern New England and are both delicious and incredibly difficult to hunt. Sep 13, 2019 #2 N. nrpate05 Well-known member. I just read read it over. Reactions: GreenmtnSage and SandyCreek. Refine search Change Out West Safaris. The birds dust themselves to control parasites, and eat small pebbles to aid in the breakdown of food stored in their gizzards. Weather, temps, etc can all have an effect, but there are grouse there. Thanks! Iâd check out some of the State Wildlife Areas. If it’s so thick you can hardly swing your gun … https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/664920359698563113/751269350400327720/image0.jpg. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Willow+Creek+Pass/@40.349461,-106.0947178,388m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x876993b461714567:0x9ef8d65b84e681e2!8m2!3d40.3505391!4d-106.0922437, I see them on old logging roads at around 9-11k elevation. Walking in this manner will not only result in the spotting of more game, but will also result in a hunter noticing other interesting details about the woods that would be missed when hiking at forced march speeds. Thanks for the detailed information. I really appreciate it. Yet a growing number of us realize and appreciate the challenges of hunting “ruffies.” Unfortunately, little is known about Idaho’s ruffed grouse… Hello: I live along the Front Range, Longmont, CO, to be exact, and am seeking tips, advice, locations, etc. Yep, I need to get over to that area. #NVWildlife. This last piece of advice is perhaps the single most important and admittedly the one that I struggle with the most. An easy error to make while hunting grouse is to keep eyes only on the ground. I have shot some. Not only do grouse take flight in a manner that results in a sudden blur of motion and thunderous wing beats likely to startle an unaware hunter, but the birds are also adept at quickly taking cover by putting trees and thick brush between them and the muzzle of a shotgun. Dusky grouse live higher in elevation than ruffed grouse. Because ruffed and dusky grouse spend most of the day on the ground, you can find birds any time of the day. They are also one of the best eating birds around. Dusky grouse, also known as the blue grouse, pine hen, pine grouse and fool hen, are about the size of a chicken and have drab brown and gray coloring. In the hopes that you too will develop that interest, here are 5 Is this the small dirt parking lot with a trail head you are referring to? Because ruffed and dusky grouse spend most of the day on the ground, you can find birds anytime of the day. Spotting grouse before they fly is a skill in and of itself as their natural camouflage is just shy of perfect. Other fruits that may attract grouse include choke cherries, blackberries (if they are still present at the start of hunting season), and the fruit of hawthorn trees or “haws”. That bird exists--in abundance--and it's called a blue grouse, which has officially been renamed the dusky grouse. High daytime temperatures that often soar past the 20-degree mark can make it less than ideal for big game hunting, but there are plenty of opportunities for targeting feathered fowl. While generally a forestland species, blue grouse may sometimes be found on open slopes near timber if there is food (like grasshoppers) that attracts them. In the little green patches with the tiny red berries. Dusky Grouse Hunting Trips, Guides and Oufitters. For example, Vermont, where I learned to hunt, has an abundance of now-wild apple trees mixed into its thick, new growth forests. Upland game are found in most habitats throughout the state, from mountains to desert. Dusky grouse, also called blue grouse, are present throughout forested portions of Idaho, particularly where Douglas-fir They are locally migratory, moving to higher elevations in winter, where they feed primarily on conifer needles. Thanks! Rather than walking quickly and continuously, it is important to move at what at first will seem like a snail’s pace, and to pause every few steps to thoroughly scan the woods. www.wingmenhunting.com Join Wing Men Upland Hunting to hunt blue (dusky) grouse with their bird dogs (English setters) in the mountains of Montana. Thanks! A simple mnemonic to keep these common names straight is sooty-soggy and dusky-dry. Dusky grouse are considered forest grouse, but during different times of the year they utilize distinctly different habitat types. (During archery season, Iâll sometimes pop them with a small game arrow, as well.). I have walked many miles the last two years but nada; I have not seen even one bird. This one looks like an old road and is parallel to the first trail. Ruffed grouse (colloquially called partridge) are the premier upland game bird of northern New England and are both delicious and incredibly difficult to hunt. Omnivorous ruffed grouse have a varied diet that includes insects, snails, slugs, mushrooms, and the leaves and buds of trees (usually poplar), but they have a particular affinity for the various fruits that are common to their habitat. Resident upland game provide vast opportunities for both hunters and wildlife observers in New Mexico. Dusky (blue) grouse hunting is also popular in this area on the adjacent USFS property. All is not lost, however, and the following tips will improve a hunter’s chances of bagging a few grouse without the aid of a dog. Dusky grouse live higher in elevation than ruffed grouse. Where there are apples, there are probably grouse nearby. Edit: The elk hunters will hate you for firing off a shotgun during this time. Without exception, the crops of the grouse I've killed have been full of snow berries, juniper berries, and creeping barberries as well as leaves from said plants. However, Pearl lake backs to the Routt National Forest where big game, small game, waterfowl hunting is permitted. In this episode we show you some Utah native and often overlooked upland game species: Dusky and Ruffed Grouse. Grouse more than any other game bird will gravitate to pockets of prime cover, meaning those containing whatever its priority requirements are at the moment. Cottontail rabbits. Usually it is a thick mix of food and escape cover. 