Grouse have frightened more humans, in the woods then any other creature combined. When one is walking along and a grouse is flushed with out warning….very frightening as we know. Therefore it is our duty to hunt the most frightening animal in the woods. Enjoy!
In areas that are tough to hunt like the East. My Dad taught me to walk to an area that looks good and just sit silently for a while. The Grouse typically hunker down when they hear you but if you are not making noises they panic and move. Slow moving thru woods but it does work in areas that can get alot of traffic.
Yeah if you're moving fast they'll just sit in the bushes and wait for you to pass. If you sit for a minute, it makes them antsy and they'll move. Good on ya!
I've noticed that moving faster will get me closer to them when they jump giving you a better chance to shoot them while they're flying. I've also noticed that about 2 seconds after you stop moving a grouse will reveal himself. With that said if you going to check your phone wait for the grouse first.
They also like to reside on the sides of dirt roads so they can eat small sand grains that are used in the gizzard that function to mechanically breakdown seeds and such.
Few good tips. I've been hunting grouse steadily for 10 years and some before that. I've gotten close too 200 so far in my life. 46 was my biggest year. I've seen it all but it's always a learning experience if you're willing too learn! Cheers.
@@CascadeBackcountry mine is an old Stevens break action. Straddle a couple in between the fingers and get good at reloading, usually harvest a few at a time. I find 28 gauge works a bit better than .410 too. Love the content!
Thanks so much for the tips. I live in the Salem, Oregon area and am just getting into it with my new little dog and can use all the help I can get in the NW. It seems grouse hunting is a bit different out here than it is back in the midwest and east, which is where most of the "tips" come from in the form of books and UA-cam videos.
Wells I hope this helps! Really getting out there putting boots on the ground is the best tip I can give, but if you remember some of these tips, I'm sure you'll find some birds! Good luck!
Great tips, thanks. I'm getting back into grouse hunting, it's been several years since I've hunted these birds. Again, thanks, and I'll be watching your channel. Dave Alberta Canada 🇨🇦
Great video! Recently moved to an area that has some decent grouse hunting options available to me. Just waiting for it to get a little cooler and some snow on the ground. Sometimes I have flushed the odd snowshoe with this too.
They eat little rocks to help them digest food and they love rose hips in the fall i find they all the time on trails with gravel or sand i live in Northern Alberta i like hunting them because they taste good gun i use is 4 10 shot gun its loud but you can shoot them out of the air if spooked and 2 at a time they are larger here aswell.
@CascadeBackcountry you should cut the stomach open you will find small pebbles or bits or rock there that's why you find them on trails been hunting them long time and I cut the stomach open to see what there eating seen you laugh at my comment about the rocks pebbles they don't eat alot just a couple
I was serious. They do love eating rocks! I was that they like to eat rocks. I even mentioned this in the video... that people should cut open their stomachs to find out what they're eating. Sometimes I even clean out the gizzard and fry that up!
@CascadeBackcountry my bad thought you didn't believe me you should definitely try a 4 10 iam getting lots of double shots shells are expensive good hunting in northern tip of Alberta finding them on every trail
thanks for the tips dude, have had shit luck this season! quick question: I have a benelli nova 12ga, it's pretty heavy.. should I switch to an overunder/double barrel for small game? is it much lighter? what would be your preference?
No problem. Hope they help! Over under, side by side, pump... doesn't really matter BUT I can tell you I absolutely love my CZ Upland Ultralight over under! It's WAY lighter than my old Mosberg 12 gauge. I think it's only about 5.5 pound. A lightweight 20 gauge is the way to go in my opinion
I have a benelli nova 12ga and I originally bought it for duck hunting but I’ve used it a few times grouse hunting I definitely say it’s too heavy if it’s your only shotgun you wouldn’t know how much nicer it is I’ll my 870 20ga before I’ll Cary the nova. I find myself using my gun strap when using the nova and it’s cost me a few chances to shoot a bird
@@CascadeBackcountry places where mountains are used for pasture is nice too. Cows walk on the roads and shit there. Berry bushes grow right on the shoulders and grouse loooove them berries.
Is it true that if you eat a fresh grouse that was just killed that day, its meat is tough and if you wait til the following day to eat it, it'll be tender? I heard that on another bushcraft type channel.
I have never heard that before but I have eaten grouse the same day as well as the next day. I can't tell any difference in meat tenderness. I usually fry my grouse so maybe that's why haha
I've done it both ways. If you eat it the same day it's pretty tough and stringy. I leave mine in salt water over night and cook it the next day in butter salt and pepper. Good stuff
I've cook them same day or days later, never noticed a difference. I cut the breasts off and wrap bacon around them to hold them together, then place on the BBQ. The bacon holds them together and give a great flavor. I don't even season them. This year we had a gal in camp who was watching me prepare them. She later said she was surprised I didn't season them but didn't question me at the time, after she had some she said it was amazing the way it was.
Hey first time viewer here. I hunted grouse back in ohio in my youth. My one tip is like your walking back the way you came on a road. So my tip is: watch your back trail. I’ve seen grouse walk out onto a road and watch hunters walking away.
First year hunting grouse this season. Decided to add it to my big game hunt and harvested 2 of my first over the last 2 weeks. So delicious, can't believe I was missing out over the years.
In Northern Ontario the best way to hunt grouse is drive on your ATV over the logging trails . The grouse come to eat gravel to digest their food. And yes the best times are early morning and late afternoon evening. And yes the next sunny morning after a rainy day ...BONANZA.
I should have explained what I wrote a little better. Regional differences in elevation and climate affect habitat. If I ever hunt in your area, I'd hunt below 2000 ft. That's also where the grouse were when I hunted back east in PA. But here in the Wasatch Mountains I don't start seeing forest grouse until I'm above about 6000 feet. The topography around here doesn't go lower than about 4500 feet above sea level. Aside from the regional elevation differences, everything else you said about ruffed grouse is as true here as it is for your area. @@CascadeBackcountry
Yeah, those Blue dusky grouse like that beargrass and scrub timber areas on broken ridges here in Idaho. We have areas down low that look like that in the video for ruffled grouse then other habitat that's more classic rockies higher and drier.
