5 Factors For More Ruffed Grouse

Water Can Be The Connecting Point:

4. Water is not considered an essential when seeking prime grouse hunting as they can extract the necessary liquid from the foods they eat. However, water can be the key the growing those foods that the grouse prefer such as berries. The edges of water have always been particularly of interest when I venture out for a day of grouse hunting. Many people say that ruffed grouse, partridge as we choose to call them, will not form coveys but may hold very small family groups at different periods of the year. Some of my most productive grouse hunting has been along the shores of a bay or lake walking just inside of the trees where we flushed coveys of birds, sometimes as many as 20, in a single small area. I won’t argue with the experts about coveys but a group of birds that large would certainly be a big family group. And this has same scenario has repeated itself in numerous areas practically all very near to large water sources. Water also provides a larger source of insects which is another menu item that the partridge will eat when possible.

Slow And Easy:

5. There are probably some grouse hunters out there reading this wondering why on earth the use of trained dogs hasn’t been mentioned. There’s a single good reason. I have never hunted grouse with dogs. Plain and simple. I believe it’s important to speak of which you know or have experienced rather than try to play a role for the sake of an article. However. I have put on many miles on the boots and can tell you that wandering through the woods like it’s just another day picking morels is probably going to make you wish you were looking for morels rather than partridge which ultimately sounds like one hell of a good meal.

When hunting grouse without the aid of a dog you will find yourself in a slow hunting mode. Think more like stalking your game at a slow but progressive pace. If you’re in grouse country you’re likely to flush a bird or two before you understand that you’re probably moving too fast or not anticipating the flush. Adapting has a relatively short learning curve when speaking in terms of your pace but training your eye to pick a grouse out of the woods can be challenging. Often you will catch the bird shifting or moving slightly before it bursts to the sky. For those grouse that hold tight you’re likely to notice the shape of the grouse’s head before realizing the entire outline or body mass of the bird. One thing you will realize is the need to scan the area back and forth liberally like radar searching for a new signal. Pay particular attention to those spots that have similar qualities to places where you have taken birds in the past. The recipe for success often repeats itself.

During my walks I try to avoid a lot of walking and stopping as this motion tends to put the animal on alert and trigger the panic and flight response. Again a good slow walk will typically work best. Keep your ears trained also as often you can hear a partridge running through the leaves. And I do mean running. Before the bird begins to run it may begin a low peeping sound which is a dead giveaway that a very nervous bird is nearby. A partridge strutting like a chicken is also a sign that the bird is likely to take to the air. You’re not waiting for that perfect broadside shot here so, unless you prefer shots at flying birds, it’s time to shoot.

And it’s time for me to head out for a quick walk this evening to get a flush count from the property. After limited hunting in this immediate area and some minimal changes in land structure the grouse right out the backdoor are growing in numbers. Now that’s great news to my ears!

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