Got to hit the hills today for some grouse. We hunted a new area, found a few birds, and brought a few home for supper! Of course they will be the main course! I bagged 2 blues and 2 ruffies, in about 5 miles of hiking. Was a beautiful day, but the rain last night really made for a wet morning. Every time I went into a thicket of trees, I got soaked. At least it wasn’t too cold.
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I am very jealous! I thought about it all day today. I can’t wait till this coming week so i can get out and try for some. Were you on Monte Cristo or the Uinta’s?
We were over by Monte.
I went out this evening, got a couple shots off at a few birds. Nothing special. Some big monster blues were the target.
Wow, great work TKB! Looks like you had yourself a great opener. Question is what the heck did you hit that far right one with? 50 caliber?
Got a little anxious and shot a too early on him! He took it Shawshank Redemption style! I also shoot a Wad Wizzard Choke tube, and it really keeps a tight dense pattern.
He sure did take it Shawshank style.
Hey TKB it looks like you found what went looking for. Nice mixed bag. That one ruff looks a little weird. Does it only have one leg?
Maybe you were a little excited. I’m glad you had a good trip. gshorthair
I’m jealous too! I went out that day as well, tried a new area that I had never been to before (Bennie Creek area of Payson Canyon) and hiked about 5 miles as well, but I didn’t see a single bird nor a sign of birds anywhere!!!
Won’t try there again, that’s for sure.
Hopefully in a couple of weeks I can hit some of my producer areas.
Anyone ever shot grouse in Payson Canyon?
I’m assuming he was born with 2 He only had one left when I picked him up…
Killer,
They all look like ruffs to me.
I thought the same thing with the birds I shot one was twice the size of the other three but it still was a ruff.
Pete
Here is some pictures. I will post the photos of mine shortly.
Ruffed Grouse.
Blue Grouse.
Attached is the ones I shot on the 9th.
http://javascript:ol(‘http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1LmPLmC9HXTY5Lv9xKpw38L26FINRkABicH2COMstiwTisXH5zjIIUXnPhE6QCcw*5V0z0l5tk1MA24’);
They can be a little tricky sometimes…The big one on the left was a very nice adult, yellow patch above the eye and all, his buddy next to him was in the same group…just a baby this year, but still substantially larger then the ruffies. If I would have fanned the tails it would have been a better pic. The 2 ruffies were adults, so you can see the size difference.
The easiest way to tell if they are ruffed or blues is by the tail, specifically by the band along the tip of the tail.