Last time I watched you were up high, blues all over, now they're open, I've got seven so far this year, mix of blues and ruffs, lots of birds this year in N Central Wa
GREAT video man. Good job. I'm headed to northern Michigan next week with my dog (Brittany) for some grouse and woodcock hunting. I always appreciate these types of videos so I can brush up on my knowledge. Your video reminded me that I need to spend more time looking up in the trees to catch grouse roosting especially during the middle of the day. My other recommendation related to later season hunting (after most/all of the leaves are off) is once their canopy is gone grouse tend to move into thick covered areas by swamps/creeks...at least they do here in Michigan.
Heck yeah! I bet northern Michigan is loaded with grouse. I've never been there though haha I'm sure a lot of these concepts apply to there as well. Thanks for watching!
Highly recommend grouse hunting. It's got a fairly easy cost of entry and is quite fun. It can also be frustrating haha Thanks for the watch and the sub!
Based on my experience I think you are right about the correlation between small bird activity and grouse activity. However, I have a long standing theory that seems to be supported over and over. I almost never see grouse in areas where I see small birds, or even blue jays. For whatever reason I have just noticed when I see all these other birds I do not see grouse. Maybe it's just a coincidence or maybe the small birds naturally are found in habitat that would be inhospitable to grouse.
Yeah, now that I think of it, I never see them together either. Maybe they're bitter enemies! haha But... if there's birds out in general, I will see grouse, just not in the same place
Hey man I'm in the Troutdale area and would love to join you for some grouse hunting if you would have me come out with you. Please let me know if you want to join up with me. I'm self employed so I am pretty open. Thanks and hope to her back from you.
Thanks man been a number of years since I went after them and didn't just happen upon them. Taking my grandpas old bird gun out this year for some fun. Bird hunting was grandpas favorite thing to do an he always had a good dog to go with.
@@CascadeBackcountry it's a special year, my youngest daughter just got her first deer tag so I thought while taking her out with me I'd pack the shotgun for birds and she could have any deer we come across. Grandpas old gun is a Browning light 12, semi auto made in 1969.....still in its original leather hard case with 24 and 28 inch barrels you can choose from.......still has the original keys for the leather hardcase in the original paperwork from when he bought it......grandpa kept everything in immaculate condition........it's more an honor than a privilege to be able to shoot it.......hope its a good year thanks again
Well as a daughter dad myself, I hope your kiddo gets herself a deer! Sounds about right the older generation would have equipment built to last AND take care of it. Hope you guys both get fill your tags! Great year indeed!
Always find it odd to see someone hunting grouse, without wearing blaze orange... Nice video. - If you listen carefully, they'll often chirp (for lack of a better word) right before flushing
All but gone in Western NY. I had very good times in the 70's and 80's. I have a 4 year old Boykin Spaniel that has never smelled a grouse. She's flushed pheasants and woodcock and broken numerous flocks of fall turkey. I miss grouse 'partridge' hunting.
The grouse where I am just seem way smarter. I rarely catch any grouse during the season out in the open, ever. Even when walking quietly. I'll flush them like 80 yards away when they're hidden in the woods.
@@CascadeBackcountry I do to. I'm from BC, and when I saw your video, I knew it was either BC or WA. Then I noticed you can pack heat, so, WA. Wish we could. I'm gonna use a 12g shotgun or a 22lr.
I Just rip the quad Through the trails on my land and whenever i scare one i follow it to a tree and the 20 guage over under takes em out of the tree 🎉
Watching this video after, went for my first time grouse hunting with a friend last week here in Manitoba. Got 2 ruffed and 1 spruce, and flushed up about 15! It did rain the day before, and did see lots of little birds. Stood around for 5 min in one stop while my buddy was bushwhacking and then one flew away from a 15 ft. spruce right beside me, so I guess that was his roosting spot.
Heck yeah! Sounds like you had a successful day. Grouse are kinda dumb sometimes and they'll just sit right next to you. They don't understand bullets 😆
for 40 years now i have found grouse on old roads mostly grown over, and always in the midday range since i deer hunt dawn and dusk, I only hunt ruffed grouse around here though. i usually find 1 or 2 a year while deer hunting too, they explode out from below just before I step on them oblivious they are there until they take off..... i always hear my dad in my head.. " shoot the bottom one in the tree 1st and he will sit there watching his dead buddy fall letting you shoot him too but if I shoot the top one first he will scare the lower one away
Good points. We have a lot of fields and dirt roads here, we walk them and if you see a apple trees you will find a bird 90% of the time, and I've noticed when they fly away after being spooked they circle back to the same spot a lot.
@@CascadeBackcountry So you think if I know of a specific trail where I pick Huckleberries up by Lake Cle Elum, where I encountered three grouse, that it's unlikely they were only there for berries? I've hiked it multiple times and only encountered flushing them in rain.
Rather than check the stomach, like all birds they have a -crop- which stores the recently consumed food. Easy to check that; Second the reason that local other birds are being seen is because it is likely that there is a "food" source which the grouse will also partake in, so those "other birds" indicate a food source ....berries, seeds, nuts, etc.; Lastly after a rain the birds will often come to two tracks to "dry out"....avoiding the drip from the trees, so this is a good time to walk the two tracks. The single biggest tip is finding food, unless it is dead of winter where buds are the primary food source. Find crab apple, wild apple, berries, and heavy growth of winter green berries....along with a water source not far away and if there are any grouse around this should be a target area. Lastly look up....grouse are famous for jumping up to a perch on a tall tree to "check you out"...while trying to shoot one that launched from a tall perch is nearly impossible, (unless you blast away as they sit there) sometimes you can walk right past them up in the tree. A dog is where grouse hunting takes on it's best experience, both retrieving and often pointing giving YOU the heads up that one is near by, but watching a good dog "work" the bird will change you hunting experiences forever.
