In praise of o'l ruff

[ninepointer]

Thanks to this thread, I pulled something out of my basement:
First Grouse.jpg
From the first grouse I ever shot; I was 12 years old and got him with a pellet gun through the head. Felt like I'd stalked an elk. I guess my Dad could see how proud I was because he stuck the wings on a board for me.

[Jeff Kavanagh]

Thanks to this thread, I pulled something out of my basement:
First Grouse.jpg
From the first grouse I ever shot; I was 12 years old and got him with a pellet gun through the head. Felt like I'd stalked an elk. I guess my Dad could see how proud I was because he stuck the wings on a board for me.

I love this story. So many of us started the same way!

[Sharon]

Noticed a show on the tv called, "Grouse Hunting in Quebec". ... at an outfitters camp. I thought I'd watch that . Oh my gosh ,what a disappointment. No dogs and the grouse just sat on a back road. The guys walked along and shot them on the road like fish in a barrel, then congratulated each other. Surely that isn't grouse hunting ? Definitely not in my eyes.

[finsfurfeathers]

Noticed a show on the tv called, "Grouse Hunting in Quebec". ... at an outfitters camp. I thought I'd watch that . Oh my gosh ,what a disappointment. No dogs and the grouse just sat on a back road. The guys walked along and shot them on the road like fish in a barrel, then congratulated each other. Surely that isn't grouse hunting ? Definitely not in my eyes.

If you thought that was underwhelming don't watch The Real Deal grouse hunting episode. Drive along on the ATV, get off load the 12g shoot the grouse on the edge of the trail. Don't fault them for doing it as I too find them tasty but done the way nothing too celebrate over.

[punkrockerpj]

Noticed a show on the tv called, "Grouse Hunting in Quebec". ... at an outfitters camp. I thought I'd watch that . Oh my gosh ,what a disappointment. No dogs and the grouse just sat on a back road. The guys walked along and shot them on the road like fish in a barrel, then congratulated each other. Surely that isn't grouse hunting ? Definitely not in my eyes.

thats how i was introduced to grouse hunting on the old logging roads. sure makes hunting back here in southern ontario alot harder!

[Deer Hunter]

Noticed a show on the tv called, "Grouse Hunting in Quebec". ... at an outfitters camp. I thought I'd watch that . Oh my gosh ,what a disappointment. No dogs and the grouse just sat on a back road. The guys walked along and shot them on the road like fish in a barrel, then congratulated each other. Surely that isn't grouse hunting ? Definitely not in my eyes.

What’s wrong with that? It’s legal? Only hunters with dogs should be allowed to hunt grouse?

[Jeff Kavanagh]

Noticed a show on the tv called, "Grouse Hunting in Quebec". ... at an outfitters camp. I thought I'd watch that . Oh my gosh ,what a disappointment. No dogs and the grouse just sat on a back road. The guys walked along and shot them on the road like fish in a barrel, then congratulated each other. Surely that isn't grouse hunting ? Definitely not in my eyes.

There are many ways to hunt and many hunting traditions which go back many, many years. Not everyone is going to do things the same way as we like but we really do need to stick together as a group overall. Us hunters are the minority by a long shot and as hunters, we need to be careful to stay on the same page as each other to continue to support each other and protect our rights to hunt.
If people are following the laws then there is really nothing we should be complaining about. Hunting can mean so many different things to so many different people and people hunt for different reasons. I know of grouse camps like the one mentioned above where it's not really about the birds but it is the birds which bring the people there together. Many deer camps are this way too. Myself, given the choice between leaving my gun at home or my dogs, I'd leave my gun every time. I don't bait deer but that doesn't mean that I'm going to bash another hunter who does. I shoot a recurve and my friends all hunt with a crossbow. I'll tell you they are some of the best friends I've ever had and there's no one I'd rather share a campfire with. Neither method is right and neither method is wrong, they are just different.
The important thing is that people are taking part.

[terrym]

I, like I’m sure most hunters here started hunting by walking bush roads and logging trails and ground pounding grouse with a single shot .410. If I had to bet I would think there are a million grouse shot that way for every one scratched down on the wing over a bird dog. I enjoy working my dogs but don’t think less of the hunters who ground pound them. They are just as tasty either way, and a day grouse hunting is hard to beat.

[Hawkman]

Jeff Kavanagh, thanks for starting this thread so beautifully.
I agree with every word on the first post here.
As an immigrant hunter, I knew nothing about grouse in Ontario and nobody to take me hunting or teach me anything.
OOD magazines were my "Go To" source for all fishing and hunting information and motivation.

I had purchased my compound bow in December of 1980 but never got my hunting licence until 1984. By then I was 24 years of age, and due to my love for that bow, had un-intentionally become a big game hunter! Hmmm.... Not ideal for me to be limited to that so I got my FAC and bought my 12 ga. O/U immediately upon realizing that I needed to chase birds as I had always done as a youngster growing up on the opposite side of the planet. To this day, I still own both that bow and that gun by the way. Harvested a few pheasants, one squirrel, one hare, and one ruffed grouse with the bow. Several with the O/U.

Every time I see or hear a grouse - The King of All Birds - my heart pumps faster right away.
If I raise a gun at one, I get super excited, and if I manage to pull the trigger... WOW!!!!

When I get one in my hands, I am both sad and happy at the same time. I too, admire the feathers, the beautiful and powerful feet, wings, and head. They are so gorgeous, so awesome in every way, and so darn delicious also. I prefer their meat to ALL other meat in the world.

My daughters used to fish with me but never showed any interest in hunting. They are now 22 and 19 and the younger one has become a vegetarian. In fact a lot of people in my extended family are vegetarians but I put wild game on the table when they come to visit anyway. They don't mind and always ask me about my hunting adventures. I can't remember sharing grouse meat though! I get so few of them and they are so precious to me that even the bones are mine!!!

[Jeff Kavanagh]

Jeff Kavanagh, thanks for starting this thread so beautifully.
I agree with every word on the first post here.
As an immigrant hunter, I knew nothing about grouse in Ontario and nobody to take me hunting or teach me anything.
OOD magazines were my "Go To" source for all fishing and hunting information and motivation.

I had purchased my compound bow in December of 1980 but never got my hunting licence until 1984. By then I was 24 years of age, and due to my love for that bow, had un-intentionally become a big game hunter! Hmmm.... Not ideal for me to be limited to that so I got my FAC and bought my 12 ga. O/U immediately upon realizing that I needed to chase birds as I had always done as a youngster growing up on the opposite side of the planet. To this day, I still own both that bow and that gun by the way. Harvested a few pheasants, one squirrel, one hare, and one ruffed grouse with the bow. Several with the O/U.

Every time I see or hear a grouse - The King of All Birds - my heart pumps faster right away.
If I raise a gun at one, I get super excited, and if I manage to pull the trigger... WOW!!!!

When I get one in my hands, I am both sad and happy at the same time. I too, admire the feathers, the beautiful and powerful feet, wings, and head. They are so gorgeous, so awesome in every way, and so darn delicious also. I prefer their meat to ALL other meat in the world.

My daughters used to fish with me but never showed any interest in hunting. They are now 22 and 19 and the younger one has become a vegetarian. In fact a lot of people in my extended family are vegetarians but I put wild game on the table when they come to visit anyway. They don't mind and always ask me about my hunting adventures. I can't remember sharing grouse meat though! I get so few of them and they are so precious to me that even the bones are mine!!!

Nice story. Thanks for sharing!