saddle hunter
Member
Is there a huntable population of grouse in eastern Tennessee? Here in western NY there used to be a good amount of birds (back in the 80s) but now there all but gone.
Grouse?
- Thread starter saddle hunter
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Like all small game I think I have read they have cycles, I rarely hunt where they live these days due to the terrain so have no knowledge from the last 10 years or so, I have seen very few posts about them here over the years, I can tell you there's a lot of walking involved lol There are supposed to be a lot up north but have never had the chance to find out. We have 1 member with dogs he trains, maybe jlanecr500 will drop by and share some info
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used to be alot around the lansing area...........20 years ago
For whatever reasons, it is NOTHING like it was 20-30 years ago. There are still a few, but it may be many tough miles of walking between your flushes.
Mattt
Well-Known Member
There are a few of us here.
Been a long time but I would see a few deer hunting on Carter Mtn WMA (I think it's got a different name now). The last one I saw was in a grassy area off the main hwy going through AEDC WMA of all places.
What I've heard is there were never very many and a whole lot less now.
MickThompson
Well-Known Member
A Tennessee grouse is the 140" buck of small game in Tennessee. West Nile Virus hit em pretty hard from what I've heard. The mountains need more cutting too.
I used to see them all the time here around the big south fork as a kid which was 25-35 years ago. Wouldn't have been an issue to shoot quite a few a day just hanging out in gravel roads. The last one I can remember seeing now was like 15-18 years ago, something like that.
Soft Talker
Well-Known Member
I know 3 different spots here up high, that I can usually flush at least 1. Cutover edges, getting older each year. See or hear them during Turkey season mostly. Never hunt them though. When I was a kid, I went on a deer hunting trip to Northern Maine with my Old Man, Uncles , and Grandfather.. We where there to "track" big woods bucks on snow. Went over like a fart in church. 6 frozen "Crackers" 
One thing we did manage to kill was Grouse. Them yankees call them partridge. They were ruffed grouse sure 'nuff, and we killed the piss out of them. Mainly in or right off gravel logging roads. Fine eating they were.
One thing we did manage to kill was Grouse. Them yankees call them partridge. They were ruffed grouse sure 'nuff, and we killed the piss out of them. Mainly in or right off gravel logging roads. Fine eating they were.
Weegee
Well-Known Member
Not a grouse hunter, but the only one I've ever seen here was in Martha Sundquist State Forest. Was walking along a logging road and one scared the crap out of me as it flushed.
Hymie3
Well-Known Member
I've seen a few on Cumberland plateau on timber lease land and the mountains of tellico. Not enough for me to get fired up about it. Seems like it would be fun if there were enough to hunt.
I used to see them on the top or near the top of the small mountains near laurel thickets. Started seeing coyotes for the very first time in those same areas and never saw another grouse. That was 30 years ago.
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Coyotes were the demise of grouse, among other things in our region. My uncle had hundreds of ducks that stayed on the creek that passes thru the property. I sold off more than 100 in the late 80's. Fast forward to present time. I raised 7 ducks to get started. They lasted less than 10 days once I turned them out. Coyotes
I remember hunting in the Finger Lakes region for rabbit and would always get a few grouse as a bonus. I would love to see one/ take a few. They are some tasty birds.
saddle hunter
Member
I've hunted them in the Watkins Glen area back in the early nineties. Flushed a few of them.
My area was around Keuka Lake and Bath
Hunted them in Maine , Minnesota, and East Tn. My favorite upland bird.
Let's don't count out the guy on an ATV with a .410 H&R Topper covering 20 miles a day or more of trails ground sweeping a few grouse. Most grouse in Maine are killed this way with guys riding the roads slow. Hate it but it's true.
So an increase in ATV's all over the mountains equals a decrease in grouse…
Let's don't count out the guy on an ATV with a .410 H&R Topper covering 20 miles a day or more of trails ground sweeping a few grouse. Most grouse in Maine are killed this way with guys riding the roads slow. Hate it but it's true.
So an increase in ATV's all over the mountains equals a decrease in grouse…
Biggun4214
Well-Known Member
Gotta look close
I know that it is not East TN , but I flushed 3 on a little farm around the Canton area in NC a few years ago. I wasn't hunting but looking the property over. On a mountainside that was covered in blackberry and other thick stuff. Surprised the heck out of me to see them there. Only ones I have ever seen.
Biggun4214
Well-Known Member
The landowner, and a few of the club members are working with Zac Chandler from the Ruff Grouse Society to improve the habitat.
Wooden Arrow
Well-Known Member
always see grouse in Shady Valley area of Cherokee. it's tough walking if you actually get off of the logging roads though. these grouse are a young mans game, or an old man that wouldn't mind dying in a beautiful place...:cool:
Nothing like a Grouse flushing from under your feet.
An ATV and an H&R Topper .410 will kill more grouse in TN than two $10k English Setters can produce for you. Coyotes , raccoons, hawks and yes environmentalists have hurt grouse hunting in TN.
Soft Talker
Well-Known Member
In Northern Maine, they call them partridge if they are shot on the ground, and grouse if they are shot in the air. Most are definitely shot from the road as "partridge". I will admit, hunting up there 4 different times in my youth, I killed the piss out of them with a Win model 42 410. Most were "partridge":p
They call em just partridge in Michigan and Wisconsin and won't hesitate to correct ya when you call em grouse
