Blue Grouse Pic's

BleuBijou

BleuBijou

Active member
Went out this weekend and saw some encouraging sign for Blue Grouse Hunters.:cheers:



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Nice pics, those grouse sure are good eating.
 
Thank you for sharing with us, We have Blues here in Washington I just have never seen one to shoot..........Bob
 
Nice picture, neat looking grouse. Never had a chance to hunt blues, just Ruffies. Anyone know how Blues fly in comparision to Ruffed Grouse?
i.e. speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed?d:eek:
 
Thanks guys!!! It was fun being there and snapping a few photos !!!! I have never hunted Ruffs, but I can tell you these grouse are probably not nearly as fast. Sage Grouse are even slower. Saw one Gunnison Sage grouse. Did not get a photo though!:cheers:
 
Your right on blue they are definitely slower and instead of putting obstructions between you and them they usually fly to the nearest tree branch and stare at you. A good 22 lr/ 20ga combo gun would be a perfect blue grouse gun.
 
Ruffs are much faster than Blues, and often found in heavier cover.

IMO, there is no game bird that will test your shooting skills more than a ruff. There isn't even anything that comes close.
 
Blue Grouse - Dusky Grouse

Does anyone know why the Colorado Dept. of Wildlife changed the name of this bird from blue grouse to dusky grouse? And is this a widely recognized name change or for birds in CO only?
 
They broke up the common name "blue" grouse into two subspecies, dusky and sooty grouse. Our "blue" grouse in Ca are more gray, ie sooty, whereas colorados are more brown, ie dusky. Same bird, different name.
 
quail hound said:
They broke up the common name "blue" grouse into two subspecies, dusky and sooty grouse. Our "blue" grouse in Ca are more gray, ie sooty, whereas colorados are more brown, ie dusky. Same bird, different name.
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Thank you! I hope to get some shots at duskys around Crested Butte, CO in a few weeks. Great tasting bird.
 
:coolpics:Nice shot. You don't have to educate me on the speed of the ruffy, all I know is I can't hit em.:D I would take advantage of one of those sitting on a branch waiting for me. I useualy kill about a hundred saplings.
:cheers:
 
Britt, where are you going up at the Butte? PM me if it is a honey hole. I hunt up that way Quite a bit. I will always call them Blue Grouse I guess. It is kinda like Invesco Field at Mile High. It is Mile High to me!!!!!
 
BleuBijou said:
Britt, where are you going up at the Butte? PM me if it is a honey hole. I hunt up that way Quite a bit. I will always call them Blue Grouse I guess. It is kinda like Invesco Field at Mile High. It is Mile High to me!!!!!
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Don't really know -- I'm being hosted by a local.
 
Man, those are some nice pics of grouse!!!

Sooty grouse are some of my favorite upland hunting...very hard to find, and very rewarding if you get one. :)
 
Thanks Sooty Grouse, Had them pinned down a week before the season started, Then nothing!!!! Got a couple when I was up Elk hunting though!!!
 
quail hound said:
They broke up the common name "blue" grouse into two subspecies, dusky and sooty grouse. Our "blue" grouse in Ca are more gray, ie sooty, whereas colorados are more brown, ie dusky. Same bird, different name.
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They actually split them into 2 different species making them technically 2 different types of grouse. Crazy people and their DNA testing!
 
jsdriggs said:
Great photo of the Blue!
I have a lot of Blue Grouse just a mile from my house. The ruffies and them are about equal, population wise, up there. I CLIMB for the Blues. The Ruffies are always lower, at least early in the season. When the snow falls, I've had little luck finding them anymore. People have told me the Ruffies go UP the mountain into the Spruce groves. I guess the Blues do also. A bit of a mystery to me.:confused:
As far as speed, the ruffies are definately faster on the draw. BUT, Blues are on the mountain, and they almost always fly downhill. Once they get going, MAN, they present some challenging shots! My feet are on uneven ground, and I try to catch up. Whoa! :eek:Definately some misses. Plus your out of breath from climbing! I consider them one of THE best gamebirds I hunt every season and so look forward to hunting them. And, they are second only to Chukar, in my humble opinion, as tablefare.
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Yes, I was confused too, wondering were they go, but found out they like the meadows through mating season, elderberry, water, berrys, bugs, then go up to higher ground when snow starts and find there roost and eat the needles from trees....higher up in the tree is better nutrients, keeps em alive till snow melts, then down they go (but still high elevation) for berries ect.

Yes the blue's are fast, and they do fly down hill smoking fast....can bearly get a shot off...;)
 
Great Table Fare

jsdriggs said:
Great photo of the Blue!
I have a lot of Blue Grouse just a mile from my house. The ruffies and them are about equal, population wise, up there. I CLIMB for the Blues. The Ruffies are always lower, at least early in the season. When the snow falls, I've had little luck finding them anymore. People have told me the Ruffies go UP the mountain into the Spruce groves. I guess the Blues do also. A bit of a mystery to me.:confused:
As far as speed, the ruffies are definately faster on the draw. BUT, Blues are on the mountain, and they almost always fly downhill. Once they get going, MAN, they present some challenging shots! My feet are on uneven ground, and I try to catch up. Whoa! :eek:Definately some misses. Plus your out of breath from climbing! I consider them one of THE best gamebirds I hunt every season and so look forward to hunting them. And, they are second only to Chukar, in my humble opinion, as tablefare.
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I agree they are great table fare. The girlfriend always ask why I don't shoot more of them. Easy for her to say she doesn't have to climb the mountain. LOL! They are very fast going down hill, they remind me of giant chukars. It also tends to be cooler up in the mtns in Sept than the prairies and a great place for the dog and I to get in better shape for the real hunting seasons (this is the pheasant forum).:D

They are known for wintering at the top of mountains and living off needles to get throught the winter. I once walked under a tree while hiking over a pass in the spring that was inches deep in grouse 'poop' in a six - eight foot radius. I am guess at least one grouse spent the entire winter up there.
Once they start feeding on needles I don't think they spend much time on the ground, thus much harder to hunt.

I think they are a very under rated game bird at least in Montana. I hunt several spots where they tend to be out in the open and thus don't have the option of just flying up into a tree when flush.
 
Aou

BritChaser said:
Does anyone know why the Colorado Dept. of Wildlife changed the name of this bird from blue grouse to dusky grouse? And is this a widely recognized name change or for birds in CO only?
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Official bird name changes are normally made by the AOU (American Ornithologist Union). They are still Blues to me.:)
 
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