Friendly grouse

3 weeks ago I helped my son put up his portable tree stand for the bow hunt. This is in 89B. While we were doing this a ruff grouse was hanging around in very close proximity. Within 10 ft many times.
Couple of days ago when my son was taking the dark walk in the morning to the stand, 2 grouse followed him to the blind. Again very close. While he was in the stand one bird hopped up onto his ladder. Then flew up higher to perch on a branch within 5 ft of him. I know the northern birds can be somewhat oblivious to hunter presence at times but I have not seen that in this southern region.
I wonder if these grouse feel safe from coyotes, birds of prey etc when in the company of people.

Sounds to me these birds are very used to people, perhaps being fed by someone. Or there just numbskulls.

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Originally Posted by IceFanADDICT

Or there just numbskulls.

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They aren't exactly known for their brilliance :)

Probably born this spring and never seen people before and likely curious.

probably feeding them, like deer or other animals they would learn to tolerate human presence and make them easy prey for hunters

I know of two individuals who had "pet" grouse - and I saw one of them - the other had his picture with the grouse in a local newspaper. They didn't feed them - the grouse would just hang around with them and follow them around when they went out to the bush.

We had one last season during the rifle hunt that on 3 different days for 2 separate hunters would sit on a branch about 10 yards directly across from the treestand. It would sit there for hours at a time. Was very small too.

I also had one land on a branch right above my head for several minutes while in a different stand.

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Originally Posted by Hunter John

Probably born this spring and never seen people before and likely curious.

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that's pretty much my thinking. I have seen several young of the year this year and they have acted dumb, dumb, dumb.

older birds, even in the north where I am, do not generally act that dumb.

Enjoy the encounters when they occur. They are one thing that most non-hunters will ever experience or understand. It's part of the lure of hunting to many of us.

There is a grouse at my bush that has been following me for about the last 3 years. I think it was attracted by my 4 wheeler sitting idleing. Now it appears if I am in the area . I was checking my game cam this morning and it was right there with me. I have thrown grain or apples to it , doesn't seem to be interested. This is right where I sight in my rifles, even that doesn't bother it, when I go to check the target it will follow along. I would like to have a video of it , no camera , or Iphone. Just hope nobody shoots it, I don't plan to. old243