Thanks for the tips! Question for ya! Let’s say you’ve found a spot that had some grouse, and you take some. If you’re not overzealous in your harvest, is it likely that you will always be able to return to the same area and take more, since you say they never travel far, probably from where they’re born?
In theory, that'd work, and it'd happen in real life too... just not super dependable. There are a lot of factors such as predation, winter kill off, food source, hare population, etc that could take out the last few birds... but also, they might not! Haha Thanks for watching and sorry if I just made that more confusing 😵💫
I swear it's always RIGHT when I give up trying to find a bird that it flushes right in front of you lol. Love these birds. They are so simple yet the really do have what it takes to survive.
Do you know if the forest service roads along Blewitt pass are worth trying out? Just got introduced to Grouse hunting out past Tonasket and that’s a heck of drive living in the N Seattle area.
Yeah that is a long drive. I am not familiar with the Blewitt Pass area but I'm guessing any area in the Cascade foothills with logging roads will hold ruffed grouse!
Largest group of grouse I have ever seen was near Tonasket. A group of over 25 blues were in the road drinking out of a side hill spring. It was amazing to see! Of course season was not open yet! 🤨
Have hunted Washington state East & West for Grouse for 43 years always hit the woods September 1st. They changed our season to 15th.😢 nine more days!😊🐦💥
Very cool! Yeah, the season change they made a few years back is a bummer for us grouse hunters for sure. Apparently it's better for the grouse population. Either way... only a few days till grouse opener!
What a great 14 minutes of advice and information! I'll be honest, I initially skipped this video because I did my usual preview scrub-through and saw that it was mostly you talking to the camera. That's often a sign of long-winded explanations. But I just gave it a listen on a drive and highly recommend this for new grouse hunters and occasional hunters who'd like a review. You reinforce all the key points and add a few extra tips. Thanks for your time making this.
Great video, all great reminders for hunters new and old. I prefer hunting blues, they are a bit bigger and also tend to like high mountain hill sides in more open terrain. I will be in Okanogan county this fall with the 20 gauge Beretta single shot, might take a few rabbits while at it! Keep up the great videos!
i can't be bothered. since my wife declared they weren't worth eating, I agree; the juice ain't worth the squeeze. I don't even bring the .22 or 410 deer hunting any more.
You get any!? I generally use #7 or 8 steel shot with no choke or improved cylinder choke. A lot to unpack there for reasons but it's been working great for me for years
Tough question! I'd say the best gun is a 20 gauge but my favorite is probably a 22. Light and quiet. I just ordered a winchester wildcat but I haven't got a chance to try it out yet
@CascadeBackcountry Thanks for the reply. I recently purchased 20 ga. Winchester SXP. I am anxious to try it out, too! I upgraded from my old singleshot 410. Best of luck to you in the new season. Newfoundland, Canada.
@wendellbell6164 kinda depends. For example... if you're really close to the bird, you'll probably get more penaration. You usually get a few BBs in the breast, just gotta pick em out!
@@CascadeBackcountry I was just thinking depends if the wings are closed sitting on a branch or flying. I have mostly used #4. I am no good with shotgun but do quite well with rifle. My 20 gauge patterns pretty good with 7.5 and 4. Not so good with 6. Full choke
Growing up in Northern New England, patridge hunting was a right of passage. Didn’t have to sneak around the woods trying to be quite or sit still for hours at a time but always action packed. I lived in the Pacific NW and pursued them there with the same passion. Living in Montana and now a bit on the older side of life, I still find the same excitement arising after every flush. Hunted them all over the country but non were better than where it all started!
Man I'd sure love to do a northeast grouse hunt sometime. Sounds like you got quite a bit of experience in lots of different habitats. Thanks for watching and good luck out there!
I'm not super familiar with the forests in the Seattle area. I have heard good things about the Capitol Forest near Olympia and I bet if you head up toward Everett/Marysville, into the Cascade foothills, you can find some old logging roads
Ill give some tips from 38years in this game: Search trail intersections thoroughly Find 5-15year old wildfire/logging clearcuts Hunt edges. Swmp meeting forest, old growth meeting new growth Focus on areas with a few large treesn water, food, and grit.
@@CascadeBackcountry I hunt along the Canadian border in northern Minnesota. We have lots of birds and tins of logging I've been fortunate enough to chase old hatchet head for many many years around here.
@@shanegiggie yep. Trail intersections are key. The gf and I slammed 30 of them(full 2 person 3day limits) this last week in northern mn. The old 28ga side by sides were eating well.
Out here in south eastern New York the grouse population has disappeared. I hunted grouse with my father since I was like 6 or 7 and now I’m 62. Now when I hunt there is very little wild game to be seen other than chipmunks and squirrels. The red tail hawks have totally decimated the grouse and rabbit. Haven’t seen or heard a grouse in over 15 years. The pheasants that are stocked where I hunt are also getting picked off a few days after their release. I was out today and found remnants of 5 pheasants and only saw 1 live bird. I really miss the days of numerous grouse flushes in days hunt. I used to go through several boxes of shells in a season. Now a box of shells lasts 3 seasons! Sadly I’m losing interest in a sport I loved since before I could carry a gun. Everything in your video was spot on. Great presentation!
Lot of people there on the east coast. Sad to hear about the loss of grouse numbers and habitat. You ever head farther north? NH? Vermont? Maine? I've always wanted to do a grouse hunting trip in the far northeast! Thank you for watching!
Grouse ranges will change over time...old growth takes over and new younger stuff where there was none...change where you hunt....In northern Michigan new growth poplar trees one inch in diameter is thick and provides lots of bugs and berries and cover from hawks and fox, coyotes....timing is important tho, since early season nearly impossible to get shots. For two weeks after most leaf fall, it is great hunting until the birds move to winter areas such as swamp edges and conifer growth.
