*Not our quarterly print publication. Gear for a typical day hunting grouse should include: blaze orange vest and hat, water, compass, shotgun, size #6 or #7 shells in the appropriate gauge, durable pants and long-sleeve shirt, as well as sturdy waterproof boots. Like killing the first grouse, missing the second grouse, and then killing the third. A New England native, he grew up hunting and has spent over 30 years in pursuit of big and small game species across three continents. No one knows exactly what has caused the population decline, but Monte said logging restrictions on pub- lic lands during the past two decades have seriously limited grouse habitat. Star and I were very fortunate that I had hunted with Fatsto learn the ropes and where and how to hunt. Hes acting awfully birdy all of a sudden, whispered Broderick almost to himself. Soon you will develop an eye for birdy cover. Although there were not as many grouse in the 70s as there were in the 60s, there were still a good many grouse, especially if you knew where to hunt. His theory again, the small shot could better penetrate through leaves, vines and limbs because of the higher shot count, which produced a thicker pattern. I don't know what the elevation is but it is mountainous! After Arthur Trueloves legendary Dot passed away in 1969, Truelove gave up grouse hunting forever. Then she held her head up and was following her nose till she locked-down on point. Arthur and I both relied on hard-hunting grouse dogs for our success. Ruffed grouse depend on periodic forest upheaval such as wildfire or logging to create vital edge zones and mixed-growth hardwood stands. Although, I got home early, Arthur was already there visiting with the folks. We continue to run his insights into bowhunting to help others, which Mike would have loved. He was the best snap-shooter I ever saw. These forests are usually closely bordered or interspersed with mixed conifer-hardwoods, spruce-fir forests, and speckled alder swamps, all of which offer additional food and cover. Young-of-the-year birds have dispersed from the brood, and most winter flushes produce only individual birds. When showing Arthur the two new grouse and telling him about all the snow and how hard the days hunt had been, thats when Arthur took off his cap and said, I have thought about you all day and was wishing you good luck. Sorry state our NF's are in. If the grouse hunting is slow, you can grab you trout rod and do some fishing. I would like to know to. I was able to load 12-gauge shells for .95 cents a box of 25. In 1975 I purchased a brand-new CJ 5 Jeep to travel in the mountains for a hunting vehicle. I wrote some additional grouse hunting tips here as well for anyone thats interested. Monte suggested using a logging map to plan the days hunt. We seek to inspire a future generation of upland bird hunters to understand the essence of hunting traditions and the critical cause for conservation. , do him a favor and start working him like he's got a marathon, well in advance. Thats obviously a completely ridiculous statement. On the other side of the ridge, just out of sight, Buck searched the wind for scents, his collar bell jingling closer as he nosed sticky blackberry thickets and oak stumps rising defiantly from the wet ground. You may only use pigeons and pen-raised quail in designated areas. Last Day to Receive the Spring Issue FREE Those two hunts and todays hunt made nine grouse killed the last three times I had gone hunting. One time, when he and I were hunting down Board-town creek, Dot was hunting way up high on the mountainside when she froze on point. Climbing mountainsides toting an 8-lb. Ryan is also passionate about helping other adults experience the outdoors for their first time, which spurred him to launch Zero to Hunt, a website devoted to mentoring new hunters. Fats taught me a lot of lessons about grouse. This research will provide GA DNR with cost-effective, reliable estimates of the current status and distribution of Ruffed Grouse, and to assess the effectiveness of recent forest management actions. I got so close to her that I bumped her with my foot and she exploded in my face. Bang, bang, bang went Fats gun, and three grouse came tumbling down. