I just want to share my tactic to hunt grouse.May be it would be of any interest to some new hunters. I invite any comments or share your own tactics.
Grouse hunting is fun,it can cheer you up in middle of the day between morning and evening hunt for big game.
Previously I shoot grouse ocassionally. Drive or walk, see the bird, pull my .22 and shoot.If it close, head shot is the best, if not close or somehow shot obstructed than body shot.Quite offten it resulted in lost bird or damaged meat.
I found that more often than not there are much more grouse than what you see in front of you.
If I spot grouse on the road,there will be some feeding birds and some guardian.Feeding bird would feed on small gravel ,while guardian will wach for predators.
But also in close by bush there will be other birds.Most important there will be some chief bird- we call it mama san. Mama san will look at guardian and give orders to other birds in the bush.
Typically grouse disappear way before you see them,thanks to guardian. Guardian gives signal to mama san,which in turn command others to hide. When you shoot feeding bird /guardian mama san still in command.
So,what I do now ? If I see bird on the ground I stop and look for bird in the trees- mama san. It is easy to distinguish which is mama san.It would move much more than others and will be very vocal. I use bino,probably my eye sight is not perfect anymore. Than I shoot mama san. Without her command other birds will seat tight and usually just hide in branches,but will never run or fly away.After the first shot feeding birds/guardian will fly to nearest branch or sit in the grass.Easy target.
I use my 12ga, it has good range and unlike with .22 I can take down bird hiding deep into branches.With bino I do not need to come very close either.If several birds on same tree I start from the bottom and shoot way up bird by bird.
This tactic worked for me most of the time,allow to shoot my day bag limit at one or two locations.
What is your favourite tactic ?
Cheers
Sneg
PS .Sorry,pics somehow small.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/..._on_grouse.JPG
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/...se_hunting.JPG