Blue Grouse/High Wind
Went out to one of my " B" areas for Blue grouse this afternoon. It' s usually good for a shot at at least one bird. This is a LONG gradually sloping chunk of sage (100' s of acres) that transitions into " tongues" of Aspen groves topped by a brief rim of Ponderosas and other pine, backed by cliff bands. The usual tactic is to work the sage at the transition where the Aspens encroach on the sage. Today it was Nukin' wind out of the dead West right up the sage slopes. My question is this: Where might these grouse be hiding in such clear, windy conditions? There are many " flats" of low growing Junniper bushes inerspersed in the area, but the dog could not raise a bird despite tearing up quite a few of them. Might they roost early in such conditions? Any thoughts?