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Being a sporting-goods buyer and retail sporting goods manager for 47 years, I was exposed to all kinds of hunters and outdoorsmen. Back in those days when we hunted, there were no food plots or drivable roads off of the main U.S. Forest Service roads, just logging roads. When Star had finished retrieving both grouse, I quit hunting right then and went home. That late, theyll be looking for something green to eat.. Theres just some- thing about watching a good bird dog do what it was born to do that makes the imagination kick into gear. Buck was still holding his point, and tiny drops of blood blossomed on his lips and tongue courtesy of the blackberry tangles. Learning about grouse habitat and grouse behavior , where grouse and woodcock live, with any of the three breeds mentioned is great fun. A breeding survey cited in 2007 by the University of Georgias Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources showed that during the mid- 1980s, 1 1/2 flushes per hour was a good day of hunting. He told me about killing 12 grouse straight, without missing a shot, in one season. I had to break my side by side down and put it in my game bag to climb with both hands up the side of that mountain. I agree with the writer, IF the pointer is one of those rare canines that can approach and hold the bird while the hunter positions himself and anticipates the flush path. There is no small game license in the state, but the base hunting license does not account for big game hunting which requires an additional license. For 10 years I was just a causal skeet shooter as a part of my outdoor nature. Despite Louisiana and east Texas being the meccas of Southern woodcock hunting, parts of Georgia still get a solid flight of birds. . Check everything you need to know to plan your next hunting trip. 2017. As temperatures drop below freezing, birds move down from the ridges in search of water and succulent plants. I had done the unbelievable. I also learned that Fats liked very cold days to hunt grouse, much better than warm days. Ideal winter grouse cover will provide flowing water, sufficient green vegetation and protection from predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes. This pups name was Dot, who was born in 1959 and lived till 1970. Bonasa umbellus. http://www.zerotohunt.com/try-ruffed-grouse-hunting/. I started reloading shotgun shells as I was able to purchase reloading supplies at the cost to the business were I was buying sporting-goods. Grouse Facts. However, Arthur and I deer hunted middle Georgias big deer. I never even got my hammer cocked, much less shoot, before those three grouse were flopping on the ground, even though they flew in different directions.. Hauling Wood & Hunting Grouse Bushway 5.5K views 2 years ago 220 inch whitetail buck shot at 7 yards! Fats said one time, If a dog hunts with me, it will have to have enough spunk for it to get out from under my feet and hunt places I dont walk, because I figure I can kill those grouse.. On my better days I would flush 15 to 20 grouse. Fats switched from bird hunting to grouse hunting in 1947. Jul 30, 2020 #7 Whit90 Senior Member Most of the grouse I see here in western NC are above 2500'. At least not in the northeast. I began building a Scandinavian scribe-fitted log home, which took 13 years to build. Your email address will not be published. Ideal habitat is typically young aspen as thick . My lifestyle changed again in 1980. This opened-up the forest and caused the grouse populations to increase. Home Grouse Species Ruffed Grouse Hunting How to Identify Ruffed Grouse Habitat, Ryan Lisson is a biologist and regular content contributor to. They prefer higher elevations; quite a bit of the Chattahoochee National Forest has good habitat for them. Our objectives are to: Estimate Ruffed Grouse abundance in Georgia and produce a distribution map indicating where density is greatest. When I killed the last one for that season, he congratulated me, and he was proud for me being able to do this. The program concerns more than just hunter access; it also involves plans like the Bobwhite Quail Initiative. Pick Your Pockets. The good news is that grouse populations tend to be cyclical, often waxing and waning every seven to 10 years, and Broderick said that this year seems to be on the upside so far. I never made a triple on grouse either, even when I did shoot a semi-auto gun. A snap-shooter shoots at a spot. 2017. Buying direct from reloading manufactures let me load boxes of 12 gauge shot shells with 1 1/8-oz. Grouse more than any other game bird will gravitate to pockets of prime cover, meaning those containing whatever its priority requirements are at the moment. As a result, the regulations for bird dog training in Georgia vary depending on where you are. 9 shot for .95 cents for a box of 25 shells, back in 1975. This family of shooters consisted of Arthurs pa and grandpa. The never-ending fun and good meals that come with squirrel and