Steelflight, could you get access to a 20 or 28 gauge with a more open choke? Even a light 12 gauge?

So glad you’re getting out for the greatest hunting out there!

A full choke .410 is a tough way to shoot a flushing grouse.

 

A full choke .410 is a tough way to shoot a flushing grouse.

You are not wrong but it's what I got. I'll get the groove back and have success pics by this weekend. I'm just glad grouse are simple minded birds.

 

0 for 2 even seeing mountain grouse the first 2 times out. Third time out, 3 birds with 4 shots. Go figure. Missed another shot at another grouse who wisely got up with a tree between us and by the time I got myself in the right spot, I didn't set up well and missed. But that's exactly grouse hunting.

 

Apparently I must learn my shot gun better. I had shots on grouse the opening day and was left empty handed on both. Spent quite a bit of time scratching my head and conducting a thorough search pattern for the road runners distant cousin but I was left as empty handed and clueless as wiley coyote himself. Still a fun outing. I shoot a .410 new england pardner with a full choke. So my thought is I was to close for a spread pattern and missed completely. #6shot

Would love to here how everyone else has done this year?

I prefer my .410s with full choke. Remember that is a full choke pattern at 25 yards, not 40 yards.

 

Apparently I must learn my shot gun better. I had shots on grouse the opening day and was left empty handed on both. Spent quite a bit of time scratching my head and conducting a thorough search pattern for the road runners distant cousin but I was left as empty handed and clueless as wiley coyote himself. Still a fun outing. I shoot a .410 new england pardner with a full choke. So my thought is I was to close for a spread pattern and missed completely. #6shot

Would love to here how everyone else has done this year?

Were these pointed or flushed grouse?

A .410 is a niche cartridge, imo and a narrow niche it is.
Regardless, better days ahead.....there most always are.👍

 

Were these pointed or flushed grouse?

A .410 is a niche cartridge, imo and a narrow niche it is.
Regardless, better days ahead.....there most always are.👍

Flushed sir right from my feet. Lol

 

410 for grouse is challenging, but it's a blast.

 

A .410 is not for me but a ruffed grouse is a fragile bird for it's size...it must be satisfying to see one cartwheel to the forest duff.

 

Loving the stories and passion. Blast straight fellas.

 

Well either way, you’ll soon be reading about dogs, bird guns, obsessing over aspen stands, etc. I have lots of hobbies, but only one keeps me up at night, happily staring at the ceiling waiting until sunrise.

I usually use a 20 gauge over/under with cylinder and skeet chokes until the leaves are down. We have two vizslas, one of which is semi-retired.

Money was tight growing up, but opening day was a holiday. I used a single shot 20 gauge H&R until I finally got to use my great grandpa’s Ithaca 20 gauge Model 37. For me that was a revelation.

It has been too warm here for good hunting, but we found a few near water last weekend:




mobile phone off emoticons

 

Well either way, you’ll soon be reading about dogs, bird guns, obsessing over aspen stands, etc. I have lots of hobbies, but only one keeps me up at night, happily staring at the ceiling waiting until sunrise........

Yes, hopefully soon.
Heart cath on Friday and plan to be in the Yoop next Thursday.....I am as birdy as my Gordon.

Safe season to all!

 

Not grouse related, but .410. I hunt rabbits hard. I use a .410. I've found my best patterns to be with modified choke. I shoot 3" 6 shot. Those patterns are at 30 yds which is what I limit my shots too

 

I also prefer modified in my 410's, like 3" #6, and keep shots under 30yds. I'd say most of my shots are in the 15-25yd range when I'm in the timber.

 

This season was my first grouse hunt.
Opening day? We had a nice walk and a few flushed deep in the woods.

You need to know where the birds are, at the time of the season and at the time of day. Then you have to be in a place where you have any kind of shot. We had grouse flush as we passed through brush where ... let's just say the bathroom in the cabin had more room to swing a shotgun than when those flushed.

The first few birds where I had a shot I knew I was behind the bird. I couldn't swing fast enough.

I did NOT shoot the Brown Thrasher that my dog flushed. It's a very large and pretty ground bird, but doesn't sound at all like a grouse. On the plus side, I had never seen a brown thrasher before.

There was a comical situation where the dog flushed four turkeys, a few of which flew up and roosted above us. The dog was insulted and let them know his feelings with some expressive barking.

I did NOT get lost in the Cheaquamegon National Forest. I swear, we went down a hill 100 yards with our back to the sun after a bird. We walked 50 yards, then went back up the hill straight into the sun. The logging road did NOT look right! But it had to be! Leave the wide trail, go down hill, turn around and come back up, that wide trail has to be ours.

Discretion being the better part of valor, and noticing the trail was curving, I backtracked. Good move. We found our trail. The dog looked smug. I looked down the trail and saw... our parked car.

I had managed to not get lost 100 yards from where we parked the car. I felt good about my caution and was reminded just how easy it is to misplace yourself in the dense woods.

Oh, we got one bird! It was cooked up, shared with my wife, and declared delicious. I consider that a successful first week of learning how to grouse hunt. People tell me it's slightly easier after the leaves fall from the trees.

Opening day? Heck no. But I got one that week and now I know. Grouse hunting is special.

Since pheasant hunting is 30 minutes from my house, and grouse hunting is about 4-5 hours, we'll go again next year. But until then, the king of the prairie will keep us happy.

 

that's awesome Pete glad i'm reading about in missing persons.

 

Steelfight,
Many a sportsman has lost the opening day Grouse shot, not surprising at all. I have an old Savage O/U, DT/DH gun we Grouse hunt with every now and then, when we are feeling arrogant, choked M/F. Very challenging Grouse hunting with that old gun. Have only shot 2 Grouse in 50 years of hunting with that gun, it mostly get used for dog training. Try using a 28 gauge double gun choked IC/M, with RST 1 oz Pigeon shells or B&P 15/16 oz Shells, you will have a lot better probability of shooting your Grouse. When you get serious about Grouse hunting pick up a nice L.C. Smith 16 gauge double gun, use some RST SpredR shells in her and your Grouse shooting percentage will go up for sure.
Good luck with your Grouse hunting!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man
Pine Creek Penny with a nice Grouse taken with the modern 28 gauge L.C. Smith.

 

Appreciate your kinds words and guidance. I have this particular gun because one I wanted the challenge of .410. Two budget constraints were a big factor. But you know I may very likely get another shot at some point. Untill then I'm having a great time.

Got out way late this last Friday. Had an amazing time but no flushing birds to be had. Here on the Wasatch front they have dogs out right band from the public land. So I'm stalking the whole way.

 

First thing is, you gotta go where the birds are.

 

The 42 strikes again!

 

....and artfully displayed, too.👍

 

And again this morning!

Better lucky than skilled anyway!