We spent a couple hours working our way up through the new growth conifers just hoping to come across a covey of grouse. Location: Front Range of Colorado Posted July 2, 2018. Option two is to get close enough to where they are hiding to make them flush. Lets hear how your Blue / Dusky grouse hunting is going. I got lucky last year and found a good group of them and happened to have the shotgun in the truck. Joined Sep 9, 2019 Messages 23. There are a variety of grouse you are likely to see on hunting properties for sale. What I’m getting at here is if you’re looking for a great do-it-all game knife, take a serious look at the Fiddleback Forge F2. As time went on, we've added more knife-makers, more gear, and more brands that we knew (or at least hoped) our community would enjoy. Steve, who was still above me on the other side of the trees said that he thought it was a helicopter flying overhead until my shotgun rang out. Look for their droppings. The dusky and the sooty. Dusky grouse are especially plentiful this year in Colorado A close, working bird dog on south-facing slopes serves as a good strategy for hunting dusky grouse. Now, before I get into the events of the day, let me explain a little more about hunting dusky grouse and touch on the 20ga/.22lr combo choice. Lol, first thought I had, also. Those other two grouse took us a good 5 minutes to spot. In my limited grouse hunting experience I’ve noticed that grouse can sometimes prefer aspens, so we decided to hike up to a patch of aspens just above a meadow before we headed to the next logging area. Or maybe picking your way through a rocky, cactus covered desert landscape hunting for those quick and shifty little quail. We offer specialized hunts tailored to the needs of the sportsman. I would … Blue/Dusky Grouse Stories and Tips Wanted! First time hunting in Colorado. It requires backpack camping, would be literally impossible to hunt in a day. This small cutting resembled an upside-down tear-drop, with the “pointy end” towards the road. Although hunting conditions have not been ideal, there are still plenty of birds in Colorado for what is shaping up to be an average year. In Colorado we have about 6 of those with the most targeted being the dusky grouse. We found them last week well up the mountain in young / sparse pines with the floor covered in blueberry or huckleberry (or similar). Would be happy to give you the location, tons of birds running around. report. I hunted with a couple of friends on Thursday and by … New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. That bird exists--in abundance--and it's called a blue grouse, which has officially been renamed the dusky grouse. Hayden Grouse Leks. Aspen sage boundaries. That last one might not be the first thing that comes to mind, if at all, but grouse hunting is solidly planted in the “upland hunting” realm. The sooty are prevalent in the Sierras while the dusky’s inhabit the Rocky Mountains. As it turns out, this was a good plan! I have some young pups that I am excited about getting going, Brittanies. We thought he had missed, however, it turns out that the second grouse was actually sitting in front of the log the entire time. How about climbing up the side of a mountain, scouring the edges of hidden meadows and aspen stands just hoping to scare up a couple grouse? Without a dog to sniff them out you’ve got two options when it comes to finding duskies. Dusky grouse summer low around the sage/aspen margin where there are more bugs for their chicks to eat. Dusky grouse seem to prefer “transitional zones”; meadows surrounded by mature conifers, old logging areas with young spruce, fir, and aspen with mature conifers nearby, ridged out sage flats with aspen and confer below, so on and so forth. QUICK GUIDE COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • roadway Denver CO 21 • () 2-112 • cpw.state.co.us Pheasant Canada geese Mourning dove Mallard (duck) Dusky grouse Fox Cottontail rabbit Coyote Fox squirrel 5 Steps to the Hunt Archery Small-caliber rifle About a quarter of the way down “the tear” I noticed a small patch of fir trees with a bunch of currant bushes around their trunks. Such variables serve as both the enigma and allure of dusky grouse hunting. By mid-Sept. (when hunting season starts) the birds are usually located in areas where small forbs are found that have not yet been damaged by frost. I got into a few at 9k feet that time last year. