Blue Grouse question

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Dohyde34

Member
I am thinking about going blue grouse hunting tomorrow. I have never hunted them this time of year, I am wondering if the blue will be up high? There isn't snow where I would go...there should be but there isnt. Does anyone have any late season blue grouse tips? I am in southern ID but am thinking about going up to the Carey/Picabo area.
 
I’ve always found them pretty tough later it gets, they should be in there winter stage up high eating new growth pine needles. Clear ground should help. Maybe some afternoon loafing spots to warm up, or if dog gets birdie meander around till o e gets nervous and flies out of trees… good luck!
 
If you do some research on the internet about how to hunt them, describing them as dusky grouse may help. Some years ago it was discovered that the blue grouse in the inland mountains are genetically distinct from the blue grouse along and close to the west coast. The coastal ones continue to be called blues while those you are considering are now called duskys. Early season duskys are delicious given their diet of berries, while late season ones may not be so good from eating pine needles. The best tasting game bird I ever had was an opening day Colorado dusky. Good luck!
 
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I have always heard they are reverse migrators, so they go higher in elevation in winter. So I never hunted them later because of snow levels and they pretty much stay high in the conifers.

I have tried late season a couple times for ruffs and sprucies in low snow years and had no success at all. Seems like after big game season is over they disappear. This was in western Montana. You can’t get them or learn anything if you don’t try. Let us know what happened. Good luck.
 
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