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I am like you Hawkman. I have hunted grouse for 56 years and I still use my Stevens bolt action 20 guage that I bought when I was 12 years old . I have shot hundreds of grouse with it, but each year their numbers are dwindling. I think it is because of the increase in owls, fisher, racoons, etc but I still enjoy the time in the bush . Also they are a lot easier to get out of the bush than a moose, deer or bear which I also hunt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawkman
After having sat in my stand watching my bear bait site for 5 hours, then onto another area to check on deer cams...I headed out grouse at 6pm. From 6am until 8pm, the mosquitoes were terrible...and the heat. Yikes.
I'm afraid to use bug spray because then my clothes will taint my bear and deer spots.
Decided to mess around with the 410 again, went to shoot a couple rounds in the bush and brought along some 7 1/2 just in case. Well, I knew where the grouse would be but no way could I get a shot when it took off out of the tree, too many leaves right now but glad to see one after the spring we had.
My hat is off to you sir. You started hunting them when I was just one year old! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Foxx
I agree with all those reasons that you mention for decrease in these magnificent birds' numbers. However, human encroachment on their habitat is also a HUGE factor. When animals lose favourable areas to live and reproduce, their numbers dwindle and almost never bounce back...
Think of how many roads, houses and sub-divisions have been built in the past 56 years!
To me, ruffed grouse are nothing less than a national treasure. Spruce grouse are fine birds also.
I have never been fortunate enough to encounter other types of grouse found in Ontario.
Sitting in my deer stand last December there were two ruffies hanging around the feeder. I was shotgun hunting and had birdshots in the pocket, but couldn't bring myself to raise the gun on them. You see, the pure joy of watching them in a relatively small patch of forest so close to town, far surpassed the temptation of eating their tasty flesh!
I took my dog into the Marlborough forest this past weekend. We had two flushes but they disappeared into the green foliage to quick for a shot. Then again, they may have been giant mosquitoes - there were enough of those around!
I was in Marlborough yesterday goose hunting, afterwards we drove the old roads from Flood up through to Roger Stevens, stopping along the way to try to jump some grouse, but really we ended making a sizeable blood donation to the mosquitos in the area....at one point I thought I heard a grouse being flushed but it happened so quick and all I could hear was the skitters buzzing around my head...its not fun slashing through the brush in 30 degree heat.
I was in the Marlborough forest on Saturday morning to set up a treestand for deer hunting. I brought along my shotgun too, in the event that I came across some grouse. The mosquitoes were brutal, and the heat was too much. It made it hard to get into the hunting frame of mind. I then went to some nearby private land to set up two more treestands, but I left the gun in my vehicle. I just wanted to get in and out of the bush as quickly as possible because of the heat and the bugs.
Was out this past weekend
Moved 8 birds,attracted a million mosquitos
Too hot for man and dog,picked mushrooms,shot a ruffed and a spruce and thanked God for the day.
Just got back from a 3 day hunt, mosquitos like B-52's and a good dose of blackflies of all things. It was just a little too warm and even getting warmer for this this coming weekend. I like the frosty nights, then they come out on the trails to get warmed up in the morning sun. Even though, managed 6 very skittish birds, the 7th got lucky.
Where abouts do you hunt them? Can you just roam around the bush and jump them up or so most people stick to 4 wheeler trails, mining roads etc?
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