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sort by. I flushed a few around 9k a few days ago but they could be elsewhere in a few weeks. Colorado, United States • The Hubbard Creek region of Western Colorado is renowned for its exceptional turkey and game bird hunting opportunities. Look for old, closed logging roads. Species. Grouse hunting, in my experience at least, can be an extreme test of patience. Fiddleback Outpost has always had a close relationship with Fiddleback Forge. They inhabit at least portions of 43 of Colorado’s 63 counties. You are using an out of date browser. Although, that depiction might not be entirely accurate for their appearance, it’s definitely a good description of what they taste like. More of the game birds are harvested annually in its namesake county than anywhere else in Colorado. For the past couple years our first outing has been pushed back by Labor Day weddings, this year was no different. Hunting for grouse in Eagle County Colorado. In one radio telemetry study, a grouse traveled 25 miles. You see, we had driven past this spot on the way in, the plan was to start at the top and work our way down, so I had already caught a glimpse of it and liked what I saw. Look for and think about areas that have lots of grasshoppers. I'll spend 3 days hiking around not finding a single bird only to shoot my limit on day 4 only 10 minutes after getting out of the car. New growth spruce and fir, mixed with some stunted aspens, close access to mature trees to hide in if they needed to, and plenty of different berry producing plants, the preferred food of grouse. Option one is spot them from a ways off, as seen in the picture here of Steve glassing up grouse country with his binoculars. A three grouse day is not something that occurs all the time, especially for those of us without dogs, so we were quite proud of our achievement. No More Fiddleback Forge Knives at Fiddleback Outpost?. First time hunting in Colorado. Even though I’m a chukar hunter at heart I love hunting Blue’s. What comes to mind when you see that phrase? As I came around the bottom side of the trees three grouse exploded out from below them. Are you a Long-Range (shooter) or Closer Range. Two old logging areas between 10,000 and 11,000 feet in elevation caught my eye and I decided that we would start our day at those. High above the Colorado river is where I started my day off…but not a single bird was located before the temps hit into the mid 80’s. Hunting Dusky Grouse in Colorado. The power of nature can be humbling sometimes…. Seeing feathers fly and the grouse fall completely ruined my composure for the following shot and the second and third grouse flew off untouched only to land about 75 yards away somewhere on the edge of the mature stand of trees that were encircling us. The dusky, aka blue, grouse is the only animal known to fly to higher elevations in the winter. They are reverse migrators I believe (they go up instead of down) so whatever elevation you start flushing them at, stick to it and you'll likely get into more of them. Be sure to check the legal methods of take for your species in the regulations. Big, explosive and oftentimes erratic, these birds have hands down become my favorite game animals to chase. Late September Dusky Grouse Colorado. docdro.id/s1N7bS... 4 comments. October 8, again in the San Isabel Forest near Canon City, Colorado, and again about 9,000'. July 22, 2020 They primarily occur in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Washington, as well as most of British Columbia, Alberta, and the Yukon Territory. North America is home to 15 or 20 different grouse species. Free Shipping on USA Orders $175 or More - Click to Read Shipping Updates. Colorado Bird Hunting Seasons Span September 1 – January 31, 2021 Resident License Fees: $30.11 1-Day $13.90 Non-Resident License Fees: $82.78 1-Day $16.94 With a good dose of luck you could also find a Dusky Grouse displaying in the same area. Contributed by Orion Aon, freelance blogger for Fiddleback Outpost & avid fan of Fiddleback Forge knives. Hunting Dusky Grouse in Colorado. best. Without exception, the crops of the grouse I've killed have been full of snow berries, juniper berries, and creeping barberries as well as leaves from said plants. Steep slopes between 8-11k ft. That narrows it down right? I find them around the same elevation as the elk. During the spring gobbler season, the hunter can hunt archery or shotgun. September 1st marks the “bird opener” in Colorado, and every fall we try to get out to hunt grouse at least once. To get there, grouse sometimes travel prodigious distances. When Steve shot the top one, the second immediately took flight and made us think he had missed. Ive hunted two of the three days our season has been open here in Colorado. Best areas to hunt. Once you find a likely area it just becomes a matter of wandering around until you either spot them or flush them, which is exactly what our game plan was for the day…, I was familiar with the area from the previous mushroom hunting trips, but I still studied a map for a little while to pick out some likely grouse spots. I've seen duskies while hunting big game in Colorado, and I know they are considered fools hens. I think you have the best wild game recipes I have found . I imagine it would also do very well as a caping and skinning knife for big game, and would have zero issues with various furry small game tasks as well. Short of having a heart attack, there is little more exciting than chasing Dusky grouse deep in the mountains while the aspens are showing off their colors. This