No Dusky Grouse Around Crested Butte

[BritChaser]

My buddy and I hunted hard two mornings around 9,000 - 10,000 feet outside of Crested Butte and did not see any duskies. We only saw two last year. Next year we're just fishin'.

 

[BRITTMAN]

Next year they could be all over the place. If late spring snow, cooler temps, etc... hit this area - then reproduction may have been low.

Tough year for upland game birds all over the country.

 

[quail hound]

Possibly to high elevation? All the blues I've ever seen have been in the 6-8000ft range, but that's just in my woods.

 

[BritChaser]

Possibly to high elevation? All the blues I've ever seen have been in the 6-8000ft range, but that's just in my woods.

I wanted to hunt lower, but my buddy said they are in the "dark timber." His family is from up there so I deferred. One problem is that the valley floor of Crested Butte is 8900 at town.

 

[Escopeton]

Hello Britchaser,

Here start finding them at 8,500 normally. Once we found several dozen (hens and chicks) grazing on private property at 8,000. For habitat; they like Engleman Spruce/Aspen/Douglas Fir forests with an understory of scrubs, forbs and grasses. They don't like it too thick or to open because of predation.

Here are a couple of birds I picked up with a Scotch Double on opening weekend.

 

[BritChaser]

Well done. May I ask what county you were hunting in? Great pic!