So Iv been hunting for years! But never got one haha last year I missed 4 with my 20g… and one the year before. My question is how far are you shooing them from? And what choke? I have a modified in my single shot Henry. But I’m going to try full this year. I missed one right in front of me…
Always use full choke and what ammo are you using? I use #5 or 4 in mine holds a tight pattern and doesn't spread too much. It may seem like I'm bragging or I'm exaggerating but I am not, I got one 50 yards one time with a 4/10 #6 3 inch and 2 in one shot with my 20. Shot at one out of a tree went up and there was two laying there. It's like anything the more you do it the better you become!! Keep at it
@@shanegiggieI find that to be super overkill but obviously you can hunt with whatever you like I use improved cylinder or modified depending on how long my shots will be and just 7 1/2 shot and 8 shot. With modified 8s I have killed one off the ground from 40 yards cold but I wouldn’t trust it from much farther I’ve missed plenty off the track thinking they will flush early
Tip 6, the first year birds in the fall are better eating than the older birds. No. 7, in Alaska they will flock up in the winter. No 8, nothing eats Alder that I know of. Rabbits will starve rather than eat it. Maybe Western Cascades alder is different. Moose won't eat it. I have observed grouse on a willow tree 20 ft away eating the buds in the winter.
Grouse have frightened more humans, in the woods then any other creature combined. When one is walking along and a grouse is flushed with out warning….very frightening as we know. Therefore it is our duty to hunt the most frightening animal in the woods. Enjoy!
This is the best! Haha Grouse have single handedly given me 78 heart attacks whilst alone in the mountains. They must be stopped at all costs!!!!
Don’t even get me started on blue grouse… literally a helicopter taking off at your feet for zero reason… love the little shits. Happy huntin boys 💙
Plenty of fun when you’re on horseback too!
they scared the shit out of me i didn't know i had them near me so it scared the hell out of me
😆😂
In areas that are tough to hunt like the East. My Dad taught me to walk to an area that looks good and just sit silently for a while. The Grouse typically hunker down when they hear you but if you are not making noises they panic and move. Slow moving thru woods but it does work in areas that can get alot of traffic.
Yeah if you're moving fast they'll just sit in the bushes and wait for you to pass. If you sit for a minute, it makes them antsy and they'll move. Good on ya!
I've noticed that moving faster will get me closer to them when they jump giving you a better chance to shoot them while they're flying. I've also noticed that about 2 seconds after you stop moving a grouse will reveal himself. With that said if you going to check your phone wait for the grouse first.
They also like to reside on the sides of dirt roads so they can eat small sand grains that are used in the gizzard that function to mechanically breakdown seeds and such.
True facts!
Few good tips. I've been hunting grouse steadily for 10 years and some before that. I've gotten close too 200 so far in my life. 46 was my biggest year. I've seen it all but it's always a learning experience if you're willing too learn! Cheers.
Thanks! That's quite a few grouse in one season! Definitely always room to learn. Thanks for watching!
@@CascadeBackcountry Yes sir. That's just driving and walking old roads. Got them in 2 months.
They're everywhere in the area I reside. It's my favourite hunting. I use a 28 gauge with an upland bird load, works perfectly.
Oh man that's awesome. I really want a 28 gauge. Probably great to carry and shoot all day
@@CascadeBackcountry mine is an old Stevens break action. Straddle a couple in between the fingers and get good at reloading, usually harvest a few at a time. I find 28 gauge works a bit better than .410 too. Love the content!
Elderberries are a good winter grouse staple in my area…
Thanks so much for the tips. I live in the Salem, Oregon area and am just getting into it with my new little dog and can use all the help I can get in the NW. It seems grouse hunting is a bit different out here than it is back in the midwest and east, which is where most of the "tips" come from in the form of books and UA-cam videos.
Wells I hope this helps! Really getting out there putting boots on the ground is the best tip I can give, but if you remember some of these tips, I'm sure you'll find some birds! Good luck!
Great tips, thanks. I'm getting back into grouse hunting, it's been several years since I've hunted these birds. Again, thanks, and I'll be watching your channel. Dave Alberta Canada 🇨🇦
@davemcmahon8140 thanks! They're sure fun to hunt. Good luck this year and thanks for watchin!
In the coast range elderberry is a absolute magnet for grouse and dove also good dogs dramatically improve your chances for success great video
Elderberry is a great one! I need to get out and hunt the coast sometime. Thanks for watching!
Great video!
Recently moved to an area that has some decent grouse hunting options available to me. Just waiting for it to get a little cooler and some snow on the ground. Sometimes I have flushed the odd snowshoe with this too.
Thanks! You grouse hunting in the snow huh? They're definitely still out there despite the weather!
Excellent educational video. As a new hunter I was hanging on every word.
Thanks! Hope it helps ya out 😀
Thanks, this is literally the first useful video on grouse hunting that I've seen and validates some of what I've been wondering about.
Awesome! Glad I could help out. Good luck out there!
I'm in MN I see my 1 to 4
I really like your video, well done, to the point and enjoyable
Thank you!
I would add, where there's one there is likely more. Just because one flushes the others many just go still.
Yeah they frequently hang out in small groups, especially in early season
I never really have problems finding any they’re always on the back roads so they’re not hard to find.
Nice!
Here in Va and West Va it’s just the opposite. We find them typically 2,000-4000ft
Nice! I'd love to hunt over there sometime
They eat little rocks to help them digest food and they love rose hips in the fall i find they all the time on trails with gravel or sand i live in Northern Alberta i like hunting them because they taste good gun i use is 4 10 shot gun its loud but you can shoot them out of the air if spooked and 2 at a time they are larger here aswell.
Yeah they definitely love eating rocks haha I want a 4 10! Thanks for watching 😁
@CascadeBackcountry you should cut the stomach open you will find small pebbles or bits or rock there that's why you find them on trails been hunting them long time and I cut the stomach open to see what there eating seen you laugh at my comment about the rocks pebbles they don't eat alot just a couple
I was serious. They do love eating rocks! I was that they like to eat rocks. I even mentioned this in the video... that people should cut open their stomachs to find out what they're eating. Sometimes I even clean out the gizzard and fry that up!