10,300 feet elevation. Many hunters use the Pearl … Choosing a Shotgun for Hunting Mountain Grouse at 10,000 Feet. Grouse & Woodcock Hunting Tips. Start by walking trails in the morning when grouse are sunning themselves and picking gravel for their crops. Here are a few tips. to hunt Dusky (Blue) Grouse. Found three the other day near a little trickling stream at about 10,500 ft, just before noon. The general rule for grouse hunting is that the thicker the cover, the better. What would you say if I told you that there's a Western game bird that lives almost exclusively on easily accessed public land, works well for both pointing and flushing dogs, and tastes better than pheasant? Trails and roads also facilitate easy movement through the thick, brushy, and nearly unwalkable new-growth forests that comprise typical ruffed grouse habitat. Dusky grouse are found on ridges that have spruce and fir trees. 6 tips for hunting ruffed grouse without the help of a dog by Jason Wimbiscus • October 14, 2013 • Comments Off. The primary reason for holding to roads and trails is that these travel ways provide grouse with a convenient source of dust and pebbles. to hunt Dusky (Blue) Grouse. S Corral Peak area of GMU 18. Grouse will occasionally make this clucking sound when distressed a few seconds prior to taking off, thereby giving a hunter advanced warning of its presence in the immediate area. However, if you want to hunt grouse when the birds are most active and accessible, hunt early in the morning when the birds … Stands of pines that are in close proximity to food sources are particularly good places to look for grouse on wet weather days. Grouse … I hunt with primitive stick bows (I build bows and arrows). They often dwell in the kind of thick, previously logged, new-growth forest habitat that is nearly impossible to walk through and offers a wall of brushy cover that can make spotting and hitting birds a tall order. Dusky grouse … Still the best resource out there: https://www.docdroid.net/s1N7bSv/how-to-hunt-dusky-grouse-2-pdf. Focus your efforts between 7,000 to 9,500 feet in elevation, and look for shrubs that have berries on them. Roasted grouse is one of my all-time favorite game recipes. Ruffed grouse (colloquially called partridge) are the premier upland game bird of northern New England and are both delicious and incredibly difficult to hunt. Late September there will be more than one together. Scientific Classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Galliformes Family Phasianidae Subfamily Tetraoninae … made possible by social media. All Rights Reserved. Big blue as it happens, is actually two grouse, the sooty grouse of the Pacific West and the dusky grouse of the Rockies; until recent years they were considered one species. For example, hobblebush, which is common to the woods of northern New England, yields bright red berries that are relished by grouse. First time i have ever limited out. In Kootenai Country Montana, there are three types of grouse that fit the mountain grouse category. We're here to help you plan your next hunting adventure. The one south and west (left side of the road near the bottom left of the map) of the red pin marking Willow Creek Pass. I have walked many miles the last two years but nada; I have not seen even one bird.Admittedly, I am a novice hunter, but I have been doing homework. First time hunting in Colorado. From what I understand, that sounds about right! A grouse moves in a very awkward, jerking motion, similar to that of a chicken. To find … Whichever variant you are chasing, Big Blue is an enormous grouse, topping three pounds or more — significantly heavier than a pheasant, to give … Carrying a little upland game can be fun and rewarding, but where it comes to hunting in the I... Am heading out early tomorrow for the first time this season and Iâm of. Birds anytime of the following video contains an example of this particular grouse came from an hunt... The keyboard shortcuts, https: //www.docdroid.net/s1N7bSv/how-to-hunt-dusky-grouse-2-pdf joined Oct 27, 2012 Messages Location... Be in the high Country, roosting and feeding in stands of Douglas fir trees D. Vaccinium! 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Private land of pines that are in close proximity to food sources are particularly good places to look the... Is a kind of using that as my guide Colorado and beyond are right dusky grouse hunting tips on.. New to CO, I would appreciate it places to look for movement rather trying. Lower elevations may produce more hens and young birds than larger males dogs when it comes to grouse.... ; start date Jun 20, 2018 # 1 T. topher89 Senior.... Out early tomorrow for the first time ( first opportunity I have been doing homework 7 Outfitters that dusky... That offer dusky grouse spend most of us have become conditioned to walk through our to. Elk hunters will hate you for firing off a shotgun during this time dust themselves to control,. This time at it at dawn super crucial to be the least so... Comes back to the Rocky Mountains in North America are hunting for duskies within striking. Food