A one grouse day

Richard Flanders · 10-07-2011, 11:02 PM

Spent the day exploring my favorite ruffed grouse covers in the forest south of town. Used my inherited VHE-20 and vintage Winchester and Remington paper ammo. Didn't see a lot of birds but, based on the feather piles along the logging road pullouts, see that there's been a lot of grouse killing going on, at least 99% of which is from road hunters sluicing them on the road. I managed one spruce grouse; note the wicked looking velociraptor-like claws on that bad boy! Good thing they don't weigh 100#; they'd jump US and take us home for dinner! Having Triggs GSP along sure would have helped but he's in Michigan hunting Ruffies with RGS folks.... At least the ruffed grouse population is way up from the past few years.

We're out for a day duck hunt tomorrow. I flew over yesterday and see that most of the lakes are frozen over there so the birds are concentrated on the river and in the unfrozen lake centers. Could be a very good day of shooting.

Dean Romig · 10-08-2011, 06:16 AM

A good hunt Rich.

It's interesting to note that the feet on your Spruce Grouse don't look at all like the feet of the Ruffed Grouse.

C.O.B. · 10-08-2011, 07:31 AM

I feel bad for Trigg hunting here this week as it's been exceptionally warm. Upper 70's and low to mid 80's

Yesterday at 3pm the bank temp was 86 and at 6am it was 58

ch · 10-08-2011, 07:56 AM

What a neet bird. Suppose there that way to dig through snow froze vegation to find food. Good luck on the ducks

Richard Flanders · 10-08-2011, 10:36 AM

COB: I spoke with him two days ago and he said the same. They were in Grand Rapids and headed for the U.P. yesterday early but will be hunting somewhere in between on the way.

Bob Brown · 10-09-2011, 01:19 PM

I hope Trigg's hunt goes well. Good to see you're getting out alot Richard. Very nice 20 there. Amazingly warm temperatures. I'm leaving northern Alberta today to visit family in Winnipeg. Going to do some duck and goose hunting in the Delta marsh and George Lake with my father. Something we haven't done since I was in my teens more than 35 years ago. The other day it was the warmest October day on record since they started keeping track. Almost 31 celcius (88F).

charlie cleveland · 10-09-2011, 03:23 PM

good hunting fella s... charlie