bird’s hunting season usually runs from Sept. 1 through Nov. 20, and West of I-25 only, with a daily bag limit of three and a possession limit of nine. Comments will be approved before showing up. The crew from back east is making the trek for some big game. The Colorado dusky grouse season opened on Labor Day this year…getting out of the I-70 parking lot is an absolute nightmare as there are hordes and hordes of people in mass exodus from the mountains. He took aim and fired only to have the grouse fly up into a nearby tree! The grouse once again were proving to be smarter than us, we didn’t see a thing. I'd start there and work up. 100% Guarantee you would take one look at the map and... hard pass. In the spring, dusky grouse leave the high country and move to their breeding grounds. Dusky grouse, who live in forests, even eat fir needles in winter when other plants are scarce. Aliases: Route 80 Leks The area right outside of Hayden is one of the best in Colorado to see two species of lekking grouse in the spring, Sharp-tailed and Greater Sage-Grouse. It's definitely worth doing, but fuck it gets tough sometimes. Substituted blue grouse in the general tso and the Kung poa and it was the best. At this point we were both feeling a little discouraged, but we had one more area to check and I had a good feeling about it. Permission Granted “My permission slip is signed, pick me up at 3:00 am.” I whisper into the phone held tightly to my ear, not wanting Hazel to hear me in fear she might change her mind. Any Grouse experts out there? | 554 W Main St • Ste 1300 • Buford, GA 30518 | 470.485.3485. Friday morning was a unwelcome day off because of steady rain. This thread is archived. I was hoping to get into them last week where we saw a ton last year, but I think we only saw 4-5 grouse before my buddy killed his bull, so no great opportunities for birds... You must log in or register to reply here. Maybe a brisk fall morning, a layer of frost covering the dried grass and shrubs that dot the prairie, and an excited hunting dog flushing a small covey of pheasants. Katherine said, “You have to … … Here I find them 2500 to 4000 feet elevation. If you’re lucky enough to be able to hunt grouse, you’ll know how good they are to … The hairs prickled up on my neck and I immediately had the feeling that this is where the grouse would be hanging out; it’s a strange experience when your instinctual intuition figures things out before you do. 1 Comment. It may not display this or other websites correctly. IF YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PACKAGE BY CHRISTMAS, WE SUGGEST UPGRADING YOUR SHIPPING METHOD TO UPS INSTEAD OF US POSTAL SERVICE (USPS). They may breed in a variety of habitats, … I decided not to brave the crowds and waited until the following Thursday to chase grouse with the birddogs. Every time I've gone out looking for them I come up empty. Kevin shoots a Blue Grouse at 15 yards and demonstrates how easy they are to clean in the field. Im always confused by the whereabouts of these birds. I finally noticed one of them sitting on a log, head up and alert, and told Steve where to look. Grouse aren’t the quickest or the smartest birds, but they blend in dang well, so they use that to their advantage. We arrived around 8:00AM, loaded up our guns, and tossed on our packs. The sooty grouse can often be found where you least expect them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. hide. In this episode we show you some Utah native and often overlooked upland game species: Dusky and Ruffed Grouse. There are many ranches for sale in Colorado that are replete with the vegetation that grouse thrive on. Smoke and heat was the theme for our annual Colorado grouse camp this year. They are also one of the best eating birds around. I live near the blue mountains here in Oregon and am blessed with great blue grouse hunting. save. Thread starter PBenjamin; Start date Sep 13, 2019; Sep 13, 2019 #1 P. PBenjamin New member. When e-scouting grouse spots, I look for fairly steep berry-covered hillsides and spruce or aspens BELOW for grouse to fly DOWN to escape predators. Check out Orion's YouTube Channel 'Backcountry Bounty' for more great stuff! The F2 is a wonderful knife, it’s thin, laser sharp, beautiful, and comfortable. I'm really fascinated about the idea of hunting blue/dusky grouse with bird dogs. Then, they migrate uphill and winter high surviving on spruce needles and such. 10-20 year cuts rather than older growth pines seemed to be favored. Surprisingly, this area has been very productive in the past but that day we never moved a feather. Some might even go get a chopper or some bolts and drills. In other words, everyone should expect delays...as well as tracking issues. In Colorado we have about 6 of those with the most targeted being the dusky grouse. by Fred Bohm | Oct 9, 2015 | Upland Game. Unfortunately, the only thing of any note that we came across was a pine tree that had been blown apart by lightning, we found pieces of wood 50 yards