Blue Grouse Pic's

Blues are a great way to start off the upland season. When Sept. 1 arrives here in CO, the reason why anyone would opt for shooting doves in the heat on the eastern plains vs. hunting Blues in the hills is a mystery to me. They hold very well for a pointing dog and flush explosively. Blues have a reputation for being naive "fool hens" when approached by deer and elk hunters but I think that, when you add a dog into the equation (any canine = fox or coyote to these birds), they become much more alert and wary. Downhill shot presentations are always challenging. They remind me of giant Bobwhites on the table. What's not to like?

BlueGrouse9-1-091-1.jpg


BlueGrouse9-1-092.jpg


ratt
 
Ratt, you are 100% right. I get tired of people scoffing at hunting blues as being "too easy". Add the dog, and early-season open terrain, and it's a whole different animal (or bird) than bumping into them during elk season and watching them sit on the nearest branch. Having your dog flush them out of open sage isn't that different from hunting pheasant. That said, I did whack one with a rock this fall when I was out on a camping trip! When cooked properly they are easily the best-tastest upland bird out there, in my opinion, and I've tasted several types of quail, phez, chukar and ptarmigan.
 
As far as challenging shooting . . . Snipe will give you fits . . .
 
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