rabbit hunting are worth the effort to pursue. Without saying a word to him, I started taking the three grouse out of my vest and arranging them and my gun for a photo in front of a stump. Was it a ghost? When Dot died in 1969, Arthur retired from grouse hunting and never wanted to hunt grouse anymore. Choosing to shoot a Remington Model 3200 0/U in Skeet & Skeet eliminated my chance because of shooting a two-shot gun. If you learn them, you can find grouse and scout for deer and turkeys. Another happening at this same time was a span-worm infestation, which lasted three or four years. DNA Samples Needed. Arthur and I continued to hunt wild turkeys and deer together for many more years, but his glorious days of grouse hunting were over. It reminded me how challenging Mr. Ruff can actually be and encouraged me to make an assessment of what it takes to be successful on a long-term basis. The national forest had been logged selective for the past 50 years. In 7 seasons we are approaching the 600 mark on grouse and woodcock. OVERJOYED! There is no question that lack of timber harvesting and regeneration type harvesting not thinning or selection in particular is the primary factor in declining populations, said Monte. These guns weighed in at more than 8 pounds. Fats was a blockmason by trade, when he worked. I realize, too, in todays world, most grouse shooters now shoot over/under guns, with only two shots. For the season, he . Since then, most of the young forest habitat that ruffed grouse prefer in north Georgia has grown too mature for them. Ive had them put a tree between us. This went on for the next hour and we pointed probably 3 more turkey. But there are ruffed grouse to be had if you know where to look. It was back in a different hunting world. I could almost visualize an explosion of feathers flying. Luckily, grouse hunting takes very little hunting gear to get started. As you can see, youre probably not all that far from decent grouse hunting no matter where you live. I definitely like seeking out hidden and remote pockets of cover. Remember, I said these tips were about being successful on a long-term basis. I would like to end my story of by-gone grouse days with one of the great bird hunting stories told to me by Fats Truelove. As such, they generally only occur in higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountain range down into Georgia. Moreover, before the flush the bird is acutely aware of the dog AS WELL AS the hunter. All things must come to an end sooner or later. Another factor that Monte and some other hunters feel is contributing to the population decline in grouse isthe increase in wild turkey populations and the resulting competition for habitat, which is exacerbated by the loss of habitat diversity caused by logging restrictions. I know it seems hard to believe todaywith grouse now rare in the north Georgia mountainsbut with Little Mac in his first grouse season we had 341 flushes on grouse. Mature oak trees provide mast and the pines and cedars provide cover. Can't disagree with that, but the elevation of the WMA is much higher than Toccoa, but grouse are probably not thriving there, if there are any at all. While we reserve the right to remove or modify comments at our sole discretion, the Sportsman's Guide does not bear any responsibility for user comments. Its tough getting shots, but the birds like that. Also, my slipping and sliding was bad as I made my way up toward Star. After Arthurs retirement from grouse hunting, I was given a young female setter dog by another friend, the late J. D. Davis, of Gainesville. There is the overlooked snipe, four subspecies of rails, andif you are really looking for somethingcrow. Fats liked for me to hunt with him, and it instilled in me to become an outdoorsman, woodsman, deer hunter, grouse hunter and turkey hunter. She was being quoted about her many accomplishments during her lifetime for big society. Ruffed Grouse populations have declined in the Appalachian Mountains largely due to landscape-scale changes in forest management. More typical is a pointer that does very well on Woodcock, but when it comes to the King, the flush comes at a time of the birds choosing, not the hunters. Accessed at: http://explorer.natureserve.org. In the mid 80s he averaged 35 to 40 birds per season. Hunting Georgia for Bobwhite, Grouse, Woodcock, and Small Game, The Difference Between a Deutsch-Drahthaar and a German Wirehaired Pointer, Understanding Shotgun Chokes How to Choose a Choke Size for Hunting, Pheasant Hunting Ammo and Chokes A Pheasant Hunters Guide, 28-Gauge: The Exception of the Sub-Gauge