Ptarmigan

[quailman]

Are there any Ptarmigan hunters out there. Have any success and how far from Ottawa does one have to travel?

[Deer Hunter]

I think your best bet would be to travel the ice road from Smooth Rock to Moosonee.
You should see all species, sharp tail, Ruffed and spruce grouse plus ptarmigan.
Always wanted to do this trip and hunt on the way. Might be able to fish some rivers also???
Good Luck

[be2man]

bit of a trip

[Muskyhunter]

I think you are better to go to Northern Quebec up near Matagami and North to mileage 381 or something like that. I shot a mess of them up there years ago. About 30 hours drive from Ottawa I am thinking.

[Snowwalker]

I think you are better to go to Northern Quebec up near Matagami and North to mileage 381 or something like that. I shot a mess of them up there years ago. About 30 hours drive from Ottawa I am thinking.

He will have to hire a guide in Quebec.

I miss hunting willows on the rivers around Fort Mac.

[anfield21]

Ruffed grouse are found near and around Ottawa and I'm pretty sure you could find Spruce Grouse as well. I have hunted for grouse in Marlborough and Limerick forest with success. Closest bird to Ptarmigan you will find anywhere in Southern Canada

[line052]

we put up 3 grouse last weekend on public her in Ottawa. Give a call 613-863-5483

[anfield21]

we put up 3 grouse last weekend on public her in Ottawa. Give a call 613-863-5483

Are you hunting already? How did the surgery for you?

[quailman]

I think that sounds like a great plan definitely run into some grouse either way.

[Couliewalker]

I hunted in northern Quebec and I didn't need a guide.Back when there were caribou.All gone now. They went from a million animals to 5000 overnite.I was there only for the birds but if I didn't want to sleep in a snow bank I was forced to buy the caribou package.
The problem with Ptarmigan is that they are not around until winter.Makes it impossible to use a dog.
I shot some on the ice Rd mentioned,however ,hunting on that Rd is frowned upon if not totally not allowed.There is no room for parking.It was -38 that morning.I have called every outfitter I could find in N Quebec and N Manitoba that claimed to offer ptarmigan hunting.Didnt find one that would book me just for ptarmigan.They wouldn't guarantee I would see any.They are often shot as incidentals during a big game hunt.In that regard we are way behind other countries that see the value in bird hunting.