Thanks for the kind words guys.
Bob, grouse in Dec. are TOUGH. Dealing with the snow is part of the problem. Access to a lot of two tracks is impossible. You will likely be restricted to county roads and will have to hike in to your coverts. The birds are also bunched up. I will commonly go hours upon hours without a flush, then all hell will break loose and I will get into a small area that might have a dozen or better birds. Sunday was a good example. I hunted from 8:30 until 1:00 and never had a flush. Went back to the truck for a sandwich and rested for an hour. From 2:00 to 3:00 I moved 14 birds. Ya just never know. Went back on Monday to the same general area from 1:00-4:30 and never moved a bird.
Find the food, find the birds. Right now I'm finding them mostly in tag alder swamps and if you're lucky enough to find it, red osier dogwood. The type of areas that are under water most of the year. They're frozen now so the walking isn't too bad. The crops have been loaded with catkins and alder buds. Where the snow isn't too deep, I'm also finding some birds with wintergreen in their crops.
Get up there and go. It is a great time to be in the woods. Tough hunting, but you will likely have the woods to yourself.
Bob, grouse in Dec. are TOUGH. Dealing with the snow is part of the problem. Access to a lot of two tracks is impossible. You will likely be restricted to county roads and will have to hike in to your coverts. The birds are also bunched up. I will commonly go hours upon hours without a flush, then all hell will break loose and I will get into a small area that might have a dozen or better birds. Sunday was a good example. I hunted from 8:30 until 1:00 and never had a flush. Went back to the truck for a sandwich and rested for an hour. From 2:00 to 3:00 I moved 14 birds. Ya just never know. Went back on Monday to the same general area from 1:00-4:30 and never moved a bird.
Find the food, find the birds. Right now I'm finding them mostly in tag alder swamps and if you're lucky enough to find it, red osier dogwood. The type of areas that are under water most of the year. They're frozen now so the walking isn't too bad. The crops have been loaded with catkins and alder buds. Where the snow isn't too deep, I'm also finding some birds with wintergreen in their crops.
Get up there and go. It is a great time to be in the woods. Tough hunting, but you will likely have the woods to yourself.