2018-19 MT Upland
04-23-2018 | 05:36 AM
#11
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
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With respect, Montana is in fact among the farthest states in the Mountain West from North Carolina you could have chosen, excepting Idaho.
But if you want to go to Montana just because you want to go to Montana, that's fine. Just be willing to pay a potentially higher travel cost, if for no other reason than Montana lacks a major air hub like Denver or Salt Lake, meaning you'd likely have to tack on the cost of an extra connecting flight just to get there if you're flying. And if you're driving, well, the extra distance requires more gas.
Have you ever considering "ruffing it" in the Western part of NC? My sense from reports is that the ruffed grouse population on the NC side of the TN-NC state line has a decent grouse population, if you're willing to walk in excess of 7 miles or more in high elevation during a hunt.
But if you want to go to Montana just because you want to go to Montana, that's fine. Just be willing to pay a potentially higher travel cost, if for no other reason than Montana lacks a major air hub like Denver or Salt Lake, meaning you'd likely have to tack on the cost of an extra connecting flight just to get there if you're flying. And if you're driving, well, the extra distance requires more gas.
Have you ever considering "ruffing it" in the Western part of NC? My sense from reports is that the ruffed grouse population on the NC side of the TN-NC state line has a decent grouse population, if you're willing to walk in excess of 7 miles or more in high elevation during a hunt.
I havent thought of grouse to be honest. And until about 2 months ago I had never heard of grouse hunting in the state. And it seems to me, in my opinion, to be a very small niche in the state. I actually came across it from watching the local channels on tv. Some real old footage. I wouldnt be oppose to doing that at all I just think I am finding a needle in a hay stack. Also mentioning reports i checked last years numbers for grouse and they are quite low. 60 percent noted (survey) to killing none. 12 percent killing 1. Im not for sure if this is day or season but it is a seasonal survey.
04-23-2018 | 07:24 AM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,266
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From: Tennessee
Yeah, it's sparse as all get-out, but it seems like a rewarding enterprise. You get to enjoy hiking in some beautiful country, with a little hunting tossed in. At certain points in the season, you also would be more likely to encounter woodcock, especially near high-altitude clearings.
I suppose if you're hoping to get flushes every half hour or less, chasing ruffed grouse in the mountains will be a letdown. In that case, I'd just encourage you to lower your expectations a bit. And I cannot imagine that it'd be wasted time, as you'll at the very least get used to mountain hunting for upland game, making you more prepared for the day you do travel to the Rockies, where I've heard grouse are all over the place.
I suppose if you're hoping to get flushes every half hour or less, chasing ruffed grouse in the mountains will be a letdown. In that case, I'd just encourage you to lower your expectations a bit. And I cannot imagine that it'd be wasted time, as you'll at the very least get used to mountain hunting for upland game, making you more prepared for the day you do travel to the Rockies, where I've heard grouse are all over the place.
04-23-2018 | 11:16 AM
#13
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
That is the plan. I would like to do other hunting in the state. And this is just a starter. Not looking to slaughter birds at all. Just enjoy the state, and shoot birds.
