A couple more for momma

[Species8472]

So I got a call today at 4pm that essentially screwed my plans to go out for the deer archery opener and the weekend. So I figured forget working anymore today it's time to chase a few more ruffies.

Ended up potting 2 before I ran out of light.

The one in the foreground is one of the largest ruffs I have ever seen.

[kickingfrog]

Nice. The one I got on Friday seemed to be a monster as well but I know they don't keep getting bigger.

[Roper]

A couple of tasty birds. Nice work Joe. That biggie up front must have a nice fan.

[sharps4570]

Majority of Ruffs that I've spotted so far were full sized mature birds pretty much around that size. Per my records, 2015 looks to be a replication of 2011/2012 seasons in terms of both numbers and size.

species - you have a great location for birds. Early this year, I had visited a couple properties in 82A that belong to an acquaintance and his friend. One is perfect for deer using archery, ML/SG (IMO, a little too small for safe use of CF rifle). The other was a bigger chunk of land and seemed to hold a number of birds that flushed as we walked in there.

[Species8472]

Majority of Ruffs that I've spotted so far were full sized mature birds pretty much around that size. Per my records, 2015 looks to be a replication of 2011/2012 seasons in terms of both numbers and size.

species - you have a great location for birds. Early this year, I had visited a couple properties in 82A that belong to an acquaintance and his friend. One is perfect for deer using archery, ML/SG (IMO, a little too small for safe use of CF rifle). The other was a bigger chunk of land and seemed to hold a number of birds that flushed as we walked in there.

I bought this camp 4.5 years ago and before that time had never really hunted upland. I bought it primarily for deer as the habitat for deer is excellent. It was just happenstance that the ruffie numbers are also great.

As far as deer goes it is suitable for all methods including CF and has just about every type of habitat you would find in this part of Ontario. River bottom, cedar swamp, hardwoods, pine, numerous apple trees, meadow, hawthorn, wild grape, poplar, birch etc.. Most of the the bush is young as the property at one time was mostly cleared (the only really old trees are the eastern cedars along the river edge). Numerous rock fences scattered all through the bush that often have grouse strutting on them during the mating season.

[Rugger]

Beauty

Do you just stroll the bush or do you follow a game plan?


Got a couple myself on the opener, love chasing ruffies.
I think I'll put a deer in the freezer over the next few days and spend the rest of October chasing feathered fair.

[Species8472]

Do you just stroll the bush or do you follow a game plan?

I started hunting grouse about a year after this article was written:

http://www.oodmag.com/hunting/upland...rouse-hunting/

I found some of the pointers in it useful and effective where my property is concerned. Since I own the property I spend a lot more time on it than most people would on a particular piece of public/crown and have far more opportunity to know the place inside out.

From day one I have more or less made a note of every flush I have made on the property with respect to date/time/cover/food/weather. I have also noted the location and date any time I find feathers.

This time of year the birds at my place are close to the clover food plot, the wild grapes or the hawthorn. Time of day for these spots is early morning or late afternoon. I will certainly still walk the trails but the plan always starts (mornings) and/or ends (afternoons) at a food source(s).

[TurkeyRookie]

Someone wrote an article on how to hunt grouse? Clearly that's for South of North Bay grouse

Congrats on the nice birds.

[topher]

That looks that big grouse that we saw on the trail by the ruins...