Grouse hunting

[Setterman]

More ideal habitat then we've ever had around here and starting 5 years ago the birds just vanished. I still go some but rarely move a bird these days. 10 years ago we'd find a dozen birds in good cover now there's zero.

Really sad, and not sure it'll ever return

 

[Chickencoop96]

More ideal habitat then we've ever had around here and starting 5 years ago the birds just vanished. I still go some but rarely move a bird these days. 10 years ago we'd find a dozen birds in good cover now there's zero.

Really sad, and not sure it'll ever return

that's really strange to me too, just last weekend I spooked a grouse in the middle of old growth woods on my grandad's farm in Scott County. that's the first one I've seen since I was a young kid. What's even more strange is that when I go to Foothills WMA I don't see a single quail or grouse even in all that timbered land

 

[Setterman]

that's really strange to me too, just last weekend I spooked a grouse in the middle of old growth woods on my grandad's farm in Scott County. that's the first one I've seen since I was a young kid. What's even more strange is that when I go to Foothills WMA I don't see a single quail or grouse even in all that timbered land

It makes no sense, I have hunted Scott county since I was a kid and grouse numbers were always pretty steady. in the blink of an eye they went off a cliff for reasons no one knows

 

[Willysman]

Hunted South Cherokee (Tellico) for many years. Declined steadily year after year. Not a sudden decline. Still up there a lot. Probably been 5 years since I've seen one.

 

[Chickencoop96]

Hunted South Cherokee (Tellico) for many years. Declined steadily year after year. Not a sudden decline. Still up there a lot. Probably been 5 years since I've seen one.

I wonder if south cherokee's issue is due to reduced amount of timber cuts

 

[Chickencoop96]

It makes no sense, I have hunted Scott county since I was a kid and grouse numbers were always pretty steady. in the blink of an eye they went off a cliff for reasons no one knows

as well as the bobwhites. used to hear them all the time but haven't heard one since grade school

 

[Willysman]

I wonder if south cherokee's issue is due to reduced amount of timber cuts

It certainly is. Very little if any timber harvesting going on. Back when I grouse hunted the grouse were in the 10-15 year old cuts. Don't have that anymore. Tree huggers have stopped it. And of course coyotes haven't helped the situation. I agree timber cuts aren't very pretty but it benefits all wildlife.

 

[Weegee]

I saw my first ever Tennessee grouse yesterday in North Cherokee. Scared the crap out of me.

 

[SES]

There used to be a ton of grouse in the New River Unit of South Cumberland WMA. It would be nothing to see 15-20 a day, I haven't been up there in several years though.

 

[7mm08]

Are there any Grouse hunters on here? if so what is some advice and experiences you've had for hunting them here in TN?

When you mentioned your grandfather's farm I was about to ask did he have any grouse on that land?

 

[7mm08]

To my Knowledge TWRA has hired someone From Kansas to help bring the quail numbers back. hopefully this is true and the grouse will follow

Totally different bird and environs that they live and thrive in.

 

[TheLBLman]

As went the quail, so goes the grouse.

And this ain't Kansas.

Does ANYONE really know why quail & grouse seem to be bordering on extinction in TN?

Based on what I've seen, you can create great habitat and little will change.
These birds are basically gone from the landscape where they were once plentiful.

 

[Willysman]

You can't bring them back by changing the habitat if they are already gone.

 

[Madbowh]

Are there any Grouse hunters on here? if so what is some advice and experiences you've had for hunting them here in TN?

Been a few years but they are in kyker bottoms every time I've been walking in daylight in there I've seen them. I would check the rules on that not sure when season for them is I know it does close second week of nov-feb. Qual too many times been walking down a road in there and they scare the he'll out of you

 

[Madbowh]

I personally would like to see pheasants more than anything, a gun club I used to be a member at out of state stocks them what a blast and good eating

 

[Chickencoop96]

I saw my first ever Tennessee grouse yesterday in North Cherokee. Scared the crap out of me.

they will do that lol

 

[Chickencoop96]

There used to be a ton of grouse in the New River Unit of South Cumberland WMA. It would be nothing to see 15-20 a day, I haven't been up there in several years though.

they are definitely in decline.

 

[SES]

they are definitely in decline.

I'd blame the decline on the hogs. Last time I was up there, I didn't go anywhere that there wasn't hog sign.

 

[41Magnum]

I was in Maine years ago and it was full of grouse. I haven't seen one where I deer hunt in years, North Cherokee. 30 years ago you couldn't go 100 yds with out jumping a grouse in some places. Now you can literally walk for miles and never see one.

 

[Willysman]

I'd blame the decline on the hogs. Last time I was up there, I didn't go anywhere that there wasn't hog sign.

Always been hogs back when there was plenty of grouse.