Do you mean advice from someone that has hunted them in New Mexico? I have never hunted them there, but I have hunted them in a few other states.

I hunt them mainly because of where they are, and it is a bird you can hunt starting Sept 1 here. I like hunting in the mountains. They can be amazingly easy or near impossible. It is a beautiful sight to be hunting along the side of a steep mountain and have a dozen or so get up and go sailing down the mountain.

Where I have hunted they usually are called Blue grouse. Now days I think some biologist make a distinction between Dusky and Sooty grouse.

The only thing I would mention that I have always thought interesting is the Blue grouse go higher up the mountain in a conifer forest as the weather gets colder and the snow comes. In warm weather they may be found where open country meets forest.

Good success on your hunt.

__________________________

"To the contrary, it is now clear that it is the courts that threaten our liberty-the liberty to govern ourselves-more profoundly than does any legislature." __ former solicitor general Robert Bork

 

Appreciate the response , I would love to hear from someone who has hunted them in New Mexico. I knew the odds weren't great so I'll take any advise from anyone who has hunted them. Last year I hunted chickens/ sharp tails up by Valentine NE for the first time. There's a lot more information out there on that hunt. I just want to hunt something in September, besides dove. The mountain aspect was a big draw too.

 

Westok, I haven't hunted them in New Mexico but I have hunted the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. Similar terrain and habitat that you'll find in western New Mexico. Here in AZ you need to be at 8000-9000 feet in elevation to find them. My strategy was easing along old abandoned logging roads and openings at first light or early mornings on north or east facing slopes. Look for them not only on the ground but also sitting on low tree branches. They aren't the smartest birds, at least not the ones I've encountered, as relatively few hunters pursue them here. At times I've been able to walk within several feet of them before they flushed especially if they are up in a tree. Try to approach them from a direction that will cause them to flush towards the open and away from the trees. Good hunting and enjoy the cool mountain mornings.

P.S. keep in mind that early September is still in the monsoon season in New Mexico and the afternoon thunderstorms can get quite active with lots of lightning and heavy rain. You don't want to be caught on the side of the mountain if one should roll in on you and they can develop quickly at this time of the year.

 

Cg504 I appreciate the information, I'm gonna be happy to be trying a new species in a beautiful area. Hopefully I get to at least see a few. I did a dyi prairie chicken hunt on mckelvie up by valentine NE last fall. I walked the bottoms off my boots but finally found a few. That is a very interesting area, that I'll go back to someday. Those things definitely don't hand around lol. Thanks for the help. I'll update on my hunt later.

 

Talked the the New Mexico bird biologist, who seemed like a really nice young lady btw. She recommended units 51 or 52. So I think I'll hunt between Espanola and Chama. I'm using google earth and hill map to find areas that look promising. I only have a full day to hunt although I can scout the day before season. Since I'm short on time I'm trying to find an area where I don't have to hike forever to get in bird areas. Worst case scenario I'm in beautiful country and birdless.

 

Good hunting. Let us know how it goes, with pictures if you can.

 

I too am looking to hunt Duskies or blues, whatever you prefer to call them. Looking at Arizona around opening day. Have been told white mountains or San Fran Hills . Don't want to hijack your thread, but it seemed like a like minded conversation, as I have also hunted chickens and sharpies in NE.

 

Trevijazz, I didn't see that you had posted on here. You're not hijacking my post. I'll tell you i got a lot more info on the Nebraska hunt just because it's more common. I loved that area and hunt, the only negative was I hate to shoot things I'm not going to enjoy eating. Let me know how you're hunt goes, I'll post about mine too. Good or bad

 

Westok;

Let me know how things go. I am trying to put together a NM Dusky/Blue Grouse hunt as well. I probably won't get out there till October, though. That may be too late. We'll see. I am looking at an area around Santa Fe.

OklaMike

 

I'll definitely post how mine goes

 

Got to hunt Sunday near Chama NM. Found a group of 5 grouse. Got 1 , combination of bad shooting heavy brush and a nearby busy dirt road kept me from limiting. Beautiful country beautiful birds. I'll definitely go back to hunt duskys again.

 

I was camping and hiking in the Santa Fe National Forest in the middle of August. We saw several small coveys. (If coveys is the correct term.) Very cool birds. It was the first time I had seen them. We didn't have to look too hard. We were on the trails most of the time. We also saw half a dozen on the roads. Good luck with he hunt.

 

Adirondack we didn't see near that many, was that west of las Alamos or east of Santa Fe. I'm gonna try to sneak back out there

 

That was east of Santa Fe.