Suggestions for Forest Grouse hunting

[c01]

Hello,

It is forest grouse season in Washington State and I am looking for a few pointers on how to best approach hunting them.  I have hunted pheasant,sage grouse ect but am eager to get out and work the dog and get outdoors. Beyond finding a forest and a water source is there any other criteria to narrow the hunt? I have heard that they prefer new growth forest but it was just a passing tip. Thank you and all replies are welcome.
Have a nice day

D Avery

[Dave H20 Fowl]

I find that the best places to hunt grouse in western Washington is in the cover along creeks and lakes, along old logging roads where the grouse frequent for gravel, and in the berry patches in the alpine areas.  Newer growth forests are good because of the larger amounts of food and cover.  I find that grouse hunting is about finding that happy medium of hunting cover that is heavy enough to hold grouse and still not too heavy to get a shot at a flushing bird.  I have been frustrated by flushing birds repeatedly that you just can't see.  If you're running a dog, alpine berry patches are probably your best bet.  In the heavy stuff my dog finds birds well within range, I can't see the dog or the flushing birds.  I'm hoping to go this Friday when the temps are suppose to be in the 60's vs the 80's we are having this weekend.
Best of luck, let us know how you do.
Dave

[c01]

Thanks Dave. Went opening weekend and your right,I am going to have to moderate the cover because birds flushed in too thick of cover. I am new to the Spokane area so I will just hit and miss until I find some good areas. It was still alot of fun even though my dog is wondering what I'm doing.
Thanks and Ill post when I find some better areas.
D Avery

[c01]

A work buddy of mine gave me a tip that the Mt. Adams area is,"Grouse City."  I will be taking my dog down there this weekend to discover if any of the residents are home.  If anybody has any hints on this area I would be greatly interested.
Thanks

D Avery

[jrlinz]

I sure miss grouse hunting.  Do you use a dog?  I would like a Llewellin Setter or German Shorthaired with me in the thick stuff.

[c01]

Sorry so late on the follow up. I use a female German Shorthair. It's her first year and I think she is doing great. Very good at Pheasant and Quail but still  has'nt put it together for Forest Grouse yet. To many species to hunt? Not sure because she is so young.
D

[Don Fischer]

c01,

It will probally take a bit for your dog to figure out grouse but once she does she'll be hell on the other birds. Grouse do not allow a dog the liberties other birds do. A dog does not get away with pushing a grouse. A good grouse dog is a beautiful thing to see. One little hint tho. Do not shoot birds she doesn't handle well. You don't kick it up, don't shoot. Unless of course you want her out of hand. Grouse is one tuff bird on a pointing dog. I used to do well with my springers but the dogs were always in range. When I started with shorthairs, I was in Alaska and pigeons were hard to come by so her and I just stumbled our way thru grouse. She was absolutely death on chukars, quail, huns and phesants after learning on grouse.

[steve66]

dont know what kinda forest you have down there but i find up here the best forest to find them in is birch(particularily yellow birch), oak, iron wood, and spruce, the spruce providing the cover the rest providing the food.  POPLAR is also an excellent place to hunt them

[lucky guy]

c01,

It will probally take a bit for your dog to figure out grouse but once she does she'll be hell on the other birds. Grouse do not allow a dog the liberties other birds do. A dog does not get away with pushing a grouse. A good grouse dog is a beautiful thing to see. One little hint tho. Do not shoot birds she doesn't handle well. You don't kick it up, don't shoot. Unless of course you want her out of hand. Grouse is one tuff bird on a pointing dog. I used to do well with my springers but the dogs were always in range. When I started with shorthairs, I was in Alaska and pigeons were hard to come by so her and I just stumbled our way thru grouse. She was absolutely death on chukars, quail, huns and phesants after learning on grouse.

Don,

I notice we're not too far apart, I'm in Sisters.  I drive through Antelope a couple of times a year.  Are you finding many grouse this year?  I'm seeing a few but not alot.

I was interested in what you said about dogs learning to hunt grouse. I have a 5 mo old English Setter that's just starting.  I'll hunt quail and pheasant with him this year, maybe chukar if he's up to it late in the season. 

Glenn

[oleman]

 Don't have any grouse down here in south Louisiana, but my niece(yep female) hunts them in Northeast. She told me the next best thing to a good dog is a GPS. They mark every flush. Seems the birds use the same area every year. I would guess it helps with the leg work also.

    Oleman
    Baker, La.