Not have I never shot one I have never had the chance to see one in the wild. Maybe some day I will get the opportunity. BUT....


Now that my eyes have been opened to my cruelty and why I have bad things happen to me I'm not sure if I can continue being a heartless murderer. I'm just so confused.

Any idea or reason the sharptails have been declining?[/quote]

There havent been any large forest fires for quite a while,last big one was in 95,and there were two ,one in 77 and another in 78 or so.
Also the large clearcuts(they quit doing that type of cutting for a long time) around that time have all grown up now-the bush has changed and the large expanses of red osier dogwood that were so prevalent in the earlier sucession are not there anymore.

Grouse numbers in many parts of Pa have been really low for many years. I’m outdoors most days, and for the last several years I’ve normally only seeing a half dozen a year. Until yesterday.

I took a ride in the Sproul State Forest to change cards on five trail cams. I saw 16 grouse, ( 6,5,and 5 singles ). It’s been exceptionally dry since early June....this would have been beneficial for hens to raise their broods, and the dry conditions have really limited mosquito numbers. Mosquito transmitted West Nile Virus has been blamed for the sharp decline in grouse numbers.

American Gun Company. I have shot a few grouse on the wing with it and by a "few" I mean 3.

Nice gun and that's no small feat hitting grouse on the wing with that gauge and hammers to boot. I had a London side by side made by W.J. Jeffery in 28 gauge that weighed right at five pounds. Twenty-seven inch barrels. Beautiful gun from around 1930 or so. I couldn't hit a thing with it.

I kill a few grouse every year but you never know what it's going to be like one season to the next. Just about the time I think we're due for a bumper crop we get a big dud. I've seen very few so far this summer but they have a way of showing up after the undergrowth and leaves fall away. There's always a few woodcock thrown in the mix. I miss my bird dogs.

About 45 years ago, as close as I can remember. My brother and I went grouse and timberdoodle hunting in Noble County, in Southeast Ohio. I killed 1 grouse and 2 timberdoodles and my brother killed 2 grouse. I don't believe I have seen either bird since that day.

Garry-

I saw a Grouse two days ago. First one in sometime.

What's with the amount of air predator's its a wonder they have been eradicated.

I used a .410 for years hunting with my dad. Used #6 shot in a full choke.

I shot a couple out of trees years ago while trapping on state land. The wife cooked them and I never got any to eat.

Ill check.

I know the day after there are always birds everywhere. lol

Nice! Shooting them with a 4 inch H&R 22 is quite a feat!

Just got another one to add to the list!



We need about 10 to feed the family. Debating if I want to cook these up tonight for a snack.

That looks really good!

There havent been any large forest fires for quite a while,last big one was in 95,and there were two ,one in 77 and another in 78 or so.
Also the large clearcuts(they quit doing that type of cutting for a long time) around that time have all grown up now-the bush has changed and the large expanses of red osier dogwood that were so prevalent in the earlier sucession are not there anymore.[/quote]

Yup, Sharptails need clearcuts or a burnt out area. They see you coming 200 yards away and fly off across the entire opening. Makes them tough to hunt!

I liked hunting the sharptails on snowshoes in winter.
Flush a big flock,and like you said they would fly far,right to the tops of the few trees sometimes several hundred yards apart.You could see them spread out for half a mile or more right on the tops.
I would walk around and shoot them out the treetops with a 22,sometimes over a hundred yards,hundred and fifty or more.If you try to get close they will take off.If you shot too many from a long distance like that from one spot it was hard to find them in the deep powder snow.Better to shoot one-hike the distance to pick him up,then shoot another-repeat until you had your limit.
A 22 makes hardly any noise in the deep cold,a shotgun will often spook them and they fly off another several hundred yards or gone altogether.
You wont get many with a shotgun.

To long

Congrats. Season starts Saturday here.

Another one just before dark!

Next week i need to go shoot a few too,best eating bird out there.

Whipped up a little appetizer before supper! My favourite way to eat grouse, and I don’t care if I gain a pound or two or three from it!

Got two today