@CascadeBackcountry my bad thought you didn't believe me you should definitely try a 4 10 iam getting lots of double shots shells are expensive good hunting in northern tip of Alberta finding them on every trail
Man I'd love to do a grouse hunt up that way. Keep on keeping on!
You need to share this with the grouse, lmao
Are they not doin what they're supposed to do? 😆
Great video 👍🏻👍🏻🇨🇦
Thanks!!!
well done
Thanks!
thanks for the tips dude, have had shit luck this season!
quick question: I have a benelli nova 12ga, it's pretty heavy.. should I switch to an overunder/double barrel for small game? is it much lighter? what would be your preference?
No problem. Hope they help! Over under, side by side, pump... doesn't really matter BUT I can tell you I absolutely love my CZ Upland Ultralight over under! It's WAY lighter than my old Mosberg 12 gauge. I think it's only about 5.5 pound. A lightweight 20 gauge is the way to go in my opinion
I prefer my 20g, but I've gotten lots with my 12 too
Both single shot. When you use them as much as I have you get pretty quick at reloading
I have a benelli nova 12ga and I originally bought it for duck hunting but I’ve used it a few times grouse hunting I definitely say it’s too heavy if it’s your only shotgun you wouldn’t know how much nicer it is I’ll my 870 20ga before I’ll Cary the nova. I find myself using my gun strap when using the nova and it’s cost me a few chances to shoot a bird
Alot of good information.
Thank you!
Awesome thank you
Heck yeah!
Thank you
There used to be Grouse in PA..not anymore
Aw man! Overhunting?
@@CascadeBackcountry that and Apparatnly West Nile virus. Something with the eggs.
Say whaaaa! 😯
Grouse-ey :D
Gotta make up a word here n there! Haha
@@CascadeBackcountry places where mountains are used for pasture is nice too. Cows walk on the roads and shit there. Berry bushes grow right on the shoulders and grouse loooove them berries.
*promo sm*
They’re all rocks
Sometimes it really feels like it!
Is it true that if you eat a fresh grouse that was just killed that day, its meat is tough and if you wait til the following day to eat it, it'll be tender? I heard that on another bushcraft type channel.
I have never heard that before but I have eaten grouse the same day as well as the next day. I can't tell any difference in meat tenderness. I usually fry my grouse so maybe that's why haha
Chill for 24-48 hours. Let Rigor Mortis work it's way out. Then cook or freeze. Works for me.
I've done it both ways. If you eat it the same day it's pretty tough and stringy. I leave mine in salt water over night and cook it the next day in butter salt and pepper. Good stuff
I've cook them same day or days later, never noticed a difference. I cut the breasts off and wrap bacon around them to hold them together, then place on the BBQ. The bacon holds them together and give a great flavor. I don't even season them. This year we had a gal in camp who was watching me prepare them. She later said she was surprised I didn't season them but didn't question me at the time, after she had some she said it was amazing the way it was.
I cooked one same day this year and it was so tough and stringy. I will stick to brining them, always tender.
BTW, grouse is just as good fresh as aged
Find gravel, find grouse.
@@Tomyum19 great t-shirt!
@@CascadeBackcountry lol never thought of that. Good idea.
Hey first time viewer here. I hunted grouse back in ohio in my youth. My one tip is like your walking back the way you came on a road. So my tip is: watch your back trail. I’ve seen grouse walk out onto a road and watch hunters walking away.
Sneaky little grouse!
I see it constantly when I'm grouse hunting.
First year hunting grouse this season. Decided to add it to my big game hunt and harvested 2 of my first over the last 2 weeks. So delicious, can't believe I was missing out over the years.
Nice!! Yeah they're freakin delicious
@@CascadeBackcountry Beautiful area you're walking in are you in WA state?
In Northern Ontario the best way to hunt grouse is drive on your ATV over the logging trails . The grouse come to eat gravel to digest their food. And yes the best times are early morning and late afternoon evening. And yes the next sunny morning after a rainy day ...BONANZA.
Guess I gotta get an ATV!
Here in the Rockies (Wasatch range) I regularly find ruffed grouse (and dusky grouse) at elevations of 7000 or 8000 feet above sea level.
Yeah that 2000 ft is definitely a GENERAL rule 😁
I should have explained what I wrote a little better. Regional differences in elevation and climate affect habitat. If I ever hunt in your area, I'd hunt below 2000 ft. That's also where the grouse were when I hunted back east in PA. But here in the Wasatch Mountains I don't start seeing forest grouse until I'm above about 6000 feet. The topography around here doesn't go lower than about 4500 feet above sea level. Aside from the regional elevation differences, everything else you said about ruffed grouse is as true here as it is for your area. @@CascadeBackcountry
Yeah, those Blue dusky grouse like that beargrass and scrub timber areas on broken ridges here in Idaho. We have areas down low that look like that in the video for ruffled grouse then other habitat that's more classic rockies higher and drier.
Last time I watched you were up high, blues all over, now they're open, I've got seven so far this year, mix of blues and ruffs, lots of birds this year in N Central Wa
I was recently on the high buck hunt up at 7000 ft. We saw a trillion blue grouse! Congrats on the birds. I'd really love to hunt that area!
GREAT video man. Good job. I'm headed to northern Michigan next week with my dog (Brittany) for some grouse and woodcock hunting. I always appreciate these types of videos so I can brush up on my knowledge.
Your video reminded me that I need to spend more time looking up in the trees to catch grouse roosting especially during the middle of the day.
My other recommendation related to later season hunting (after most/all of the leaves are off) is once their canopy is gone grouse tend to move into thick covered areas by swamps/creeks...at least they do here in Michigan.
Heck yeah! I bet northern Michigan is loaded with grouse. I've never been there though haha I'm sure a lot of these concepts apply to there as well. Thanks for watching!
Nice! I was thinking about starting to hunt for grouse myself.. so I searched and found your channel. New Sub.
