Grouse numbers good again this year

[mastercaster]

While out scouting my deer areas and looking for that ever elusive 4 point or any WT buck I've also taken some time to travel the out of the way roads that I always see some grouse on. Been keeping a running tally and in 7 days of hunting so far this season I have now seen exactly 100 birds. This has been the 4-5th year running that I've seen that many grouse in the month of September so the population has been pretty consistent.

The first week it was probably about 75% spruce,,,,the rest were ruffies. This week in the same area the numbers have reversed because all those fool hens probably met their demise. The ruff grouse are sure getting skittish, though. That being said, I've had no issues getting a bag limit each of those seven days with my griff, Sako.

How are the numbers in your area?

A few photos to come:


https://i.imgur.com/quRkitK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/BhlJRu2.jpg

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https://imgur.com/quRkitK

[ajr5406]

Thats great to hear.

Im taking my 1 year old GSP out for her hunt this coming sunday (bringing my 6 year old son too, for his first hunt). Done a bunch of training and working on gun conditioning, so hopefully we can find a bird or two to point/shoot! Only doing a day trip, but eager to get out with the dog and see what we can find (I think my son is more excited that I am).

[DeepJeep]

Went out exploring in region 2 for black tail. Saw a grouse-ish looking area. Went in and flushed 25 within 800 meters. Taking a shotgun this weekend.

[Rayne]

I have seen 0. This year in my spot that generally holds 20 or so birds. Have also driven 150km of fsr and still found none.

[Ron.C]

Was out once so far. Reg 1 mid Van Isle. Shot 2 ruffed, saw another 7. Should of had 5 birds but shot like crap.

[ajr5406]

Was out once so far. Reg 1 mid Van Isle. Shot 2 ruffed, saw another 7. Should of had 5 birds but shot like crap.

How did your young lab do?

[warnniklz]

I personally haven't seen many in my region 5 hunting spots.

However I don't hunt birds a whole lot and told myself to do it way more this year... probably why I havent seen as many

[DeepJeep]

I was in region 8 on Sept 1st weekend. Didn't see a single grouse.

[835]

I am going to do my best to get a pic or 2 of Tim like that...all artsy and stuff.

[mastercaster]

I was in region 8 on Sept 1st weekend. Didn't see a single grouse.

Region 8 is where I'm getting all my birds but I RARELY see grouse in the areas I see and shoot my deer. I will see the odd deer in my grouse spots but they would probably be unshootable ,,,,unless they were standing on the road because it's so thick and bushy. If they moved 10' off the road you wouldn't likely have an ethical shot because they'd be in the thick of things.

That's the kind of habitat that grouse like in Region 8. You don't see them along clear cuts or other open forested areas. The skinnier and less used a FSR is used the better your chance of seeing grouse is my experience.

Sure helps to have a dog that can retrieve them out of the real tough spots:

https://i.imgur.com/g0OQB3y.jpg

https://imgur.com/g0OQB3y

[Roots]

I've been seeing decent numbers my last three outings. Spent a day in Reg 2 last week, shot 3 but spooked another 4, and got another 2 in Reg 3 but and missed 2. So they're doing alright this year...

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/IMG_20190912_150230.jpg


http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/IMG_20190912_151226.jpg

[mastercaster]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/IMG_20190912_151226.jpg

Look at the size of that grouse's heart!

[russm]

I spotted one up in Princeton yesterday, he took off while I was loading my gun lol

[Ron.C]

How did your young lab do?

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/1ST.JPG

Her first bird

[ActionJackson017]

Very nice Ron C! How is she on the soft mouth with the bird?

Frankly, my female choco-lab has started to be a heavy handed with the teeth since she's started getting older (she's 8 now). She was great while she was young but in the last couple of bird hunts she's been less than gentle with the birds... a bit too rambunctious. I'm going to have to work on that, but I'm hesitant to put the e-collar back on her.. it's been 3 or 4 years since I've had to correct her with the e-collar and I figured I was beyond that stage with her. I love having the dog with me as to mastercaster's point they're great for fetching the bird in a precarious place or one that's fallen in to heavy bush and honestly, she's sniffed out more than her fair share of birds I didn't know were in the area and flushed them for me to shoot.

Beauty pics, mastercaster. Thanks for the thread and I agree with you, some of the most productive spots I've found grouse are spurs where no vehicle can get in to anymore... quad at best.

