Russ,
I wish you the best with your hunt. I do a lot of walking for the few birds I get in the winter. I often say I am basically going for a walk but taking a shotgun along just in case. Our forest is too mature in general and we have a lot of steep ground where most people just won't venture. I take ny walks up hill and down and we get a few.
My part of Alaska is not known for good Ruffed Grouse hunting in fact thay just started getting established here strating 19 years ago. Our limit is two whereas in the northern part of the state limits can be as high as 15.
Last year I think that we got three birds dutring the whole winter. This year is off to a great start with five birds located and shot over the last five weekends in five different areas.
I encourage you to keep walking; like us you may not get many but hopefuylly you will get some. In my case the dogs love it and each bird is a unique and essentailly rare expereince. I will think of you the next time I am out.
My young dog Shinne is doing well which is a pleasure for me. Shine got his first Ruffed Grouse in Alberta Canada in the last few days of September and I just saw today that Bob Brown just posted a picture of it in photo Friday. It was pleasure for me. I did not know there was a picture of that dog's first wild bird experience. It was a short bird hunt; I had gone to look for Grouse with Bob's friend Brett while Bob picked Rich Flanders up at the airport. It was late and we got to hunt less than 30 minutes and had the great good fortune to find and harvest my dog's first Ruffed Grouse.
Again I wish you the best finding birds. I may get out and look for some myself this weekend by exploring a new area. Probably it will be just a walk, but I will carry a nice light gun and one can always hope to find oner more elusived Ruffed Grouse.
All the birds I do get have the meat go to the table but the crop and various other parts go to the local unvirsities and a project to ascertain what these birds are eating, where there located, etc. This is sponsered in part by our local Ruffed Grouse Society.
Trigg
Trigg
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