Thanks for the video
Highly recommend grouse hunting. It's got a fairly easy cost of entry and is quite fun. It can also be frustrating haha Thanks for the watch and the sub!
Thanks for all the tips! Even bonus tips!! I need to try to get one o' them grouse this year. These tips will help I'm sure!
Heck yeah! You make a video of you're grouse adventure and you can be sure I'll be watchin!
*Blake here*
so i flushed a grouse up from an area fall of last year and i was wondering if it would be near there again this year
Based on my experience I think you are right about the correlation between small bird activity and grouse activity. However, I have a long standing theory that seems to be supported over and over. I almost never see grouse in areas where I see small birds, or even blue jays. For whatever reason I have just noticed when I see all these other birds I do not see grouse. Maybe it's just a coincidence or maybe the small birds naturally are found in habitat that would be inhospitable to grouse.
Yeah, now that I think of it, I never see them together either. Maybe they're bitter enemies! haha But... if there's birds out in general, I will see grouse, just not in the same place
Hey man I'm in the Troutdale area and would love to join you for some grouse hunting if you would have me come out with you. Please let me know if you want to join up with me. I'm self employed so I am pretty open. Thanks and hope to her back from you.
Thanks man been a number of years since I went after them and didn't just happen upon them. Taking my grandpas old bird gun out this year for some fun. Bird hunting was grandpas favorite thing to do an he always had a good dog to go with.
Oh man that's awesome! Hope you get into some birds. Pretty special to get some with his old gun
@@CascadeBackcountry it's a special year, my youngest daughter just got her first deer tag so I thought while taking her out with me I'd pack the shotgun for birds and she could have any deer we come across. Grandpas old gun is a Browning light 12, semi auto made in 1969.....still in its original leather hard case with 24 and 28 inch barrels you can choose from.......still has the original keys for the leather hardcase in the original paperwork from when he bought it......grandpa kept everything in immaculate condition........it's more an honor than a privilege to be able to shoot it.......hope its a good year thanks again
Well as a daughter dad myself, I hope your kiddo gets herself a deer! Sounds about right the older generation would have equipment built to last AND take care of it. Hope you guys both get fill your tags! Great year indeed!
Always find it odd to see someone hunting grouse, without wearing blaze orange... Nice video.
- If you listen carefully, they'll often chirp (for lack of a better word) right before flushing
Blaze orange, at least where I live, is required during modern firearm season. Yeah I've hear that little "tweep" right before a flush haha
They call that "the peep". Generally that's a hen warning others there's danger and they usual flush not long after you're correct.
Opening day, my wife shot her first grouse with her little 28 gauge. She was so excited.
Nice! I bet carrying that 28 gauge is great
Wild Wintergreen patches are also good places to find grouse. They will also eat the mint berries that the plants produce.
Even grouse gotta have fresh breath!
All but gone in Western NY. I had very good times in the 70's and 80's. I have a 4 year old Boykin Spaniel that has never smelled a grouse. She's flushed pheasants and woodcock and broken numerous flocks of fall turkey. I miss grouse 'partridge' hunting.
I've gotten several comments about the lack of grouse in NY. Sad to hear
The grouse where I am just seem way smarter. I rarely catch any grouse during the season out in the open, ever. Even when walking quietly. I'll flush them like 80 yards away when they're hidden in the woods.
Maybe eating alder makes the grouse around here a little.... slow haha
Subbed. This will be my first season hunting. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks! Hope ya get into some birds!
@@CascadeBackcountry I do to. I'm from BC, and when I saw your video, I knew it was either BC or WA. Then I noticed you can pack heat, so, WA. Wish we could. I'm gonna use a 12g shotgun or a 22lr.
2:11 - while you are focusing on a UA-cam video, I hear a shot as someone gets a grouse. LOL too funny.
Yeah there were a few random gunshots... I'm sure something died 🤣
Good info! Thanks for sharing my friend 🤠
Thanks for watchin!
sounded like the hunger games 2:14
Haha yeah it did
I Just rip the quad Through the trails on my land and whenever i scare one i follow it to a tree and the 20 guage over under takes em out of the tree 🎉
That sounds like an awesome way to do it!
Watching this video after, went for my first time grouse hunting with a friend last week here in Manitoba. Got 2 ruffed and 1 spruce, and flushed up about 15! It did rain the day before, and did see lots of little birds. Stood around for 5 min in one stop while my buddy was bushwhacking and then one flew away from a 15 ft. spruce right beside me, so I guess that was his roosting spot.
Heck yeah! Sounds like you had a successful day. Grouse are kinda dumb sometimes and they'll just sit right next to you. They don't understand bullets 😆
Opening day starts to morrow in Colorado! Thank you for this video!
@ferrari_guy3570 heck yeah! I'm jealous. Ours used to be Sept 1st too 😭😭😭 Good luck!
Awesome video, thanks for the tips. From the Okanagan BC here. It will be my first hunting season. I plan to use a 22lr.
for 40 years now i have found grouse on old roads mostly grown over, and always in the midday range since i deer hunt dawn and dusk, I only hunt ruffed grouse around here though. i usually find 1 or 2 a year while deer hunting too, they explode out from below just before I step on them oblivious they are there until they take off..... i always hear my dad in my head.. " shoot the bottom one in the tree 1st and he will sit there watching his dead buddy fall letting you shoot him too but if I shoot the top one first he will scare the lower one away
Sounds like the kinda stuff they like! Yeah great tip haha definitely shoot the bottom one first!
I often get grouse on my way back. Sometimes I will walk in a road, come out and then do the same thing again and be successful. Good tips. Thanks.
Nice! They're such a great bird to hunt... not all that bright though haha
My go to method is walk slowly, stop for 10 seconds, walk another 5 paces, stop, walk fast, stop and always listen.
Great tactic! I think I mentioned this in a previous video but they all start to blend together haha
Good points. We have a lot of fields and dirt roads here, we walk them and if you see a apple trees you will find a bird 90% of the time, and I've noticed when they fly away after being spooked they circle back to the same spot a lot.
