Dusky/Blue Grouse ???

CO_Weimar

CO_Weimar

New member
82 days left until the likely start of Dusky/Blue Grouse season ... anyone else going after Duskys this year?

I am planning to do some dusky grouse hunting this year ... it might end up being "hiking with my dogs and carrying a shotgun" ... but that's fine with me. ;)
 
I don't know how many days I put down last year searching those fellas out. Didn't see a one. This year I am determined! I have my new pup in training and decided to to some massive recon this summer. Went up last weekend and looking for what I now learned is the proper environment, I saw 6 in 2 days. The countdown to the season is on!
 
Def, and hoep to get after a few great sage grouse this year as well.:thumbsup:
 
I will be hunting Blues for the first time this year. My GSP will be about 2.5 years old when the season opens. He did good on sharptails last year, and I am hoping for even better things with another year of maturation under his belt.

BTW, just what does good blue grouse habitat look like? Brush? Pines? Aspens? Ridges? Draws? North slope? South Slope?
 
I am by no means an expert in this area. It would be a far throw to call myself a beginner, but I have talked to some in the know. From where I've found them, they've been in tight draws with aspen and dark timber. A trickling stream helps out as well.
 
I am looking forward to it ... due to work, last year I was only able to get out twice and both times were only up to areas near Ward, CO. The cover was perfect, but didn't come across any blues. The work situation has changed, so I might be able to take a day or two off :cheers: ... and head to Rout NF. Wanted to go there last year, but didn't have the energy to drive, hunt, drive then return to work the next day. Went to a grouse seminar at Bass Pro, learned about habitat, etc. and found it to be very informative.

I was out hiking near Nederland 2 years ago without the dogs and heard a low "wooot ... wooot ... wooot". I have also seen a few up near Eldora west of Ned.

Looking forward to getting out with the pups to see what we can find. :)
 
Hunted most weekends last year in the steamboat area where i just moved from and didnt see one blue grouse. I tried all elevations and types of cover. Some of my friends doing electrical work on the ski area buildings were seeing them all the time but you can only hike up to where they saw them. its a private road for forrest service employees and vehicle access for ski area employees. hopefully this year will be different. I am hoping to get back up there a few times to hunt with my gsp, and hopefully some friends.
 
I hunt Blue's in Montana and will be at it again In Sept. Montana's Grouse season opens Sept 1st. Where I hunt Blue's is a hike to get to, but good hunting, plus breath taking views.
Blues in these mountains are from about 6-8 thousand feet, the mountains peak out at 9 or a bit higher. Trees are White Park Pine and junipers, kind of open and park like. There is also some brush and plenty of small and scrub pine. Early season grasshoppers seem to be a favorite.
 
I'll be at it again this year. Finally found them the last weekend of the season last year. This year I'll also have my new pup with me and my buddies weimi.


Have a good 'Urn,
bones
 
I will be hunting Blues starting this Sept in NM. The lowest I have found them is 8500 ft, water source nearby, and aspens are a good indicator. Pretty good article/description on Colorado Division of Wildlife under Dusky Grouse.
 
shinbone said:
BTW, just what does good blue grouse habitat look like? Brush? Pines? Aspens? Ridges? Draws? North slope? South Slope?
Click to expand...

The answer to all of those is - "Yes" :)

Seriously - they will be in all of those habitats at one time or another. Like trout - I've found that they seem to be drawn to 'edges'. Aspen/sage. Riverbottom/Slope. Spruce/Aspen. Agree with desullivan that the article on the DOW site is good on the basics. Berries and easily accessible water nearby are good signs, too.

2011 was rough. We hunted some honey holes that are usually good for pretty dependable limits and had a rough go. I think the rough/late winter put the hatch down and/or resulted in a lot of mortality in springtime when the snow wouldn't go away. Most of the birds we did find were single bomber males in their normal higher elevations, the family groups were few and far between.

Headed up for opener. 2012 is kind of the opposite of 2011, with the early spring and ongoing dryness, so who knows. Will almost definitely start higher this year than last.
 
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