New To Grouse Hunting Options

[turkey duster]

Hi, I am interested in getting into grouse hunting. However, I do not have a dog so I have stayed away from it for a long time.

The other day, a friend of mine was telling me that he hunts without a dog by walking along old stone fences and flushing the grouse.

Is there anyone out there who also hunts grouse without a dog? How successfull are you at it and what is your hunting stratigy.

I would appreciate any help...

[montanaelkslayer]

The way I have found a ton of grouse has been while I am out archery elk hunting. While walking switchbacks, trails and such grouse are just standing along the trails or right off of them. Once I see em I shoot em with my bow. They are a great addition to dinner that night in camp, after a long day of elk hunting. You dont need a dog at all to hunt grouse. I have found grouse high in the mountains and low in the valleys using the trails. Good luck to ya.

[T.S128]

i never hunt them with dogs, unless im at my friends house. I ususally just walk where i think they will be. you should be able to find them by any dirt roads, old railroad grades or logging roads. The birds like to come out and eat the gravel to help digest their food. I either walk on the roads or in the woods next to them. Or just walk on trails in the woods look for brush piles or old logs. A lot of the times you see them sitting on the logs sunning themselves. hope i helped. good luck

[dkhntrdstn]

Just do like what this other guys have said. You dont need a dog to hunt them. Just walk in dead fall and place you think there in an djust walk and they will run in front of you or flush. I hunted them with out my dog and last year i took her out for the first time hunting grouse na dwe got a couple birds. so juts go walk and you will find them. good luck.

[RiverRat77]

You can do it without a dog, the key is just learning where the grouse will be. I shot all of my blue grouse and most of my Ruffs last year without hunting over a dog. I will be hunting without a dog again this year too. The bad thing about being dogless is that it seems like Ruffs have a tendency to run on you, so you really have to get up on them before they flush. TS is right... they will be around logs that they can stand on and "drum". I've also found them around aspens or low growing berry bushes. If you can find young aspens, berry bushes and water all in pretty close proximity, there should be grouse around. I really wish I could get back east and hunt some old apple orchards or old stone property walls type of environment like that for grouse... sounds like some cool spots to hunt.

[ccoutdoorlife]

i grew up in west virginia and there were a lot of ruffed grouse there ten years ago. my dad and i used to have alot of fun hunting them. i'm not sure if there are as many as before but i know that around my area of north carolina there are not any that i have seen. its really sad when you stop and think about it.

[TheRo0sTer]

Last season I hunted them without dogs. Food, Water and Shelter are the key to finding Grouse. Shelter belts, near ponds, creeks or rivers and food are bound to hold them near. We have a huge millet field I hunted from opener to closing and got grouse often.

This post has been edited by TheRo0sTer: Apr 19 2007, 12:24 AM

[fog ducker]

I dont hunt with a dog here all I have to do is run down a few old roads they seem to hold alot of grouse.The grouse numbers seem to hit a high last year seen lots of them,but with the winter we had this year there wont be as many this year.Remember grouse dont go far when they flush if you look around you should find them in about 30-50 yards.

[nyturkeyduster]

I've never hunted them with dogs either, we have alot of grouse where and live and go to school. I walk old snowmobile trails and logging trails most of the time. I took 14 last fall just walking trails and being ready when they flush. Good luck.

[tgsturg]

I have done both. Without dogs you have to do a little more hiking. But with dogs it’s a little easier. I have two Brits and an English setter and for me it’s so much more fun to watch the dogs work than just walking a trail looking and waiting for the grouse to jump. I am from VA and just got back from a hunting trip to Wisconsin where dogs where a definite need because it was so thick. But on average we where jumping about 15 birds a day. It was awesome compared to VA where we on a good day might just three.