[QUOTE=Dean Romig;278160]Not the case in some areas but in many it depends on how far you’re willing to get from the “tried and true” crowd-pleasing producers that just don’t produce after the first week of bird

Dean, not that far, believe me. After almost 40 years of Hunting/Guiding in Pittsburg, NH, I can say that most hunters are intimidated by the big woods and will not venture more that 200 yards max off the traveled roads. Get back a bit more, and you would be amazed at the birds you will find.

Oh, I know. Same in the NEK.





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I like to carry a Parker while grouse hunting, but agree with Steve it is "legs that kill the birds"

i have never even seen a live grouse but enjoy listenings to the tails of the hunt you guys do....charlie

I hunted the Pittsburg area for quite a few years. It always amazed me that most folks seemed to just walk the roads/trails. That never suited my style and we trekked cross country seeing lots of birds and very, very rarely another hunter.

I'll put in my two cents on this subject. I've hunted grouse more than 40 years now. I've hunted in north west CT. through the 80's and 90's when it was typical to flush a dozen birds per day. Since the introduction of the turkeys the grouse have virtually disappeared. Same goes now, for the Catskills. A lot of the killing in northern New England come from the locals that just shoot them off the road and then complain that there aren't as many as there used to be.
CT performed a study a few years back and counted only 17 birds in the entire state. Their answer is clear cutting, but that wont bring birds if there aren't any around. when asked if they would bring in birds form another state the answer was no.

Louis, I know to a lot of folks "road hunting" for grouse in New England is not to there liking. But please keep in mind local tradition is important and criticizing the practice does nothing but divide the hunting community. I was raised "road hunting" and although I not longer hunt that way I have no problem with others doing so. Grouse have a very high mortality rate and you cannot "stockpile" them. Most biologists will tell you that hunting has very little, if any effects on the overall grouse population. Good habitat and conducive spring weather is what dictates a healthy grouse population. I know I will get the ire of members here for my comments, but this is what I believe.

I agree with you Steve. There’s nothing wrong with road hunting - as long as it’s done on foot. Another New England tradition in certain ‘off the beaten path’ localities is shooting grouse from the open window of a car or truck. And though acceptable in some remote circles, it is a highly illegal, not to mention unethical, practice. In the enthusiasm of one guy I met several years ago in northern VT, he told me where I could go to shoot a lot of birds this way without getting caught. I simply told him that I have too much respect for the law, the grouse, and myself to ever consider doing it.

Road hunting and “ground swatting” are legal methods of putting birds in the bag.... if that’s all you want...





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In earlier times, with a Parker, with a Dog, on Foot, in the Grouse woods. The way it should be.

Best, Chris
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