Here in Idaho, the forest grouse opener is the end of August. We've got three species of forest grouse (dusky, spruce, and ruffed), so any timbered area is likely to have birds.Yum-yum!


The Blue Grouse, now called the Dusky Grouse in Idaho, is usually fairly common, especially at higher elevations.



My Brittany sure loves to hunt Blues, but sometimes gets a bit tuckered out.



Three birds is quite a bit of meat.



The Spruce Grouse (Fool Hen, Stupid Chicken) is found in the northern half of the state. Often, not too sporty, as you can walk right up to them.



Not a true forest grouse from Idaho, but three species of ptarmigan (these are Rock Ptarmigan) are found in Alaska and are fun birds also.



Jack

Love grouse hunting, especially over a good dog. Nice pics, Jack.

I have really really wanted to hunt forest grouse. Your Spruce grouse is beautiful.

Love grouse. I planted and kept many indigenous shrubs that give buds and berries that grouse love. I've had up to and above five grouse in one tree at any time.

Blues are plentiful in the higher areas here. So fun to see them in Doug fir, aspen, subalpine fir, and my favorites, Mtn Hemlock and cedars.

Everywhere I have lived, I have planed shrubs and trees to attract them.

I hear them every Spring when I’m out there turkey hunting. They start drumming well before sunup too.

I have found that the young of the year of all three species are pretty easy to get close to. I have killed 4 ruffs in my driveway so far. The blue and ruffed seem to wise up fairly fast. I am fortunate to have all three species where I hunt.

Our grouse season starts here next weekend,been working out in the big woods for the last week,I'm seeing coveys of ruffed grouse daily.We do have spruce grouse as well,but not too many,I shot one male for mounting purpose ,bocat jumping at him.When I lived in Montana I really enjoyed hunting blue grouse with my bow while we were elk hunting,good camp meat at spike camp.Thanks for sharing Jack.

It's all about the dogs.

Don't forget the sage grouse.

Great photos Jack. It has been some time since I have seen or heard the familiar drumming of our grouse locally.

An old friend that has passed some time back lived in the woods in an old mobile home. His place had an old, rusted oil tank that a local grouse would fly upon it every morning and drum his little heart out. My old friend used to complain because it would commence to drum much earlier than Albert would arise each day.

I don't care what anyone else calls them, they are still blue grouse to me. My favorite eating game bird.

Sharptails and occasionally some huns here. Season opener tomorrow..

Had quite a lot of 100 grouse seasons back in the day.

BOCO do you step on the wings and slow pull the breasts out?"

I used to,now I just put two fingers of one hand into the bird below the neck(after ripping the skin at the crop)and two fingers from the other hand same place but opposite direction and pull.apart.Get breast and wings in one hand and legs. back and guts in the other.

Always carry the shotgun picking boughs
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My brother and I with a few ruffed grouse and 2 woodcock

Fantastic license plate. That's as good as it gets, in my opinion. Tell me the history behind that sucker. That yours Posco?

It is, Jack. Maine limits us to seven characters on a plate or it would have been TMBRDODL. Only met one person who knew what the plate stood for.