Shot my first grouse!
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 381
Shot my first grouse!
So, I shot my first grouse today! I am pretty happy. Here is the story:
I was out scouting for a spot to hunt, and I discovered a spot I thought I would look at. Its public land, signs say you can hunt in it.
While walking through thick brush, I jumped a bunch of birds. They were grouse, no doubt in my mind, but I couldnt tell the species, as I couldnt get close enough without them flying off.
I went home and looked at the season details by Idaho Fish and Game. They went into season on August 30th. I got dressed in my hunting outfit, grabbed my gun and ammo, and went back there.
One hour later, I shot my first grouse. Then, I was faced with a problem. I could not tell what species of grouse it was. I compared it to the pictures on the bird ID that IDFG has, and I couldnt figure it out. I am pretty sure it is a ruffed grouse, a friend in wildlife management said the same thing, a female ruffed grouse, but she was not sure herself.
Now, granted, I need to be sure of my target in the future, so I don't shoot the wrong thing. Lesson learned.
What type of grouse is this? Can anyone tell? I already ruled out sharp tailed grouse, the tail doesnt match.
Jared
I was out scouting for a spot to hunt, and I discovered a spot I thought I would look at. Its public land, signs say you can hunt in it.
While walking through thick brush, I jumped a bunch of birds. They were grouse, no doubt in my mind, but I couldnt tell the species, as I couldnt get close enough without them flying off.
I went home and looked at the season details by Idaho Fish and Game. They went into season on August 30th. I got dressed in my hunting outfit, grabbed my gun and ammo, and went back there.
One hour later, I shot my first grouse. Then, I was faced with a problem. I could not tell what species of grouse it was. I compared it to the pictures on the bird ID that IDFG has, and I couldnt figure it out. I am pretty sure it is a ruffed grouse, a friend in wildlife management said the same thing, a female ruffed grouse, but she was not sure herself.
Now, granted, I need to be sure of my target in the future, so I don't shoot the wrong thing. Lesson learned.
What type of grouse is this? Can anyone tell? I already ruled out sharp tailed grouse, the tail doesnt match.
Jared
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,743
to ID the bird you need to show better pictures, including the head and tail if you can
as it could be a ruffed or maybe a spruce grouse or??
also might help if you say where it was killed at, in general, to know what species of grouse are typical in that area
either way ,
congrats on your first grouse!
as it could be a ruffed or maybe a spruce grouse or??
also might help if you say where it was killed at, in general, to know what species of grouse are typical in that area
either way ,
congrats on your first grouse!
#3
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 381
to ID the bird you need to show better pictures, including the head and tail if you can
as it could be a ruffed or maybe a spruce grouse or??
also might help if you say where it was killed at, in general, to know what species of grouse are typical in that area
either way ,
congrats on your first grouse!
as it could be a ruffed or maybe a spruce grouse or??
also might help if you say where it was killed at, in general, to know what species of grouse are typical in that area
either way ,
congrats on your first grouse!
#6
Looks like a Hungarian partridge, also called gray partridge, not fully colored up. See photo. They are very good eating. https://depositphotos.com/104871768/...attention.html
Last edited by Oldtimr; 09-20-2021 at 06:09 AM.
#7
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 381
Looks like a Hungarian partridge, also called gray partridge, not fully colored up. See photo. They are very good eating. https://depositphotos.com/104871768/...attention.html
Good morning everyone! You’re right, it’s a gray Partridge, not a grouse. Just looked at Fish and Game again, and found it. They went into season on September 18. Daily bag limit here is 8.
You are also right about them being good eating!
Thanks for helping me identify it. I appreciate it.
Jared
#8
Congrats on your first bird!!!
I scored a bit last Saturday on our Mn opener....after missing 4 ruffies in a row to close out last season I was REALLY bummed out all off season....
I did redeem myself and knocked down my first and only bird on Saturday while hanging trail cams....it is still very leafy and I couldn't see if it went down but I could hear it flopping in the underbrush and my trusty bird dog found it in a jiffy.
Grilled it up with some jalapeno poppers that evening....DELISH!!
I scored a bit last Saturday on our Mn opener....after missing 4 ruffies in a row to close out last season I was REALLY bummed out all off season....
I did redeem myself and knocked down my first and only bird on Saturday while hanging trail cams....it is still very leafy and I couldn't see if it went down but I could hear it flopping in the underbrush and my trusty bird dog found it in a jiffy.
Grilled it up with some jalapeno poppers that evening....DELISH!!