Last year was an outstanding year both in the Valley and east of the Cascades.  The good weather suggests, to me, that we are in for another bumper crop.  If nothing else, I can confirm a bumper crop of ticks in the Valley already!

Giving up the 12 gauge pump this year to try out a new NEF single shot 20 guage.  I figure if I can take a grouse with a rock, a 20 guage should do just fine.

studdog,
       Seems like most folks I've talked with here in North Idaho shoot grouse with a .22, just a few with the shotgun. But we had a lot last year too. My little boy and I tried to sneak up on one and watch it drumming once, but it was in a pretty dense thicket and we never could see it.   ID

__________________
IDShooter

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

studdog - I have a ruger semi-auto 22 cal. rifle , can't remember the mod #, and it makes a great  grouse gun. For a while I had a scope on it, but then switched to a peep w/ fiber optic front sight. This is alot of fun, and I've always felt that it helped me tune up for deer hunting. Try it, and match the sighting system to that on your deer  or elk rifle.  I take it that your grouse in the west are about as unsuspecting as those we have in northern Maine. By the way, use the hollow points, and absolutely avoid body shots. I shoot for the base of the neck where it starts to widen out .  Head shot will kill em, but I always worry about possibility of just hitting their beak if they move alittle. Ground shots only, and no dogs.
Our grouse are "ruffed grouse" and we call them "partridges". Spruce grouse are a protected specie in Maine.

__________________
See ya, Guy

"Out of work and hungry?...eat an environmentalist."

We primarily have Ruffed and Blue, but there are Spruce and Sage as well.  The Sage require a permit to hunt.  Some people here do use a .22, but it isn't legal.

Yes, some are quite stupid--the one I killed with a rock last year was.  She stood in the middle of the road, while I chucked rocks at her.  Finally smacked her on the third attempt!  That probably isn't legal either, but in the middle of a rural subdivision, what choice do you have?

North Idaho has a dramatic increase in drive-by-shootings every fall.  Seems the perpitrators use .410 bores and .22's for their weapons of choice.  This phenomenon happens every year beginning 01 September, we call it grouse season!

All too true, most grouse in the Panhandle are killed by folks driving around on old logging roads looking for grouse, then pot them sitting in the road.  Very effective, but all too few people get out and enjoy grouse hunting the the true sense of the word.  Most are killed by heater-hunters!

We're in for a great season this year, as I've seen more springtime grouse these last couple of weeks, than I've seen in several years.  The winter was kind to them, so we should have a great batch of young, stupid victims to prey upon!  

God Bless,

Marshall

__________________
Marshall
Romans 1:16



Beartooth: A Bullet Worth Waiting For!

Good call, Marshall! Nothin' chaps my hide as much as a "heater hunter". Down here in Ca. heaters are an accessory, only A.C. is standard. just kiddin'. Our Sierran winters are long and a little chilly. I am a crazy grouse hunter. Mostly 'cause there ain't too many fools dumb enough to hunt 'em around here. Locally,we have Blue Grouse and White-tailed Ptarmigan. The grouse playground is above 6000', the ptarmigan's 9000'+. The seasons are short, with few opportunities to shoot. Last year we walked near 8 miles to claim 7 birds between my partner and myself. Those were Blues. Ptarmigan score was somethin' like birds 12, hunters 0. Down here they like to fly from peak to peak. I know they're breedin' well, 'cause I witnessed hens with chicks at my favorite Golden trout lake. Maybe this year I'll connect. The truth is I don't really care; just like bein' out there.
                                Best, mike