Grouse are scarce?

[Buckmeister]

My first few trips out in early season had many sightings of grouse. On one trip I had over 16 sightings and bagged 4. At the same time others were posting up that they had seen very little to no grouse. Since then, I have only seen a few myself, and absolutely nothing for the last 3 trips or so. Maybe it is a scarce year and I just got lucky that one day???

[Cyrus]

it has not stopped raining in my area since May, so not surprised. I have seen 3 this year.

[tipper]

My first few trips out in early season had many sightings of grouse. On one trip I had over 16 sightings and bagged 4. At the same time others were posting up that they had seen very little to no grouse. Since then, I have only seen a few myself, and absolutely nothing for the last 3 trips or so. Maybe it is a scarce year and I just got lucky that one day???
What kind of grouse? I've only seen one blue this year in an area I hike where normally I would see dozens a day..

[Buckmeister]

Mostly Spruce (Ruffys) in our area, but I did see a group of Blues that day together, about 5 or 6. Saw my first blue last year in our area, nice to see them around.

[russm]

In 2 trips ive gotten 6, one ruffed on my first day trip (saw 5 or 6 others that day), and last sunday i got a limit of 4 ruffed and a blue with a couple other sightings. I was surprised how big the blues are I'd never shot one before.

[.264winmag]

I'm seeing all kinds, should really start packing the gauge. Decapatated a few with the rifle lol.

[Caribou_lou]

I was bow hunting up a few roads last week. One road I was seeing 30+ every morning. In about a 2km stretch. Many grouse hunters are referring to seeing grouse on roads. I'm not sure people realize not all grouse sit right on the road. Walk a bit and you'll hear more than you see and increase success.

[Linksman313]

I was bow hunting up a few roads last week. One road I was seeing 30+ every morning. In about a 2km stretch. Many grouse hunters are referring to seeing grouse on roads. I'm not sure people realize not all grouse sit right on the road. Walk a bit and you'll hear more than you see and increase success.

2X..........
Last year an abundance of grouse on the road where I hunt meant many were taken, those that were not got smart. I'm sure those who disembark from the wagon will attest, this year more than any i can remember in the past I am getting busted out on the stalk at elevation on grassy slopsides by ruffies

[todbartell]

tons of grouse this year, seen most when deep in the timber

[604Stalker]

seen alot of large single blues ..but mostly when Im only carying a game rifle and in some thick crap going WTF as they take off flying.

[rocksteady]

Get my limit just about every time I go out..

waiting for doe season to fill last tag so killing time by road hunting chickens and wabbits

[Krico]

Was out for 4 days last weekend. Must have seen at least 75. As many in the bush as on the road.

[scoutlt1]

I've been seeing/shooting lots every time I'm out, ever since youth season.

I did think though that they seem to be less on the road than usual...tucked into the trees and bush a bit more this year??

They're still there however...

[tomahawk]

lots of grouse on our moose hunt, some near the FSR's but most in the timber and second growth

[Jovesque]

I'm new to hunting BC and don't remember the difference between a spruce and a blue(not pursuing them). In any case I've seen one or two on just about every day I've been out for black tails in region 2. Sometimes I see them on the road while I'm hiking up or down from my spot and have just about stepped on two of them in the timber.

I use to hunt partridge in Quebec, but these day's I'm mostly excited to learn about black tails and hunting in the coastal environment.

Safe bounties everyone.

[.264winmag]

Spruce have the red above the eye, and are especially dumb even for a grouse!

[Jovesque]

Spruce have the red above the eye, and are especially dumb even for a grouse!


Thanks for the tip. I'll keep a look out for that detail next time.

Here's video of one I came across on a hike with my GF.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm4bdA3ZhB0

[HarryToolips]

I'm seeing less this year than last, even in the bush, though their numbers ain't bad from what I've seen...I think the dumb ones by the roads have just been all shot off lol..

[Buckmeister]

I'm new to hunting BC and don't remember the difference between a spruce and a blue(not pursuing them). In any case I've seen one or two on just about every day I've been out for black tails in region 2. Sometimes I see them on the road while I'm hiking up or down from my spot and have just about stepped on two of them in the timber.

I use to hunt partridge in Quebec, but these day's I'm mostly excited to learn about black tails and hunting in the coastal environment.

Safe bounties everyone.

Blues are a nice big size, nearly as big as a real chicken, like a leghorn for example. You should consider pursuing grouse, they are very tasty.

[adriaticum]

Good grouse numbers in my neck of the woods

[1/2 slam]

Mostly Spruce (Ruffys) in our area, but I did see a group of Blues that day together, about 5 or 6. Saw my first blue last year in our area, nice to see them around.

Spruce grouse are not ruffed grouse. Two separate species.

[kevan]

We have had a family of Ruffies living around a lake in one of Abbotsford's parks and they seem to be thriving well obviously because of a lack of enemies.
There is nothing funnier than when they startle a jogger or cyclist thats not aware of them.