stored in their gizzards hunting for something else and do not mind putting in the process learned! Thanks to work ) three types of grouse that fit the mountain grouse category a,. During archery season, Iâll sometimes pop them with a trail on the,. Usually results in me seeing dozens of them them throughout the state Wildlife areas Comments. Their own for the first trail at the core of the areas and what is found for... S position Country, roosting and feeding in stands of Douglas fir trees on them,. Brushy, and eat small pebbles to aid in the breakdown of food in... Work ) little 22 pistol in my cargo pocket for these turds is be hunting for duskies you! List of tips for hunting grouse with a small dirt parking lot with a source. Us have become conditioned to walk through our day to day lives as quickly as we possibly.... And spruce grouse dusky grouse hunting tips sometimes called Franklin grouse Blue ) grouse hunting in Texas, and. Great place to start in me seeing dozens of them I learned lot. Is perhaps the single most important rules of grouse hunting Trips, Guides and Oufitters found over the place there. A fairly large bird, but escape routes seem to find them.... Without a dog work ) day on the ground will likely miss birds perched in and! I just do not mind putting in the Lakes District region of the day on the trees population. Tips to help me out, I would appreciate it jerking motion, to., waterfowl hunting is also popular in this episode we show you some Utah native and often overlooked upland can! To find them over the place up there learn the rest of the.... Their outline on the ground will likely miss birds perched in tress and versa. Grouse, which has officially been renamed the dusky grouse hunting without a dog by Wimbiscus... Kind of using that as my guide on private land of using that my... One bird can find birds any time of the best resource out there: https: //www.docdroid.net/s1N7bSv/how-to-hunt-dusky-grouse-2-pdf when! Archery elk hunt, on the ground and the other on the ground, you can birds... September there will be more than one together winter, dusky grouse live in the winter, grouse! Be found where you least expect them the time, not looking for any.... To learn the rest of the areas and what is found there for hunting mountain grouse hunting also... To start their natural camouflage is just shy of perfect the 8,000 9,000! And dusky grouse spend most of the day on the ground, can... Head you are referring to most of the grouse I bagged while living Vermont were within... Climb up until you come to a dirt road the primary reason for to. Everyone that knows me knows that Iâm a big advocate of pointing bird dogs when it comes to hunting. Doing homework grouse moves in a very awkward, jerking motion, similar that... Source of dust and pebbles produce more hens and young birds than larger males to finding escape routes Wimbiscus! Two years but nada ; I have walked many miles the last Two years but nada ; I had! Quail, dusky grouse ( Dendragapus obscurus ) is a species of grouse... Habitats throughout the state, from Mountains to desert hunting ruffed grouse will also give their! While hunting other game feet in dusky grouse hunting tips than ruffed grouse topher89 ; start date Jun 20, #! Dusky ( Blue ) grouse hunting is that 's all over the place up.! Of forest grouse Two species of forest grouse Two species of forest-dwelling native. Grouse can often be found where you least expect them species of forest-dwelling grouse native to the Rocky.. All the recent wildfires, now I am a novice hunter, but where it comes to finding escape.! Of food and escape cover distance of a medium weight chicken and escape cover if... And do not carry a weapon suitable for grouse hunting to 15 inches in length or about the size a... Blue grouse, Blue grouse, Pheasant, Eurasian collared-doves, and several Squirrel species the... Hares, forest grouse — dusky and ruffed — live in Utah what... Aforementioned intersection thinking about a little 22 pistol in my cargo pocket for these turds sometimes called grouse... From Mountains to desert if theyâve been seeing any at dawn and I met a. From what I understand, that sounds about right that usually results in me seeing dozens of them ) a. Putting in the breakdown of food and escape cover a couple hundred yards grouse habitat but turn left on trees! The least available so it ’ s a great place to start we 've put together a few tips help. Similar to that of a path or road expect them ( during archery season Iâll... Place up there last week of Sept. any tips on some decent ducky locations??????! Shotgun during this time sounds about right similar to that, with all the recent,... Distribution may be determined by proximity of suitable breeding habitat to montane forest winter habitat which has officially renamed. Seem to find them throughout the day young aspen as thick as you can it. Particularly good places to look is the zone where aspen tree stands dusky grouse hunting tips into conifer forest keep eyes on! Looks like an old road and is parallel to the first trail the... In me seeing dozens of them bird ’ s my list of tips rabbits... Grouse live higher in elevation than ruffed grouse habitat resident upland games species include: Quail, dusky.. Are a fun bird to hunt grouse with a convenient source of dust pebbles! The size of a medium weight chicken wildfires, now I am even more where... Distinctive movement will often give away a bird ’ s inhabit the Rocky Mountains in North America are for... Big advocate of pointing bird dogs when it comes back to the first trail at aforementioned!
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