Oh yeah they love apple trees! I agree, they will often return to the same spot. Gotta keep an eye out on the way back to the car haha
Great video thanks
Thanks!
Habitat changes quickly. Never stop scouting.
Agreed!
OH! also, maybe want to add chapters to this video?
I don't even know how to do that! Haha
@@CascadeBackcountryyou put timestamps in description
I hunt southeastern Manitoba the last week of hunting noticed most the ones I got were filled with mulberries
Very nice!
Man, I was foraging Huckleberries during rain this fall and flushed like 3 grouse, scared the be jeezus out of me.
Grouse are the number one cause for people getting pacemakers cuz of all the heart attacks they cause 😆
@@CascadeBackcountry So you think if I know of a specific trail where I pick Huckleberries up by Lake Cle Elum, where I encountered three grouse, that it's unlikely they were only there for berries? I've hiked it multiple times and only encountered flushing them in rain.
Thank you sir, am so glad to have found your channel.
Heck yeah! Glad to have ya!
Rather than check the stomach, like all birds they have a -crop- which stores the recently consumed food. Easy to check that; Second the reason that local other birds are being seen is because it is likely that there is a "food" source which the grouse will also partake in, so those "other birds" indicate a food source ....berries, seeds, nuts, etc.; Lastly after a rain the birds will often come to two tracks to "dry out"....avoiding the drip from the trees, so this is a good time to walk the two tracks. The single biggest tip is finding food, unless it is dead of winter where buds are the primary food source. Find crab apple, wild apple, berries, and heavy growth of winter green berries....along with a water source not far away and if there are any grouse around this should be a target area. Lastly look up....grouse are famous for jumping up to a perch on a tall tree to "check you out"...while trying to shoot one that launched from a tall perch is nearly impossible, (unless you blast away as they sit there) sometimes you can walk right past them up in the tree. A dog is where grouse hunting takes on it's best experience, both retrieving and often pointing giving YOU the heads up that one is near by, but watching a good dog "work" the bird will change you hunting experiences forever.
Thanks for the tips! Question for ya! Let’s say you’ve found a spot that had some grouse, and you take some. If you’re not overzealous in your harvest, is it likely that you will always be able to return to the same area and take more, since you say they never travel far, probably from where they’re born?
In theory, that'd work, and it'd happen in real life too... just not super dependable. There are a lot of factors such as predation, winter kill off, food source, hare population, etc that could take out the last few birds... but also, they might not! Haha Thanks for watching and sorry if I just made that more confusing 😵💫
@@CascadeBackcountry All good! So the answer is 42 and maybe, lol…
@@HalcyonGuitars 42 and maybe sounds just about right! 😆😂
Accurate info. presented here based on my experience! Well done!
Thanks!!
I have that same bino harness😂
Nice!
Thanks for the tips, great video!
Heck yeah. Thanks!
I swear it's always RIGHT when I give up trying to find a bird that it flushes right in front of you lol. Love these birds. They are so simple yet the really do have what it takes to survive.
Yeah they can be real frustrating! Cool little creatures 😁
what gun choke tube to use?
Usually improved or modified
Do you know if the forest service roads along Blewitt pass are worth trying out? Just got introduced to Grouse hunting out past Tonasket and that’s a heck of drive living in the N Seattle area.
Yeah that is a long drive. I am not familiar with the Blewitt Pass area but I'm guessing any area in the Cascade foothills with logging roads will hold ruffed grouse!
Largest group of grouse I have ever seen was near Tonasket. A group of over 25 blues were in the road drinking out of a side hill spring. It was amazing to see! Of course season was not open yet! 🤨
Holy cow that's crazy!
Great video. Great tips thanks
Thanks!
Have hunted Washington state East & West for Grouse for 43 years always hit the woods September 1st. They changed our season to 15th.😢 nine more days!😊🐦💥
Very cool! Yeah, the season change they made a few years back is a bummer for us grouse hunters for sure. Apparently it's better for the grouse population. Either way... only a few days till grouse opener!
Thank you for your efforts! Excellent information and encouraging getting into the grouse hunting.
Heck yeah! Thanks for watching!
What a great 14 minutes of advice and information! I'll be honest, I initially skipped this video because I did my usual preview scrub-through and saw that it was mostly you talking to the camera. That's often a sign of long-winded explanations. But I just gave it a listen on a drive and highly recommend this for new grouse hunters and occasional hunters who'd like a review. You reinforce all the key points and add a few extra tips. Thanks for your time making this.
Thanks for giving it a shot! I try not to ramble on too much... but it happens to the best of us 😆
Great video, all great reminders for hunters new and old. I prefer hunting blues, they are a bit bigger and also tend to like high mountain hill sides in more open terrain. I will be in Okanogan county this fall with the 20 gauge Beretta single shot, might take a few rabbits while at it!
Keep up the great videos!
Thanks! I love the Okanogan. I spend a LOT of time there. I'll be out hunting blues myself this fall. Good luck out there!
i can't be bothered. since my wife declared they weren't worth eating, I agree; the juice ain't worth the squeeze. I don't even bring the .22 or 410 deer hunting any more.
Haha!
This is my first year hunting grouse in western Oregon. Love your videos. What ammo do you use? Lead or steel? Shot size? Choke selection?
You get any!? I generally use #7 or 8 steel shot with no choke or improved cylinder choke. A lot to unpack there for reasons but it's been working great for me for years
1:07
Like most game, (or animals in general) they are _crepuscular._
I just love that word!
That word is way outta my vocabulary range 😆
I find after a rain, grouse are usually likely to be out in the open, such as grassy paths.
I would very much agree with this!
@@CascadeBackcountry What's your favorite gun for grouse?