Shotgun, German Shorthaired Pointer The Most Popular Versatile Dog in the World, Pudelpointer Dog Breed Form, Function, History, and More, Gordon Setter Breed History, Standards and Origins, Development and History of the Irish Red Setter, Irish Water Spaniel: A Versatile Dog Breed Indeed, Bird Hunting in Colorado Grouse, Quail, Chukar, Pheasant, and More, Small Game and Bird Hunting in Alaska, Season Dates, Licenses Fees, and New Rules, Connecticut Small Game and Bird Hunting Seasons and Opportunities, All the Bobwhite Quail in the South Arent Gone, Georgia-Florida Shooting Dog Handlers Association, Summer 2020 Issue of Project Upland Magazine, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, The Upland Shooting Life, by George Bird Evans, New England Grouse Shooting, by William Harnden Foster, Sept 5 30, 2020, Nov 21 29, 2020, and Dec 8, 2020 Jan 21, 2021, Sept 17 Oct 21 and Nov 13 Dec 17, 2020. The article may not reflect this. Use these habitats as a general guide, but dont be afraid to try finding new coverts elsewhere. All Rights Reserved. Working your way into where the grouse actually are and being ready to get a shot off are huge for grouse hunting. Find places where the trees have been removed and replaced with new growth. The Trueloves started hunting deer in the mountains. Many hunters use programs like Google Maps to find Ruffed Grouse Habitat. Yes, I too observed Arthur making many, many doubles and a few other triples in the 13 seasons that we hunted grouse together. A look back on times in the mountains when dogs and grouse mattered most to men like Arthur Truelove and Herb McClure. At the end of her story she said, Well, if you have done some things that were true, you should be allowed to brag a little, if you choose. Referring back to that ladys quote, I will say, I, too, have a little bragging I want to do! Today, that average has dropped to about 3/4 of a flush per hour. 7 1/2 or 8 shot to throw a wide pattern. Swallow Creek WMA adjoins Burton WMA and features more north- facing slopes, which tend to be grouse hotspots. Georgia Outdoor News is your best source for timely news about hunting, fishing and everything outdoors in the state of Georgia. Needless to say, I shot some skeet. The buds/catkins from both species are consumed by grouse heavily throughout the winter. Great tips and I would have to agree with the others on pointer being the only dog comment.. He was brought up shooting live birds from his early boyhood, in a family that realized more income from the quail they shot and then sold than from the cotton they grew. When you find a lot of grouse, mark the spot on a map, stand back and memorize its characteristics. By January and February, young-of-the- year birds have dispersed from the brood and most winter flushes produce only individual birds. Grouse hunting with dogs can increase the number of flushes in a day, but many successful outings are had simply by walking old logging roads in the morning and evening. Grouse numbers in the southern Appalachians are not what they used to be. He started collecting guns on his 18th birthday and eventually found his passion for side-by-side shotguns . Fats had all the talents needed to become a grouse hunter. Thats a recipe for finding grouse. Ryan Lisson is a biologist and regular content contributor to several outdoor manufacturers, hunting shows, publications, and blogs. . The last day of the 1976-77 Georgia grouse season, the author downed these three grouse above a steep Towns County logging road to complete a streak of 13 straight grouse-killing shots without a miss. The thick regrowth will be one of the best spots to find grouse in this region. Anywhere theres a change in the cover type, theres going to be a more diverse mix of tree/shrub species and one is bound to be thicker than the other. For those looking to enjoy a full day of hiking and hunting, try the 15,800-acre Warwoman WMA located 5 miles east of Clayton. Dot was Fats favorite grouse dog. Youve got a lot of rhododendron on both sides. Georgia Outdoor News is your best source for timely news about hunting, fishing and everything outdoors in the state of Georgia. Putting in ten miles a day might sound impressive, but it doesnt mean a thing if youre not focusing on the right Ruffed Grouse habitat. I asked him what made a grouse flush so legendary, and his eyes brightened with memories. Thanks! Heard a ton drumming this spring during turkey season, which is promising. Public lands tend to be more productive than private tracts because of previous logging activity. