Partridge & Ruffed Grouse

[mikeinct]

Can I get some reports on numbers flushed & shot from the northern parts of NH, VT, ME Wi. & other Pa. Ny... northern locals...I can't get out this year...Thanks in Advance...Mike in Ct

 

[dolek]

North Eastern NY/South Canada here...tons of grouse here this year.Just flushed three in the hedge row next to my house .

 

[ShootDots]

I have not hunted Ruffed Grouse since I was in my early 20's. It was great fun. There was a place in the Southern Tier of New York called Zoar Valley. Somewhat near Zoar Valley was a road, believe it or not, called "Gun Barrel Gulch Road"! Where I parked I had about a 200 yard walk thru a field to the woods. However, just before you got to the wood's line, there was a stretch of all tangled up berry bushes. The Grouse would live in there and feed on the berries. It rarely took longer than a few minutes to get my limit of 2 grouse per day! If I walked slow enough, which I tried to do, you could catch them on the ground! They were much, much, easier to hit on the ground than when flying thru the trees! GREAT fun indeed!

 

[Chocdawg]

I hunt the Western U.P., haven’t had stellar trips last several years. But shoe leather, scratches and my hound doggies nose will hopefully put several in bag during week of 10 20.

 

[Barlow]

Where I live in NE Wisc, they are pretty thin. I may not hunt them this year. Barlow

 

[msalm]

I was checking trail cams behind the house last week (SW Wisconsin) and was pleasantly surprised to bump a grouse. There had been a few around the last several years and there's at least one still there. Trail cam pics revealed A LOT of raccoons and a few possums, red fox and one coyote too.... Doesn't bode well for their future in this area.

 

[mikeinct]

I'm hearing that Due West of here, CT...The West Nile Virus is cutting populations better than 30%...Good Grief....Mike in Ct

 

[dolek]

I'm hearing that Due West of here, CT...The West Nile Virus is cutting populations better than 30%...Good Grief....Mike in Ct

That is bad news,those are scary numbers .

 

[284winner]

Northern lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan are both excellent Grouse locations. I've jumped many birds this year setting bow stands. I expect it will be a good year on the incline for grouse flushes.

 

[mikeinct]

Keep em coming boys...Thanks, Mike in Ct

 

[rwk]

I have not hunted Ruffed Grouse since I was in my early 20's. It was great fun. There was a place in the Southern Tier of New York called Zoar Valley. Somewhat near Zoar Valley was a road, believe it or not, called "Gun Barrel Gulch Road"! Where I parked I had about a 200 yard walk thru a field to the woods. However, just before you got to the wood's line, there was a stretch of all tangled up berry bushes. The Grouse would live in there and feed on the berries. It rarely took longer than a few minutes to get my limit of 2 grouse per day! If I walked slow enough, which I tried to do, you could catch them on the ground! They were much, much, easier to hit on the ground than when flying thru the trees! GREAT fun indeed!

I know were i'm in little valley, so damn hard to find 16ga. shells
.

 

[ShootDots]

I know were i'm in little valley, so damn hard to find 16ga. shells
.

My first shotgun was my father's. It was a s/s double in 16ga. I had one of the original Rem 1100 12ga. 30" full choke. However, my "grouse gun" was a Browning s/s double in 20ga. It was light, fast and with mod / full chokes, it was deadly! I used to use the 20ga. 3" with #6 shot for grouse.

 

[MildBill]

I am in west central WI

I have not heard drumming in the neighborhood this year at all.

for the last several years it was common to hear.

it appears we are in a low part of the cycle.

rabbits have not been very common this year either.

 

[1K6BRA]

Scarce as hens teeth(A hen grouse that is) here in west central Pennsylvania and has been for several years. They do seem to run in cycles but can’t help but think our incredible increase of coyotes have not helped matters either.

 

[pdhntr]

Can I get some reports on numbers flushed & shot from the northern parts of NH, VT, ME Wi. & other Pa. Ny... northern locals...I can't get out this year...Thanks in Advance...Mike in Ct

Hi Mike,

North west Wisconsin here. "Flushed and shot" is a little early yet. Leaves are still on the trees. Turning but haven't dropped yet. We usually wait until the leaves are off to load the shotgun, and fill the tank on the jeep.

I have what seems to be a good population on my property, but the wild apples and plums may be the reason. The grouse are hitting them hard now that the apples and plums have frozen.

Scared one to death the other day. Had a covey come out to the yard and I happened to see them at the end of the lawn. There was 7 of them. I ran to the basement to get the shotgun and one of the grouse flew. Of course it flew into one of our windows, shattering it. That would be the third window I have had to fix because of stupid grouse.

Wisconsin DNR is requesting input from hunters for West Nile Virus. From drumming surveys this spring the population has dropped, and it shouldn't have as we are on an upswing in the grouse cycle. Don't know what is going on, but I am shooting all I can around the house.

Marie says they are really good when tenderized by the windows. She is just pi$$ing me off because she doesn't have to fix the windows.

Jim