Any Partridge [ruffed grouse] hunting reports ???

[mikeinct]

I sure would like to hear how the hunting & flushing is going this season. If you can report by State or region of the country & flushes per hour ... All the better. Re-flush does not count in total numbers. just so you know, one flush per hour is average. In most areas. Thanks, in advance. Mike in Ct.

 

[6fatrat]

North east lower peninsula of Michigan, having a good season so far, good habitat is critical.
Steve Bair

 

[Richard308]

Southeastern Ohio hasn't seen a good grouse population since the late 1970's.

 

[Bocephus]

I sure would like to hear how the hunting & flushing is going this season. If you can report by State or region of the country & flushes per hour ... All the better. Re-flush does not count in total numbers. just so you know, one flush per hour is average. In most areas. Thanks, in advance. Mike in Ct.View attachment 1379073

Beautiful photo! Brings back a lot of memories.
The ruff population started to decline here in the late 70's. Some blame it on the return of the wildturkey. Some blame the coyotes, foxes, coons, possums, bobcats, hawks and owls. Some say it is cyclical. All I know for sure is, this old man didn't replace his Brittany, the SKB stands idle, and the sound of "drumming" is now just a fond memory.
Count those blessings!

 

[mikeinct]

Fo suh Bo. The 70's thru about 2010 I sure had fun pursuing what my Wife calls a "Fool's Errand" She likes to eat them, she will or used to hunt them w my dam dogs. The Bad Kid's. I miss my youth. Treasure every day I spent wearing out my boots n britches chasing dogs & feathers. mike in ct

 

[whatsupdoc]

I remember still hunting for deer and grouse would explode literally under my feet,
haven't seen one in 25 years.

 

[Bocephus]

Fo suh Bo. The 70's thru about 2010 I sure had fun pursuing what my Wife calls a "Fool's Errand" She likes to eat them, she will or used to hunt them w my dam dogs. The Bad Kid's. I miss my youth. Treasure every day I spent wearing out my boots n britches chasing dogs & feathers. mike in ct

Yessir, several pairs of LL Bean, Maine hunting boots worn through to the socks chasing Ole Ruff.
Blessed to have crossed all those ridges, hollows and creeks chasing one of God's finest.
Sitcoms, gameshows and Beavis 'n Butthead hold no appeal for this old man.

 

[pintopete]

Mike, in the 70’s and 80’s they were common in what was “the country” south of Albany, NY. It was a regular thing to hear the drumming or to spook one while on a walk. Never had any luck shooting them. Too dense, and they fly and hook! There don’t seem to be any left. Not sure why. Less farming, change of habitat, competition…who knows. There is more wildlife now than there was, just not grouse.

 

[mikeinct]

I hear you Pete. Back then, there were less than 5000 deer in Ct. Today they estimate over 100K deer. After the Turkeys got busy, coyotes came. By the Mid Eighties I had to drive 5 plus hours north of here to find real Partridge hunting with 4 bird daily limits. In Ct today one Ruff per day Plus a season limit. I don't go out hunting for them anymore. mike in ct

 

[ttfreestyle]

Man how I miss hunting grouse with my German wirehair pointer back when we had some here in Tn. Haven’t had enough to hunt since mid 90’s.

 

[pintopete]

Change in what’s out there in my area is significant. Deer and turkeys are pests. Good luck trying to grow something, crows too. There are ravens, fisher cats, bear, coyotes, and all sorts of things that were not in the woods back when. I would much rather have it this way though. Just odd and unfortunate about the grouse. I think there are less woodcock as well. Maybe there is a parallel there? I wonder if the wildlife biologists have an answer? See that bear got ahold of that 10 year old kid near you…

 

[snert]

Still huntable out around the little town where Dan Wesson landed...

 

[Bojo]

I put 5 out on the second Saturday of October. 2 of which would have been shoot able flushed. Alas I was chasing the elusive whitetail buck. Armed only with my crossbow.
Warren County/Pennsylvania.
Habitat is good for them here for now at least.

 

[Kurz]

UP, 5/day, 10 in possession. Walk the logging roads left after the harvesting of the trees. Fun shooting without dogs. Grouse for lunch stream side on the Ontonagon and a little rest before heading back out for the afternoon. Usually come back to the cabin with limits, ready for more meals later in the week.

Timber doodles are still found in the marshy areas back in the woods where the willows are super tight making for much tougher shooting. Three/day, 9 in possession. Always a humiliating experience but we usually have enough for supper.

 

[effendude]

Reports from an employee and his dad/brother on the North Shore of Lake Superior by Tofte last weekend was limits within the first couple hours each day. They road hunt with ATV's, covering many miles each day. Lots of young birds, maybe a late hatch.

Around my shack about 50 miles South of Duluth/Superior just into MN, I have seen an occasional bird while bear hunting, but not enough to even bother getting the red setter out. We have turkeys now and they are reported harmful to grouse nests. There is no deer in my area, thanks to a wolf population that won't go away, so I may take the dog and walk/hunt with the new 28 ga sxs I picked up this summer.
Scott

 

[Richard308]

Fo suh Bo. The 70's thru about 2010 I sure had fun pursuing what my Wife calls a "Fool's Errand" She likes to eat them, she will or used to hunt them w my dam dogs. The Bad Kid's. I miss my youth. Treasure every day I spent wearing out my boots n britches chasing dogs & feathers. mike in ct

Stewed grouse, black eyed peas, and mashed potatoes...........

 

[White Eagle]

Man when I was a kid we could kick up grouse every time we went hunting
Lucky anymore to hear one flush, bummer....
but we got turkey's coming out our ...

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

My dads bird dog when i was a boy!

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]