from the stump. What I'm about to write is likely going to put me on the hit list of every khaki-clad, upland-bird-hunting purist out there. The plan was to start at the bottom and work our way counter-clockwise around the perimeter, once we reached the top we planned on weaving our way down through the trees, hopefully jumping any grouse hanging out under the foliage munching on berries. Whenever someone asks me what a dusky grouse looks like, I say something along the lines of, “Sort of like a small forest chicken”. It seems that the only time I find blue/dusky grouse is when I'm elk hunting. of take in Colorado. www.wingmenhunting.com Join Wing Men Upland Hunting to hunt blue (dusky) grouse with their bird dogs (English setters) in the mountains of Montana. What would you say if I told you that there's a Western game bird that lives almost exclusively on easily accessed public land, works well for both pointing and flushing dogs, and tastes better than pheasant? I’m heading up last week of Sept. Any tips on some decent ducky locations??? The dusky grouse is found throughout the western United States and Canada. At least there were some photo opportunities and one heck of a view! JavaScript is disabled. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. There was a slight frost on the ground and the thermometer on my car read 39 degrees, chilly, but the hiking quickly warmed us up. 4 Comments, Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more…, © 2021 Fiddleback Outpost. Slightly, very slightly, gamey chicken; delicious. The grouse were gutted in the field, mine with my CPM154 Fiddleback F2, and once home were used in a delicious Coq au Vin that we served over egg noodles. This is where Steve and the .22lr come in handy! Along with big game, fall is a great time for pursuing smaller, feathery table fare. You'll be hard placed to find anyone giving away dusky grouse locations. We loaded up our day packs and grabbed our guns, a Benelli Montefeltro 20ga for me and a Savage Mark II .22lr for Steve (more on the .22 in a second) and headed up to an area where I have stumbled on grouse in the past while mushroom hunting. North America is home to 15 or 20 different grouse species. They are a fun bird to hunt if you know how to find them. We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020. Lateral Line Media Menu Skip to ... in search for the elusive Dusky Grouse (formerly know as the Blue Grouse). As I mentioned earlier, grouse really use their natural camouflage as their defense. Welcome to HT, and congrats on your bird! We, we being myself and my good buddy Steve, were finally able to get a morning freed up to go look for grouse. But... May 01, 2018 The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. The birds are mosty in heavy timber areas at an elevation of … But I hear they work really well for a bird dog early in the season. Here are a few tips. In the winter, dusky grouse live in the high country, roosting and feeding in stands of Douglas fir and lodge pole pine. Be first to know about New Release times, Special Offers, & News. Colorado grouse country ablaze. A guide to finding and hunting the Dusky Grouse. Not only do we share first names, but Outpost was started because we saw an opportunity to help Fiddleback Forge (and apprentice brands) build their brand and reach a larger audience. He fired again and the second grouse fell. I do believe that the Colorado … Unless it takes full on wall climbing gear or a helicopter, people would go. Wilm may be underestimating the gravitational pull of blue Grouse for the obsessed. The forbs are similar to kinnicknick (look in a plant guide). I’m heading up last week of Sept. Any tips on some decent ducky locations??? Both options require you to actually be in “grouse territory” if you’re going to have any success, so solving that issue is the first challenge. The region is game rich with turkeys and blue grouse. I don't believe that there are sharptails in the unit 7. That last one might not be the first thing that comes to mind, if at all, but grouse hunting is solidly planted in the “upland hunting” realm. Climbers or anglers bound for high lakes sometimes see adult birds in these high places, gaining the false impression that this is where most birds can be found during hunting … Though I was shocked by their loud exit and pumped up with adrenaline, I was still able to compose myself enough to take down the first grouse with my 20 gauge. I made sure to clip my Fiddleback Fish and Fowl (F2) to my pack because if we were successful on our hunt this would give me my first opportunity to put the F2 to use on something it was named for, fish and fowl! Not only are there no snipe near me, there may not be man SE Colorado Dusky Grouse 2 - The Snipe Hunting … Dusky Grouse in Colorado: A Guide to Hunting and Viewing Introduction Dusky grouse, formerly known as blue grouse, can be found in suitable habitats in all of Colorado’s mountainous areas. share. 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