[HarryToolips]

Region 8 is where I'm getting all my birds but I RARELY see grouse in the areas I see and shoot my deer. I will see the odd deer in my grouse spots but they would probably be unshootable ,,,,unless they were standing on the road because it's so thick and bushy. If they moved 10' off the road you wouldn't likely have an ethical shot because they'd be in the thick of things.

That's the kind of habitat that grouse like in Region 8. You don't see them along clear cuts or other open forested areas. The skinnier and less used a FSR is used the better your chance of seeing grouse is my experience.

Sure helps to have a dog that can retrieve them out of the real tough spots:

https://i.imgur.com/g0OQB3y.jpg

https://imgur.com/g0OQB3y
I too am finding that that is the habitat they like...I have seen quite a few this year, but have shot zero...I am usually too lazy to bring my 22 and usually only do if I'm with my 6 year old boy...

[Redthies]

I just spent 3 days scouting on the region 3 and region 8 “border”. I shot two ruffed, and passed on two others. The two I shot were in a group of 3, and I figured I’d let one live for next time. He’s probably in therapy now having watched his two buddies get murdered, and then dragged away by a Weimaraner.

What time of day are you guys getting most of your birds? We found most of the ones we saw in the afternoon/evening.

[imack91]

Region 3 guy here - had a great opening day, 3 Ruffies in the first half hour and picked up a 4th in the same spot at the end of the day. Other than that one spot though, I haven't seen a lot of birds on the old overgrown FSRs or walking through all the usual grouse spots. Where are you Reg 3 guys seeming 'em this year?

So far finding the lower elevations, within a couple hours dusk/dawn to give the most chance of seeing a Grouse; If you're willing to hike you can find them any time of day, I'm sure.

[RyoTHC]

Region 3 guy here - had a great opening day, 3 Ruffies in the first half hour and picked up a 4th in the same spot at the end of the day. Other than that one spot though, I haven't seen a lot of birds on the old overgrown FSRs or walking through all the usual grouse spots. Where are you Reg 3 guys seeming 'em this year?

So far finding the lower elevations, within a couple hours dusk/dawn to give the most chance of seeing a Grouse; If you're willing to hike you can find them any time of day, I'm sure.

seems to be a bumper year in zone 3 and 8, I am nearing my possession limit now, just need 2 more blues and a ruffie.

Way better than last year, I think the fire negatively effected them in 2018 and now they are on the rebound as everything is regenerating.

Did aee a huge uptick in predatory birds last year last year so that could explain a lot !

[J-Man]

Counted 21 Saturday in reg 3, but they were all in one area. Went to two other areas in Reg 3 and saw none.

[jonny55]

Can totally echo this, saw 25 grouse in Western Region 8 on Saturday!

[mastercaster]

You can basically see a grouse on the road at any time of day. Got my first one of the season when it barely light enough to shoot but without a doubt the magical time is the last 45 minutes before dark. Sound familiar deer hunters?

Coming out of the bush when the lights of the truck are almost needed I'm almost running over them as they scurry about. Those ruff grouse that were super skittish a couple of hours earlier are far more relaxed as it gets closer to twilight,,,,,again, a lot like deer of either species.

One more photo:

https://i.imgur.com/TGWPoGB.jpg

[Ron.C]

You can basically see a grouse on the road at any time of day. Got my first one of the season when it barely light enough to shoot but without a doubt the magical time is the last 45 minutes before dark. Sound familiar deer hunters?

Coming out of the bush when the lights of the truck are almost needed I'm almost running over them as they scurry about. Those ruff grouse that were super skittish a couple of hours earlier are far more relaxed as it gets closer to twilight,,,,,again, a lot like deer of either species.

One more photo:

https://i.imgur.com/TGWPoGB.jpg

Very nice!

Whats the gun?

[mastercaster]

Very nice!

Whats the gun?

An Ithaco 20 ga. O/U. Bought it used (barely) the second year I moved to Kelowna back in 1981 from Bear Creek Trading Post which hasn't existed for several decades. I realized quite quickly that my young brittany spaniel could hold pheasants so well that my 12 ga. was too much gun for them. Haha

Love that gun,,,,may get buried with it some day or give it to on of my grand daughters,,,,unless one of my grand sons has something to say about it. LOL