I' ve seen it all now !
 

This morning a Client and I headed a field. We got setup in a nice hardwood woods and waited out a Gobble , well not far (150)yds , we heard what we wanted to hear. I moved in closer because the bird was roosted in some thick cover just off the woods with his hens and I thought a good quiet sneek could put me in the 60-70yd mark. We got setup and after 20 minutes the birds flew down,Gobbling started aswell as some Cutting and yelping from the hens. After a 15 minute time period the woods quieted , so I leaned and told my client that was sitting in front of me that I will call soft and keep a good eye incase of a silent bird sliding in. Well after about 10 minutes I notice the guy slowly slide his gun on his shoulder and get ready. I' m thinking he see' s a bird moving in and not a noise at all. Then I notice some movement in front of me and off the the right about 20 yds then all of a suddon hear walks out to 15 yds is a Ruffle Grouse in FULL STRUT, tail fanned,feather in the neck puffed out,wings hangin, Man I laughed! I could not believe this little fellow walked right into the call all excited. My client was not sure what to think, he told me later the only thing the bird was missing was Red. Has anyone else seen this behavour from a Grouse ? It was sure something to see :D...BT

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

Must have been a hybrid Grouse/Turkey cross, to be struttin' like that. ;)Good story, make a great Web tale/myth!!:D:D

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

Sounds like that client of yours was also a turkey killing machine lol:D

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

nope , not me.....:D

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

Maybe he learned that that was a very popular pose for the ladies! :D

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Seen it twice around here but both times the grouse was following a female (hen). Seems when they got a woman they get real fired up.

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I know when they go Thump thump thump thump thump it feels like its in your chest

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HMMMM!!No ruffs in my territory BT,but the rooster pheasants will crow there heads off to ya!!!Maybe your on to a new ruffed grouse call buddy!!:D

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

That must of been something to see for sure!!! All I know is when I' m headed into the woods early in the morning, and one of those little buggers takes off right at your feet, it almost makes you brown your shorts!![:o]

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

Grouse strut quite a bit in the spring. They also do alot of drumming, I' m sure everyone has heard that. Someday I' d like to build a blind within a few feet of a well-used drumming log and take pictures, but I' ve heard it' s tough.

Tyler

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

I have noticed that it seems like they drum to the turkey calls.
Maybe it is the burp that you throw in with your yelping that drew him in.:Dlol

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Paul , your right about the sudden take off trick! :D
nice Photo bud ...

wacker ,, good one bud ! :D

I hear them often in the woods drumming but never had one come into the call...BT

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

that would be neat to see....call me wierd but i kept the grouse fan and dried it like a turkeys and its on a shelf on my wall now lol....it would be pretty funny to see them strut...

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

BT, maybe was a tom turkey that shrunk with all that rain we have been having..he..he...he:D

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

BT same exact thing happened to me last year. Had taken my buddy to where I shot my bird and so we set up and started calling and within 5 min. I heard a rustling in the brush and my buddy was saying" I can see his legs but he looks small" Well then that " Bull Ruff" stepped out and I dang near fell over laughing:D
But I also noticed this year if I struck a turkey call the hillside would light up with the sound of Ruffies thumpin their wings all the time. Don' t know if it excites them or if they' re getting defensive?

RE: I' ve seen it all now !
 

Never saw a grouse but I did have a big crow walk up to my hen decoys and puff up and walk around them. I could just about see what that crow was thinking:
" Hey there big mama. Forget that gobblin fool and come on with me!" ;)