Tough question! I'd say the best gun is a 20 gauge but my favorite is probably a 22. Light and quiet. I just ordered a winchester wildcat but I haven't got a chance to try it out yet
@CascadeBackcountry Thanks for the reply. I recently purchased 20 ga. Winchester SXP. I am anxious to try it out, too! I upgraded from my old singleshot 410. Best of luck to you in the new season.
Newfoundland, Canada.
@sskyle227 nice! That'll work great! Good luck up there 😁
What size lead shot do you like for grouse ?
I like 7, 7.5 or 8
@@CascadeBackcountry thank you for answering. Do 7.5s penitrate the meat or just the head ?
@wendellbell6164 kinda depends. For example... if you're really close to the bird, you'll probably get more penaration. You usually get a few BBs in the breast, just gotta pick em out!
@@CascadeBackcountry I was just thinking depends if the wings are closed sitting on a branch or flying. I have mostly used #4. I am no good with shotgun but do quite well with rifle. My 20 gauge patterns pretty good with 7.5 and 4. Not so good with 6. Full choke
Well done!
Thanks!!
Growing up in Northern New England, patridge hunting was a right of passage. Didn’t have to sneak around the woods trying to be quite or sit still for hours at a time but always action packed. I lived in the Pacific NW and pursued them there with the same passion. Living in Montana and now a bit on the older side of life, I still find the same excitement arising after every flush.
Hunted them all over the country but non were better than where it all started!
Man I'd sure love to do a northeast grouse hunt sometime. Sounds like you got quite a bit of experience in lots of different habitats. Thanks for watching and good luck out there!
Any map or area close to Seattle like Snohomish island or up north county? Any suggestions
I'm not super familiar with the forests in the Seattle area. I have heard good things about the Capitol Forest near Olympia and I bet if you head up toward Everett/Marysville, into the Cascade foothills, you can find some old logging roads
Ill give some tips from 38years in this game:
Search trail intersections thoroughly
Find 5-15year old wildfire/logging clearcuts
Hunt edges. Swmp meeting forest, old growth meeting new growth
Focus on areas with a few large treesn water, food, and grit.
Good stuff! I will always take advice from someone with 38 years of experience!
@@CascadeBackcountry I hunt along the Canadian border in northern Minnesota. We have lots of birds and tins of logging I've been fortunate enough to chase old hatchet head for many many years around here.
From my 15 years and gotten close too 200 when walking I find a lot they are on corners so they can look both ways
@@shanegiggie yep. Trail intersections are key. The gf and I slammed 30 of them(full 2 person 3day limits) this last week in northern mn. The old 28ga side by sides were eating well.
Out here in south eastern New York the grouse population has disappeared. I hunted grouse with my father since I was like 6 or 7 and now I’m 62. Now when I hunt there is very little wild game to be seen other than chipmunks and squirrels. The red tail hawks have totally decimated the grouse and rabbit. Haven’t seen or heard a grouse in over 15 years. The pheasants that are stocked where I hunt are also getting picked off a few days after their release. I was out today and found remnants of 5 pheasants and only saw 1 live bird. I really miss the days of numerous grouse flushes in days hunt. I used to go through several boxes of shells in a season. Now a box of shells lasts 3 seasons! Sadly I’m losing interest in a sport I loved since before I could carry a gun. Everything in your video was spot on. Great presentation!
Lot of people there on the east coast. Sad to hear about the loss of grouse numbers and habitat. You ever head farther north? NH? Vermont? Maine? I've always wanted to do a grouse hunting trip in the far northeast! Thank you for watching!
Grouse ranges will change over time...old growth takes over and new younger stuff where there was none...change where you hunt....In northern Michigan new growth poplar trees one inch in diameter is thick and provides lots of bugs and berries and cover from hawks and fox, coyotes....timing is important tho, since early season nearly impossible to get shots. For two weeks after most leaf fall, it is great hunting until the birds move to winter areas such as swamp edges and conifer growth.
I have a 16 ga. Ranger that looks just like your shotgun.
Nice! I'm using a CZ Upland Ultralight
So Iv been hunting for years! But never got one haha last year I missed 4 with my 20g… and one the year before. My question is how far are you shooing them from? And what choke? I have a modified in my single shot Henry. But I’m going to try full this year. I missed one right in front of me…
Oh man, so close! I usually am shooting under 30 yards. I use a cylinder or improved cylinder choke so usually pretty open.
Always use full choke and what ammo are you using? I use #5 or 4 in mine holds a tight pattern and doesn't spread too much. It may seem like I'm bragging or I'm exaggerating but I am not, I got one 50 yards one time with a 4/10 #6 3 inch and 2 in one shot with my 20. Shot at one out of a tree went up and there was two laying there. It's like anything the more you do it the better you become!! Keep at it
@@shanegiggieI find that to be super overkill but obviously you can hunt with whatever you like I use improved cylinder or modified depending on how long my shots will be and just 7 1/2 shot and 8 shot. With modified 8s I have killed one off the ground from 40 yards cold but I wouldn’t trust it from much farther I’ve missed plenty off the track thinking they will flush early
I use an open choke with #7.5 but whatever works!
@@blueberryslayer7795 I've used them, I just find they spread too much and they don't bust through the brush like a 4 or 5.
Wild grape vines is good grouse habit I have found!!
Nice! Sounds right up a grouse's alley
Looks like you're in Hancock driving around.
I'm not sure where that is haha
Sumas mtn
Great video, thanks!
Thanks! Hope it helps!
Now to get them to flush in a direction my hawk can catch them
Whoaaaaa... for reals!?
@@CascadeBackcountry yep. we're not the greatest team out there but we have a blast
👍🇳🇴
Hello!
Can't wait to get out there! Best way I find them? On accident while hunting something bigger 😅
Yeah that sounds about right haha
Tip 6, the first year birds in the fall are better eating than the older birds. No. 7, in Alaska they will flock up in the winter. No 8, nothing eats Alder that I know of. Rabbits will starve rather than eat it. Maybe Western Cascades alder is different. Moose won't eat it. I have observed grouse on a willow tree 20 ft away eating the buds in the winter.
I don't eat alder either!