As we hunt later in the year we will be moving up. This is also assuming it is a “normal” weather year (I know, there is no such thing in Colorado, let’s make pretend). This may be a little counter intuitive if your a pheasant hunter, because when I’m out in the plains that’s all I see; tracks but no birds. Tracy said, “The birds in Colorado, because of high altitude, tend to be a little slower.” Slow, fast, after five hours of climbing and seeking, it became clearer and clearer – while getting foggier and foggier because a cloud had descended on us – that we would be grouse-less. We snuck up on mountain meadows and grassy areas. How to Find Dusky Grouse – A Bird Hunting Guide. PO Box 6423Thomasville, GA 31758Phone: 229-236-1632. I’m in Colorado and hunt the Western Slope. Same laws apply as above. As the grasshoppers and berries die out at the lower elevations, grouse make their way up in elevation to find calories. This is when you have the best chance at a covey flush. The best way I know to locate these is to dive in and hunt. We showed up on time. That’s obviously a completely ridiculous statement. You may disagree with every tactic written below, hell I would expect at least some of it to raise some eyebrows. Just make sure he is well trained because a dog that ranges out too far will ruin you opportunities.” Of course, for that hunt, we had no dogs. I enjoy scouting new areas and mark a map book with the prime spots for future reference. Learn how your comment data is processed. Watch the video below for the breakdown of how I find my spots. An NRA pistol instructor, avid huntress and freelance writer in travel and outdoor markets, Baird can be found afield or on a range when not editing or writing. If nothing else, look at the pretty pictures, smile and think to yourself, “At least this guys isn’t going to wipe out the population for the rest of us.” Enjoy. Now, I never claimed they're logical creatures. An NRA pistol instructor, avid huntress and freelance writer in travel and outdoor markets, Baird can be found afield or on a range when not editing or writing. https://www.docdroid.net/s1N7bSv/how-to-hunt-dusky-grouse-2-pdf Racist, sexist, homophobic, and generally hateful comments are not tolerated. Find the elevation they’re currently at and stick with that for the time being. Here’s my list of the 10 most important rules of grouse hunting. I definitely like seeking out hidden and remote pockets of cover. Start mounting the gun at the first indication of a bird, make visual contact as it flushes, swing ahead and shoot. This helps us look like rockstars behind the scatterguns and keeps the pooches happy when your not shooting inches over their head. He hunted ducks with it, and then passed it on to his son. Hunter numbers have never reached 800 in any given year, and the annual harvest since 1973 has been only 300 to 700 grouse. Food, plain and simple. It has worked so well that it is now deeply ingrained in their bird sense to do this. Grouse love this plant, seemingly more than any other. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Thanks! These two factors draw many similarities. #123 | Electronic Hearing Protection with Jack Homa of Electronic Shooters Protection, #122 | New Hunter Education and Mentorship with Mark Norquist of Modern Carnivore, Dusky Grouse – An Upland Game Bird Profile. If they can flap their wings five times and make it to safety, they’ll call it good enough and do just that. If it’s got two, it should be skeet and improved — that improved barrel designed mainly for longer shots, which occur mainly in late season. Coming at them from this angle usually forces them to fly straight up to clear you (or your four-legged friend) before they maneuver themselves downhill and nine times out of ten, they will fly downhill. If there are any berries left, hunt around them. Not only had we arranged to hunt the high country of Crested Butte, Colo., with our friends and acting grouse guides Katherine and Eric Grand, but also, Olympic biathletes Lanny and Tracy Barnes joined us for this morning’s dusky grouse hunt. Early season grouse hunting can be challenging. Bugs, berries, leaves then needles. The steeper the terrain, the easier it is for them to do just that. Short of having a heart attack, there is little more exciting than chasing Dusky grouse deep in the mountains while the aspens are showing off their colors.