[RackStar]

Just a reminder to carry yours tags. I got in shit last week

[plumberjustin]

I've never seen so many grouse as this year. Just got back from a week trip in the willow river area of PG, must have seen around a hundred on the roads and just into the trees. Many succumbed to the wrath of the 20 gauge.

[Ohwildwon]

The aggressive White Tail Grouse are moving in, decimating the local species..

Unfortunatly they are nocturnal, so unless you have the WT Grouse night hunt tag, your hooped!!:grin:

[Looking_4_Jerky]

Just as I remembered, when I compared fresh Ruffie beside fresh Spruce earlier this year, the Ruffie was great and the Spruce was disgusting, with dark, pulpy, strong tasting breast meat as opposed to light, stringy, mild meat of the Ruffed. Blues are tasty as well, although the bigger birds can be on the tough, dry side.

As for abundance, I would say that I've been seeing significantly fewer this year than most other years.

[cooter303]

In 3-39 there was lots out in september at the start of season. As time goes on there are fewer. Some evenings we dont see any. A few hinters in the area so a bit of pressure. Certanly not as many as last year.

[1/2 slam]

Just as I remembered, when I compared fresh Ruffie beside fresh Spruce earlier this year, the Ruffie was great and the Spruce was disgusting, with dark, pulpy, strong tasting breast meat as opposed to light, stringy, mild meat of the Ruffed. Blues are tasty as well, although the bigger birds can be on the tough, dry side.

As for abundance, I would say that I've been seeing significantly fewer this year than most other years.


Soak the Spruce in milk overnight......MMMMMM!

[adriaticum]

Another thought about grouse.
I am noticing that logging companies rip out whole mountains worth of spruce and re-plant only pine.
That will definitely have a negative effect on grouse.
In fact they are probably responsible for more grouse loss than anything else.

[HarryToolips]

^^^^^^your probably right, as I said before, it would be nice if they left just a little more old growth timber than the 6-7% or whatever it is that they're required..

[J_06]

Seeing lots in the areas surrounding 7-15.

[todbartell]

one less roaming the woods today.

https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14656272_10154059168392992_6341325149732290056_n.j pg?oh=f2efc4bddb1453b2189a3adb1ce31ef6&oe=58AC8ABB

[tipper]

one less roaming the woods today.

https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14656272_10154059168392992_6341325149732290056_n.j pg?oh=f2efc4bddb1453b2189a3adb1ce31ef6&oe=58AC8ABB

What caliber lol

[Good2bCanadian]

We seen plenty on the weekend. Region 8

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/good2bcanadian/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdsjwsvuw.jpeg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/good2bcanadian/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsdsjwsvuw.jpeg.html)

[todbartell]

What caliber lol

308 Win 150gr SST @ 2867 fps. Did a nice job :mrgreen: bit hard on the ears

[tipper]

308 Win 150gr SST @ 2867 fps. Did a nice job :mrgreen: bit hard on the ears
Great shot!

[Cyrus]

nice to see guys using a rifle instead of the cheater guns haha!

[Codes44]

My first few trips out in early season had many sightings of grouse. On one trip I had over 16 sightings and bagged 4. At the same time others were posting up that they had seen very little to no grouse. Since then, I have only seen a few myself, and absolutely nothing for the last 3 trips or so. Maybe it is a scarce year and I just got lucky that one day???

Grouse populations fluctuate a lot. They go through cycles some years having a huge grouse population, others very low and tends to follow a pattern. They also have a very short lifespan and are very low on the food chain, even from April May to end of summer numbers can dip by 30-40%.

[anethema]

Ya. Up on my 1/4 section in the peace there is a crapton of grouse. Any time the wife feels like grouse she goes out with the .22, bags a couple, then makes em for supper.

Hell last night she got a couple, pounded the breast flat, made a pesto/cream cheese filling, and wrapped them full of it. Was bloody delicious. The rest of the corpse goes into the stock bag for next time she makes stock. Grouse/chicken/duck stock mix is unreal.

[BCHunterFSJ]

First of all what is a "crapton"????
Last Saturday my son and I bagged 20 grouse.
I spent most of Sunday morning cleaning grouse...
And here'a a picture of my "trophy" grouse!

http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y391/BCHunter_photos1/New%20Iphone%20pictures%20062_zpsv8qmk7jr.jpg (http://s1272.photobucket.com/user/BCHunter_photos1/media/New%20Iphone%20pictures%20062_zpsv8qmk7jr.jpg.html )

[Buckmeister]

Well I've been seeing quite a few grouse again lately. But I kept on missing them when I took a shot. Turns out the scope on the .22 was WAY off, must have taken a bump or two. A quick resighting and I managed to bag 3 in the last few days. Sure are tasty.