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I manage myself too, If there is a brood, I wont harvest more than two and I try not to hit the same area/trail more than twicebut I live in Northern MN and there is plenty of public land available to hunt. Taccoa is < 1000' elevation. Sometimes, a bigger ranging pointer will work, but its got to be one that works delicately and points at long range. Overall, the north side of the mountain is better than the south.. Small Game Hunting #14: 1 Ruffed Grouse by 20 Ga. You do not kill that many grouse just being a weekend grouse hunter. I only found a fresh shed deer antler for my time being spent there. So, my last 10 years before I quit, my hunts were just Star and myself. Nevers seeded nothings likes this before., My reply back to him was, A little luck got thrown in, and it doesnt hurt most things.. All Rights Reserved. Monte suggested using a shotgun that is comfortable for the shooter, but he cautioned that a 12-gauge can gain weight as the day goes on. I went to a mountain top that a forest service friend had told me he had seen a few grouse in and hunted for a few hours. After Star had retrieved this grouse and I had finished putting the grouse into my hunting vest, I noticed Star was acting GROUSE-EEE. But there are still pockets of grouse cover scattered here and there. Subscribe by Tonight and be in the first summer issue mailing! In the mid 60s, I became interested in shooting skeet. Its time to get up. Grouse hunters in Michigan will have expanded hunting opportunities in the Upper Peninsula (UP) this year. of No. This family raised cotton in the summer and hunted quail, known simply as birds, all the winter months. Now well discuss the specific ruffed grouse habitat types in several different regions across the country. When Fats was nearing Dot, three grouse flushed all flying away the same way. Grouse: Saturday-October 15, 2022: Monday-February 28, 2022: Statewide: Limit of 3 each day: Quail: Saturday-November 12, 2022: Monday-February 28, 2022: Statewide: Limit of 12 each . We returned to the truck with empty bird bags and tired legs, but the views of Lake Burton and the mountains beyond had been worth the trip. The snow was no problem for my CJ-5 Jeep with its 4-wheel drive. Our turn to decide who lives and who dies. If you walk five hours a day, a pound will feel much more than that, said Monte. It is incredible how something so familiar to a New-England-born hunter as a drumming grouse could cause such sensory overload. The trick to triggering winter flushes is to get into the heart of the habitat. Hunters are responsible for knowing and abiding by seasons and limits or be subject to charges and fines. Chasing Giants with Higgins Outdoors 1.3M views 1 year ago A day hunting Ruffed Grouse. Just go to where theres some cover. The 2020 to 2021 season was announced this year to run December 5th to January 18th. I have already stated these bird-hunting stories were better than the bird hunting stories in Sports Afield, even those written by the late Nash Buckingham. Arthur already had nine seasons of grouse hunting before he took me under his guidance. When you have the first really cold spell, they tend to come down to the creeks, Monte said. Significant damage from recent tornadoes has created some fine grouse habitat near a clearcut on the lower end of the WMA. 2000' there is probably equal to 3500'-4000' here, if you factor in the more northern latitude. During those abundant grouse years of 61, 62 and 63, Fats killed more than 100 grouse each year. The region for northern bobwhites extends from the Blue Ridge Mountains down to the coast. Learn more about our use of cookies:cookie policy. Grouse more than any other game bird will gravitate to pockets of prime cover, meaning those containing whatever its priority requirements are at the moment. Gilreath and Williams creeks in Gaddistown were very special places, and almost all of the Blue Ridge WMAs creek drainages were, too. Would it explode or was it a dud? There were still a lot of acorns on the ground, and the birds were likely scattered and feeding throughout the forest. The bird hunts they did were done on foot from the homestead to many areas in a different directions each day and covered 12 to 15 miles. It is closed to small-game hunting Jan. 8-11. That days hunt lasted only 15 minutes, compared to all day the previous two. Get the latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers for the upland obsessed curated to your email each week. You can train your dog on the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests from August 15 to May 31. He made a couple more points, and there were a few