Uplandhunter67
Active member
I know I’ve said this before but there is no other bird I would rather hunt than sage grouse. The excitement of turkey sized grouse taking flight in a covey break is just awesome.
September 12th was opening weekend of Sage grouse. We arrived at our parking spot along a small creek just at sunrise. We geared up and watered the dogs. I slid an extra quart of water in my game bag and closed the tailgate.
We worked our way up a short slope to a series of flats above the creek. We turned north keeping the sun at our backs. Not far into the first flat my partner spotted some fresh grouse sign. We decided that if there were grouse close by they’d be working their way down towards the creek. I split right and my partner left. As he reached the next flat wings erupted. He fumbles with his safety but gets it together and drops a straggler. The birds sailed over a ridge and dropped down towards the creek where I couldn’t see. We decided to work our way down to the creek figuring the birds lit down somewhere between. We worked the hillside to no avail. Like Houdini they disappeared into the sea of sagebrush.
We decided we should work the valley as the initial covey seemed to be a mix of females and juvenile males figuring there must be some mature males nearby. We started up a draw on the west side of the creek. My Springer moved through the sagebrush zig zagging up the hill. We were just short of the ridge when the sage erupted again but this time with big males. I throw a hasty shot I missing a bird. I swing on a second bird this time I take my time and a bird crumples at the shot. My Springer charges forward and begins his retrieve. He brings it back and I set my shotgun down to put the bird in my vest. My Springer is still working the area when I hear a bird flush. I look up and see a bird flying down hill. I grab my shotgun and rolled him into the sage. My limit is now in my vest and it has just broke 10am. I unload my shotgun and hail over my partner. I told him I’d walk down the road and he could cut through the sage above the road. This way both our dogs could work for him.
We continued down the hill towards the truck. Upon reaching the bottom close to the stream my partners dog goes on point. Another descent covey breaks. My partner shoots and the our final bird crashes to the ground. 11am and we’re limited out.
This seemed to be great year for sage grouse. We encountered at least 40 birds in three different coveys. I was happy to see all these birds. It meant they survived the harsh winter and produced a large successful brood. Hopefully with the abundance of birds along with the moisture the numbers will continue to grow keeping keeping alive the iconic legacy of sage grouse and the American West.
September 12th was opening weekend of Sage grouse. We arrived at our parking spot along a small creek just at sunrise. We geared up and watered the dogs. I slid an extra quart of water in my game bag and closed the tailgate.
We worked our way up a short slope to a series of flats above the creek. We turned north keeping the sun at our backs. Not far into the first flat my partner spotted some fresh grouse sign. We decided that if there were grouse close by they’d be working their way down towards the creek. I split right and my partner left. As he reached the next flat wings erupted. He fumbles with his safety but gets it together and drops a straggler. The birds sailed over a ridge and dropped down towards the creek where I couldn’t see. We decided to work our way down to the creek figuring the birds lit down somewhere between. We worked the hillside to no avail. Like Houdini they disappeared into the sea of sagebrush.
We decided we should work the valley as the initial covey seemed to be a mix of females and juvenile males figuring there must be some mature males nearby. We started up a draw on the west side of the creek. My Springer moved through the sagebrush zig zagging up the hill. We were just short of the ridge when the sage erupted again but this time with big males. I throw a hasty shot I missing a bird. I swing on a second bird this time I take my time and a bird crumples at the shot. My Springer charges forward and begins his retrieve. He brings it back and I set my shotgun down to put the bird in my vest. My Springer is still working the area when I hear a bird flush. I look up and see a bird flying down hill. I grab my shotgun and rolled him into the sage. My limit is now in my vest and it has just broke 10am. I unload my shotgun and hail over my partner. I told him I’d walk down the road and he could cut through the sage above the road. This way both our dogs could work for him.
We continued down the hill towards the truck. Upon reaching the bottom close to the stream my partners dog goes on point. Another descent covey breaks. My partner shoots and the our final bird crashes to the ground. 11am and we’re limited out.
This seemed to be great year for sage grouse. We encountered at least 40 birds in three different coveys. I was happy to see all these birds. It meant they survived the harsh winter and produced a large successful brood. Hopefully with the abundance of birds along with the moisture the numbers will continue to grow keeping keeping alive the iconic legacy of sage grouse and the American West.
