Any bird hunters?

[JWP58]

hmmm maybe that trip to the sandhills should be moved to the 'breaks'.....hit up ol' Charlie Russell's place. Have you heard any news (good or bad) from your sources in the high desert? Another down year I'm guessing..

I'm taking a day trip today to go look at some elk country. I hope to bump in to a few grouse, although the pups are going to sit this one out.

 

[jdlobb]

Pheasant hunting on Faulkton, SD the first week of the season. Can't wait, always a highlight of the year.

 

[JWP58]

I've decided Im finally going to do it, I am going to head to the big empty (aka northern NV) and hunt some chukars in November.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

I guess I don't understand bird hunting. You guys eat those nasty things? And don't tell me it tastes like chicken because Ive had it and it does not.

EDIT: I just realized I love to fish but could care less to eat fish so that blows up that argument.

 

[matt marquardt]

Well Scott C, its not just about killing birds but that's nice too! I enjoy the time with my dog and the scenery. The road trip. The break from normal everyday life. Never ate a bird I didn't like. Same goes for trout. Displaying a fly in/on the water that entices trout in a mountain stream where around the next bend in the water is another breath taking view.

 

[Umtaneum]

Wow I just found this thread. Most of my "overland" camping has been in pursuit of birds. I used to field trial English Setters, now I just hunt. I have backed off a bit in recent years, I used to hunt 50 to 60 days a year.

Most years I spend a week in Hell's Canyon and another week in central SD chasing wild pheasants and sharpies.

 

[Umtaneum]

Last year grouse in the North central part of Washington were the scarcest since I started hunting them seriously 20 years ago. SD was so bad because of the spring floods that we didn't even go. So I am more than primed for September to roll around in a couple of weeks and hit the back country. I found a lot more chukars in Washington and Oregon last year than the last few years, that was a big plus.

There is a pretty good chance that I will be rolling through the Black Hills heading for pheasant country the first week of November. Bighorn Basin isn't much of a detour. How would you guys feel about a newbie stopping by for a day or two? I've never actually hunted Wyoming, we usually drive through it at 80 going somewhere in SD or Mt!

 

[JWP58]

Went out looking for Blue Grouse...skunked again. I tell you these dusky fellas sure are easy to find..unless you're looking for them. Next week they're toast though!!!

 

[outofrshell]

Well at least you got out,my first day of grouse season was rained out then had to work 2 days then had company for 4 days so it has been a bust so far. Friends from Ca. are going to be here Mon. and Tom is looking forward to some grouse hunting so look out grouse we and the dogs are coming. Got an E-Mail from a G&F friend sounds like grouse numbers are up on the Big Horns.
Also heard from a relative in SL that a friend of his was antelope hunting in Nv. and seen a lot of chukars as in like you could scoop them up in a net. JWP58 when are you planning to go to Nv and would you be interested in a hunting partner?The area he was in was where we were in in 2011 so I am kinda familiar with some of it. Dave

 

[JWP58]

Sometime between Oct 27th and Nov 13th. I'd be down for a convoy to chukarland, seems like a much safer idea than going alone and being two flats away from S.O.L.

p.s. found some blues while elk hunting the other day....damn things can run fast when the arrows start flying lol. Oh and I think I found out why I didn't find them....I was too low. Found a pair the other day at 10.5k ft.

 

[Malamute]

Sometime between Oct 27th and Nov 13th. I'd be down for a convoy to chukarland, seems like a much safer idea than going alone and being two flats away from S.O.L.

p.s. found some blues while elk hunting the other day....damn things can run fast when the arrows start flying lol. Oh and I think I found out why I didn't find them....I was too low. Found a pair the other day at 10.5k ft.

Were they in the thick trees? All the ones I've found in the high country have been in pretty thick stuff.

 

[JWP58]

Nope, there were some trees (not thick, just a clump here and there), but it was a rocky ridge point. It was about a 6-7 mile hike in....a place I wouldn't want my dogs either.

 

[Malamute]

Ah, I've mostly seen them in pretty thick stuff. Thick enough in some places that when they flush from the ground and sit in a tree, I cant find/see them. Much of the time, I only hear them flush, then look at the dog(s) to see where they are looking to find the bird.

 

[outofrshell]

Finding blue grouse at 10.5 in Sept. is normal,a little triva if you don't already know blue grouse migrate up and spend the winter at tree line feeding on the buds of young pine trees. We were up on the Bighorns Tuesday at 9500 Ft. and moved 25+ birds off one ridge, Tom got his limit and I got a lot of practice shooting pine trees. I am definitely interested in Nevada just keep me informed, I think Mark and I could do this and still make another trip to Idaho later.Dave

 

[Umtaneum]

Spent the weekend in N. central Washington looking for grouse. Saw quite a few, brought a few home. It seems the Ruffed grouse are rebounding faster than the Blues, at least up there. My dad did pick up a couple of Blues, and I missed one. This particular area we were hunting is interesting because it's the only region I've ever hunted where you regularly find Ruffies at HIGHER elevations than Blues. You find them lower, too, but it's all about the vegetation. If there is a swampy area at 5000 ft, you'll find Ruffs. If there is an open, dry hillside with serviceberry, snowberry, and some fir trees for escape, you'll find Blues, even at 3000 ft.