more exciting moments, but the heavy wind seemed to have the grouse pinned down that day. Dense thickets and forests are used by hens to rear their chicksthe really thick cover helps hide them from aerial and ground predators until they can fly better to evade them. 2022-23 Georgia Hunting Season Dates Deer Seasons. Never to be seen again. Fats carried and shot a gun that no modem-day grouse shooter would consider. Ruffed grouse populations are limited in the southeast U.S., as they require snow for a portion of the year. Seems like it was not meant to be. Deep snow can prove to be a real hazard to turkeys, whether food is present or not. We are a Hog Pest Control company that also targets predators, so sometimes we take down coyotes and other nuisance animals as well. By January and February, most grouse have hunkered down for the winter, subsisting primarily on evergreen vegetation. Thus, when Fats started hunting grouse in the late 40s, his gun handling and shooting were already superb. He was delighted, and he shared with me in my joy of shooting those seven grouse. A well trained springer , working cocker, or english setter of good breeding make great grouse and woodcock dogs. Also, the pressure was building, and I knew what I was trying to do. From local hunters Ive talked to, the numbers appear to be a little bit higher this season, he said. If all of the woods looked like the woods at Russell, there would be an abundance of grouse & quail! Over 40% in Savings: subscribe Now Dismiss, Our site uses cookies. All things considered, you only need a shotgun, a pair of boots, some durable clothing, and blaze orange. Anyone under the age of 16 is not required to complete a hunter education course, but must be under the direct supervision of an adult. Busting them up when its so cold out especially later in the day makes for a less likely survival of the night. After about 30 minutes my dog froze up on point and I thought to myself this is going to be too easy. Kate only had one pup. Lightweight clothing and equipment are essential when spending a day hiking and hunting through the mountains. I reached a total of 25 kills during the last week of that season. No loud talking was ever allowed, which helped prevent wild flushes. Killing a limit of three grouse did happen often. Buck was stretching into a point now, staring intently at the tangle of brush. Fats Truelove was never married and did not work from September to June each year in order to have time for deer hunts, grouse hunts and turkey hunts. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, there are, but I doubt there's many. I have a chocolate lab as well that started grouse hunting at 8 months and is a natural. I missed every way there was like missing the first grouse and doubling the last two. To me, this was some good shooting. As a response, the state of Georgia set up the Bobwhite Quail Initiative. The grouse hunter who I was taught by was none other than Arthur (Fats) Truelove, of Hall County. My memories of hunting the ruffed grouse in Georgias high mountains began back in 1956 when I was taken under the wing and taught about a great game bird. Bring plenty of water especially if working with dogs because high-country streams can sometimes be tough to come by with the ongoing drought. The views expressed within the comment section do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of The Sportsman's Guide. These span-worms completely defoliated the mountain hardwood trees in the summers, which made the mountains look like it was wintertime. I just stood there in awe with my mouth open, watching how smoothly and easily his triple seemed to be. However, recent. Grouse don't just require good habitat, they require a cooler climate. It sure beats the mall.. Get the latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers for the upland obsessed curated to your email each week. If I go out now, Id be lucky to have four flushes.. Our objectives are to: Estimate Ruffed Grouse abundance in Georgia and produce a distribution map indicating where density is greatest. The Georgia grouse season of 1976-77 was my pinnacle season of shooting grouse. All rights reserved. When the dogs had finished retrieving all the birds, the count was 21 dead birds., Arthur said, I only killed one bird. Bucks point melted back into a searching run, and the hunt continued up the mountain. This uncanny timing sparked a range of controversy and emotion across the Project Upland platforms that eventually helped inspire Durrells founding of the Minority Outdoor Alliance.

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