Wildirishman

Hello all,

You guys have helped me in the past, would like to know more about Grouse habitat and the like? I had two flushes in the clearcut I was working, no way to get a shot at em though. Any secrets out there to help a man? Thanks

Grizzlybear

Haha! The secret to grouse hunting is to keep after them. You'll flush a LOT more than you'll shoot. Do you have a dog or go it alone? I swear grouse can fly through a tree trunk, and they know how to put every single twig between themselves and you.

Do a search on the ruffed grouse society (both in the US and Canada). They have some good resources on their websites and some free literature available that gives a good review of grouse habitat.

rebel wolf

Practice, Practice, Practice is the only good advice....

Avance

Me, my GWP and female capercaillie

blackliner

As a previous reply noted, it takes lots of practice. But what kind of practice? Practice with the dog and the terrain and shooting. Try taking another hunter with you and position them for the shot off of the point. If you can begin to see where to position a shooter to take good shots you will soon find yourself hunting with a particular understanding of where to be in each type of cover.

Good luck!

j3k2c1

Take a thrower into some area alot like the stuff you hunt and shoot till you get as many as you want. divide flushes by 4 and you'll get that many birds about with this method

Clint.

In years past, I shot a lot of trap. That helps tremendously when it comes to wingshooting grouse. Also, read all you can about your quarry so that you don't spend a lot of time hunting in unproductive habitat. They are "edge" animals. Food sources should be your primary consideration. Whether you choose to trap or skeet shoot.....get some practice somehow. It makes a tremendous difference. Also, it should go without saying....use an open choke shotgun... Improved cylinder, skeet, or cylinder bore. And one last secret....I'm pretty successful at partridge...be ready. Move slowly, be alert, and be prepared to throw off that safety. I have never hunted with a dog, but ususally manage to come home with multiple birds on almost every outing. Good luck!

Clint

Ruddyduck

Make sure you have a good repeatable gunmount and a gun that fits. Ole' Ruff doesn't leave you time to fudge around and everything must be spontaneous and natural if you hope to become a good grouse or any wingshot

KYhunter14

I always heard a grouse will hold tighter if it has been shot at. I am 25 and just killed my first grouse. The guys I was hunting with both shot at the grouse but missed, we followed and the dogs pointed it again, but this time he held tight and I got him. Just wondering if anyone has heard this before. By the way, there aren't alot of grouse around here anymore, but man they are some fun to hunt.

Grizzlybear

KY,

Grouse spend a lot of energy when they flush. It's a last resort escape for them, and so they can't do it indefinitely. Basically, they tire out. Remember, they spend most of their time walking.