Grouse

[cathunter]

I used to hunt the brown bomber as we called them. Would rather chase them than any thing . Some of my hunting buds would kill 75-100 a season. But that’s all they hunted and had really good dogs. Some of the best hunting memories.
This was back in the 80’s. One of my best hunting memories, had a pointer lock up in mid air on a bird after jumping off a log . She was something else. I think we killed 5 that day.

 

[1jamey]

This is what they sound like for anyone that hasn't heard one before.

I always described it as a basketball bouncing down to a stop. It's been alot of years since I jumped one in the woods, I would have a heart attack nowadays

 

[Stu]

Used to hunt them when i was younger in PA but they too seem to disappear. Then this year i flushed a few while up there hunting.

 

[DRSJ35]

I have a German short haired pointer and try but the numbers are not there. If you get a few hot points where birds were at earlier it’s considered a successful hunt. Let that sink into your crawl for population estimates. They are a few around. But a few amongst these endless mountains is a tuff one.

 

[mike243]

Hunted Scott county a lot years ago, was setting up against a tree when a hen flew in and landed 5' from me, 3 minutes latter a rooster came in, they fed on some little red berries for about 10 minutes before they flew off, was 1 of the most interesting encounters I have had with them, had 1 pretend to have a broken wing up at royal blue while turkey hunting, I thought killdee's were the only birds to guard a nest like that but evidently not

 

[MUP]

I'm not positive, but I think I flushed one back in Nov as I was walking out after killing my buck. It got up and gone in a hurry.

 

[Setterman]

Hunted Scott county a lot years ago, was setting up against a tree when a hen flew in and landed 5' from me, 3 minutes latter a rooster came in, they fed on some little red berries for about 10 minutes before they flew off, was 1 of the most interesting encounters I have had with them, had 1 pretend to have a broken wing up at royal blue while turkey hunting, I thought killdee's were the only birds to guard a nest like that but evidently not

how could you tell which was the hen and the rooster?

 

[SES]

Declining grouse numbers coincide with the hog population explosion where I used to hunt in New River, on the North Cumberland WMA. There used to be a ton of birds up there. Wasn’t unusual to see 10 birds a day while deer hunting.

 

[Plateau Hunter]

Coyotes imo...grouse disappeared as coyotes showed up in the southern Plateau...

 

[Hunter 257W]

To be honest, I'm not sure I've ever seen one.

 

[Setterman]

Coyotes imo...grouse disappeared as coyotes showed up in the southern Plateau...

If bird dogs trained and singularly focused on grouse can’t catch one regularly there’s zero chance coyotes are having that big an impact. Sure they might get an occasional bird, but it’s not the reason.

this decline started well after coyotes were prevalent, turkeys were everywhere, pigs in places where there are pigs etc

Its not hunting pressure, I don’t think I’ve seen another grouse hunter with dogs in over 5 years

Its not habitat, predators, or weather IMO. It’s either disease, or a slight shift in climate which since we are on the southern fringe has caused them to decline.

 

[Planking]

If bird dogs trained and singularly focused on grouse can’t catch one regularly there’s zero chance coyotes are having that big an impact. Sure they might get an occasional bird, but it’s not the reason.

this decline started well after coyotes were prevalent, turkeys were everywhere, pigs in places where there are pigs etc

Its not hunting pressure, I don’t think I’ve seen another grouse hunter with dogs in over 5 years

Its not habitat, predators, or weather IMO. It’s either disease, or a slight shift in climate which since we are on the southern fringe has caused them to decline.

Its entirely possible that he is correct. I certainly wouldn't dismiss his opinion. I too noticed the decline of the grouse about the same time the coyote showed up. The gray fox also declined.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

If bird dogs trained and singularly focused on grouse can’t catch one regularly there’s zero chance coyotes are having that big an impact. Sure they might get an occasional bird, but it’s not the reason.

this decline started well after coyotes were prevalent, turkeys were everywhere, pigs in places where there are pigs etc

Its not hunting pressure, I don’t think I’ve seen another grouse hunter with dogs in over 5 years

Its not habitat, predators, or weather IMO. It’s either disease, or a slight shift in climate which since we are on the southern fringe has caused them to decline.

My money is on the climate, though I know people on here don’t want to hear that. It was awesome being in Minnesota in the Spring and listening to grouse drumming all night and day long from camp.

 

[Forvols]

We hunted them when I was young back in the 70s SWVA and NET now dont see any. Back then we had grouse and quail but no turkey or deer

 

[DRSJ35]

It’s not climate and probably not just predators. I think it’s habitat. There use to be a bunch years ago. But now everywhere I hunt them it’s all mature forests. The National forest is almost all mature hardwoods. Grouse like areas that have immature forest of say five to 15 years old. With plenty of berries and food. A mature forest is a dead forest but you can’t see that without closer inspection. I think nature has taken its course because of that. Wether it be no places to hide to raise there young or food. Probably keeps them from having as many offspring. And the ones they do most likely don’t make it. We need more logging and fire. Can’t imagine why they don’t do that anymore.

 

[jag1]

Can’t imagine why they don’t do that anymore.

It's the Lorax man, don't you know ; )
I've only seen a fan...never a bird. My uncle shot one many years ago had had the fan displayed in a room. Used to think it was one of the prettiest things ever.

 

[Setterman]

It’s not climate and probably not just predators. I think it’s habitat. There use to be a bunch years ago. But now everywhere I hunt them it’s all mature forests. The National forest is almost all mature hardwoods. Grouse like areas that have immature forest of say five to 15 years old. With plenty of berries and food. A mature forest is a dead forest but you can’t see that without closer inspection. I think nature has taken its course because of that. Wether it be no places to hide to raise there young or food. Probably keeps them from having as many offspring. And the ones they do most likely don’t make it. We need more logging and fire. Can’t imagine why they don’t do that anymore.

Come take a ride with me, never in my life has there been more ideal grouse cover in East Tn and SE KY. It’s astonishing how much habitat there is here

 

[Setterman]

My money is on the climate, though I know people on here don’t want to hear that. It was awesome being in Minnesota in the Spring and listening to grouse drumming all night and day long from camp.

I sort of think this may be the issue. coyotes, pigs, hawks etc did not just show up 3-4 years ago. Rabbit populations are really high which would show a serious decline if it was predators.

the birds just vanished in a relatively short period about 4 years ago.

 

[timberjack86]

If bird dogs trained and singularly focused on grouse can’t catch one regularly there’s zero chance coyotes are having that big an impact. Sure they might get an occasional bird, but it’s not the reason.

this decline started well after coyotes were prevalent, turkeys were everywhere, pigs in places where there are pigs etc

Its not hunting pressure, I don’t think I’ve seen another grouse hunter with dogs in over 5 years

Its not habitat, predators, or weather IMO. It’s either disease, or a slight shift in climate which since we are on the southern fringe has caused them to decline.

Lack of forest management imo

 

[jlanecr500]

I believe the climate played a part but coyotes were a huge factor. They not only eat the birds but also eat the eggs. And don't think for a minute that a dog can't catch one I've got a female French Brittany that takes great pride in catching birds.