I've hunt blues in Colorado as well. With my bow during archery elk hunts. Not quite as wary a bird as the ruffed but just as good eating imho.

I've hunted Ruffed Grouse In the North East Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky. They are hard to find, but when you do, they are pretty plentiful in numbers. I once killed a double which my dad had never seen done. One of the finest eating game birds in my opinion!

Hunted Northern Ontario for them in 1997, four days of one my hunts. Limited out (5) every day and saw or heard over 200 birds. Shooting a spanish made 28 gauge, SxS full and full. Shooting grouse is instinct shooting at its finest, you have from one to three seconds to pull it off and several times I blew pine needles to smithereens. Along with an Elk hunt, this might have been my most enjoyable hunt ever.
Scenery was beautiful and weather was perfect. Good dog work along with a great guide, an Indian kid who could hear better than any person I've ever known. He would hear and locate birds in a dense forest of trees that I would never have known was there, had it not been for him. Oh yeah !! We walked 8 or so miles a day.
Bad news there now for dog men because of the wolves, we saw tracks while we were there but no wolves, plenty of bears around also.

P.S. I missed a blue grouse on the ground at 10 feet ( twice ) and is a memory I won't forget. He wouldn't fly and as far as I know, he is still up there , so go get him. You won't be sorry.

They're not bright that's for sure. I use a .22 about a week before Elk season. But not in the same area.

Never hunted blues before but if I head out west I'll try them. Same with sage grouse! Dog would love it!

What your pup would really love is wild bobwhite quail. They're still my favorite.

I've hunt Bobwhites in Nebraska before about 3 years ago. I had a blast. As my dog was retrieved a pheasant she went on point with a rooster in her mouth. Unprepared and unsure I called for her and sure enough a large covey flew up out of the corn! Awesome site! This past year Pheasant hunting along the SD/MN boarder she went on point with a rooster in her mouth its always cool to see that. I never seen another dog do that before.

Has anyone had their dog point another bird while on a retrieve?

Numerous times, sometimes by sight and sometimes by scent. I had a GSP once, who was retrieving with two birds (quail) in her mouth and scent pointed a third. I killed it and she tried to retrieve it along with the other two, didn't get it done but she tried.

We never had bird dogs hunting grouse. We had beagles running hares and we would bust up the grouse while running bunnies a lot.

Hares, as in snowshoes? I used to run them too, pretty dam tough because they don't circle back like a cotton tail does!

Where at did you chase hares?

Txhogman, that's awesome!
Sounds like a great bird dog!

MNHuntingAdventures.com
1on1 weekend hunt is $600.
If you have your own dogs its $300. For the weekend or $500. For the week (if staying at our camping area). Check out the website -Jake

Westtex75 that's awesome!

Awesome Pic Westtex75

Thanks guys. I've posted that one here before. That was my first bird dog taken when I was a teenager back in the mid 70's. Wish I had taken more back then.