Just curious if anyone has ever hunted Ruffed Grouse before?
If so, where?
How was the experience?

Some Pictures from Minnesota Ruffed Grouse hunts

yes, up around Black Duck, great times.

No, but I want to. Are those pictures from Minnesota? Or somewhere else?

I'd say Minnesota.

Nice pics. I would love to hunt them.

Nice pics.

Yes, up north. One hunter and a dog work out very well. The dogs needs to retrieve if you want to find the bird. You want to hunt in hardwoods in low rolling hills with lots of creeks, etc. In October when all the fall colors are out- beautiful country, crisp cool weather-good sport. You need to shoot quick, almost snap shooting if the woods are thick. You'll never need more than 2 shots so a double is fine. I used a 16 but a 20 is probably most common. My 16 weighs as much as a 20 and shoots like a 12. I love the 16- too bad it is out of favor.
I've only eaten early season grouse when they are still eating seeds. White meat- like the drummette on a chicken wing, no gamey taste at all. I am told if you hunt late in the year the grouse start eating pine needles and don't taste as good.
Some guys who know the area will bounce around from spot to spot but if you are going in cold just stick to trails along hardwood creeks in low hilly country and you should do okay.

TexasDude28, Blackduck is a great area, although never hunted around there just fished mostly.

Yes, the pictures are from Minnesota and thanks for the complements guys.

Dave Scott, where at up north? Your spot on with your post.

I use to hunt grouse in Northern Michigian. Both the upper and lower peninsula. We would also get into some woodcock. Both were exciting to shoot. Also ran my dogs in a few field trials in the woods. Hoping to do some grouse hunting in Minnesota while up there pheasant hunting this year.

Yes, for a few seasons in Upstate NY when I lived there and then in western WA (olympic peninsula) when I live out there. Hands down my favorite thing to hunt. The closest place to Texas I have found that has grouse is North GA AND SE TN. I haven't hunted there but I have done some fly fishing in that area.

For those interested in learning about it, "Grouse Hunters Guide" by Dennis Walrod is a good book about grouse hunting...be careful though it might convince you that a proper bird hunter must have a side by side 20 ga...that can get expensive.

I have always wanted to do a fall cast and blast in Maine, Vt, or New Hampshire for trout & grouse....the more out in the boonies the better.

If anyone is interested I run weekend hunting camps late september - mid october. check out my website. http://mnhuntingadventures.com/ Bring the dogs and tents or campers and stay a week!

In normal years how many grouse do you move in a day

In normal years how many grouse do you move in a day.

I'd give up all other hunting for grouse.

I use these two for such things. Top is SKB 20ga IC/M. Lower is a BRNO 7x57R over 12ga I/C.

Why the scope?

I use it for deer/grouse combo hunting. It's a VXII 1x4, so I leave it on 1x. I may remove the scope in the future to try it that way.

I just wanted to clear that up. I've read about people shooting them out of trees.

I'll shoot them anyway I can. Flying, trees and/or on the ground are all included. In Northern Ontario, we used to hunt them with 22s for head shots. Just the way it is.

Blanked, the best day I had was about 3 or four years ago and we got up 40+ birds in one day it was a great hatch that year! But on averages you at least get the chance at your 5 bird limit. Minnesota harvests the most birds oany ther state.

I wish I still had the energy. How much for a full day hunt? How many can you handle on one hunt?

chased them for many years in Maine, lots of fun

Up in the Adirondack mountains in New York. Many years ago. As good eating a bird as they come. Still flush a few now and then when I'm up that way deer hunting. Tough targets weaving through the brush and saplings or in the spruce thickets with snow on the ground with snowshoes on. Best take an open choked gun with a load of high brass #6s. Tough birds to be sure and shooting through the leaves and limbs takes a little push to bring them down.

Jake do you hunt the beginning of the season. I heard the tics were crazy. Like 100 to 150 tics a day on a a dog.

Bill, I usually just take 1 person out behind my dog she is a very personal hunter and doesn't hunt well with crowds or other dogs. Most hunters do the camp hunt with their dogs and I show them where to camp and hunt for the weekend or week. This fee is $300. I participate in the spring drumming counts and sharp tail dancing grounds surveys so I know what the population will look like in different areas around the state. Otherwise a 1on1 guided hunt is $600. for the weekend.

Passthru, your right with the open choke, ic works best for me. and #6 works good! I generally use trap loads 1-1/8oz in my 12gauge. Works great!

Super, I do hunt in the beginning of the season mid September and Yes, there are a lot of ticks at times but I have a brittany and I keep her hair short so finding wood ticks are not hard plus I use Frontline on her 1 day before the hunt and she never has an issue with ticks. I took a guy out with his 2 springers and his dog got a lot on them but my dog didn't it was the frontline. Its mostly where you hunt too. If your hunting the edge of the swamps with heavy deer trails you do get more ticks. But again Frontline is amazing!

We hunt Blue Grouse in Colorado in the Fall. That's as close as I get to Ruffed Grouse. Boy, do they taste good.