Where are all the grouse?

[Chip]

Is it my imagination, or are there just fewer grouse around the east parkland areas and conservation sites this year? Or are they just not as active during winter and are hunkered down in the interest of survival? I'd almost feel guilty taking one if the population is low at the moment. Didn't see many while bow hunting big game throughout the fall, and mid November though either.

Thoughts?

[Dick284]

Change places to hunt.
My observations suggest a normal grouse population in the 330’s

[huntinstuff]

Going out shortly to the area we grouse hunt

We limit ourselves to 3 per day

I thought the numbers were same ol same ol this year

I did see a lot of spruce grouse. But i only use them in grouse/barley soups

[CNP]

They seem plentiful enough in the SW........Spruce Grouse anyway. Have taken quite a few earlier in the season. Was out two days ago putting up some trail cams and I spied a couple. Had a 20 ga with slugs for predator defense so no option for taking it home.

[Moosetalker]

Grouse are same as most/all wild animal species in being cyclical Hunting seems to have very little impact on overall # according to Biologists. hence the new liberal seasons/length.

I think its area/region dependent not province wide.

[Chip]

Mmmm... sounds like some better chances in boreal. Kind of what I figured.

[Prewar]

Flushes were average this year in zone 500. I use English springer spaniels. Once you get 6" or more snow the encounters drop substantially. That's about where we are at now.

[teledogs]

If Speckle55 did not get them all I will try around Hinton on Friday. Only been out once this year for grouse and saw quite a few. Maybe a few wabbits too!

[Smoky buck]

If you want to find grouse go for a hike in the bush with your deer rifle and you will see them everywhere. They don’t even fly away lol

Bring my shotgun the all disappear or flush at a 100yards

[MaxxiD]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

If you want to find grouse go for a hike in the bush with your deer rifle and you will see them everywhere. They don’t even fly away lol

Bring my shotgun the all disappear or flush at a 100yards

.................yep

[JonC]

Originally Posted by Moosetalker

Grouse are same as most/all wild animal species in being cyclical Hunting seems to have very little impact on overall # according to Biologists. hence the new liberal seasons/length.



I think its area/region dependent not province wide.

This is what I understand too.

Numbers aren't great in my usual areas this year

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[marlin1]

didn't see a lot of ruffies while deer hunting but sharpies seemed to be doing good in 310

[MaxxiD]

Originally Posted by marlin1

didn't see a lot of ruffies while deer hunting but sharpies seemed to be doing good in 310

Same in 304. Seen flocks of them

[Speckle55]

teledogs got 1 today Ruffed

seen 183

we have 101

n 25 Hare

great year out here

David

[1stLand]

I see lots

[alacringa]

Ruffies are better than last year West of Calgary. Last year was terrible. Lots of Spruce Grouse around, but I don't usually go for them after the first snowfall or 2.

[KGB]

Been west of Edmonton a few times, we see Max 2-3 birds... last time we saw one and it got away from us. There were not much snow in the woods, so lots of feed for them around. And no tracks....

[coolpool]

I have to agree that the numbers are down in some areas. Only seen a few when clearing traplines in 841 in Oct and only a few in 514 while hunting. Put 80kms on the ATV's last Friday with three friends and didn't see a single bird.

[sjemac]

Birds are light on the ground depending on zone. Hunted with dogs from daylight till noon yesterday and only cut three tracks. Still got a bird in the bag but…

[KGB]

Went out again yesterday. We decided to drive a bit more than usual, maybe another 5km... and what do you know, we saw birds! But... it was “save the grouse” day... we saw 10 birds, bagged 2.... They were super spooky, running at the first sight or slight noise... could’ve shot 2 more but I missed one shot and my partner missed 1 too. Super alert birds, well educated probably...

[JonC]

Walked for 7 hours last weekend. Saw 5

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[eltorro]

Not a one.

[Nayr]

Have seen quite a few on the elk river road south of Drayton, mostly spruce but some ruffles as well. In the willmore I saw more blues last fall than the last few years, probably go in cycles.