All of the above information is well and great, but if you’re not in the same zip code as these guys, no amounts of pounding the terrain is going to help you. So the steeper the ground, the quicker they can get to the tree tops (think back to those trigonometry days… you there yet? Just as the snow starts coming in they pack their bags and head up higher to the conifers. 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. Whether you’re stalking big game or on a dedicated bird hunt, it’s likely you’ll stumble across at least a few dusky (or blue) grouse in the hills of northwest Colorado. With lush forage tucked beneath its signature cloak of quaking aspens, Routt National Forest northeast of Craig traditionally accounts for a significant percentage of all the dusky grouse harvested statewide by hunters. Now this isn’t an exact science. Much like elk hunting, it includes some tough walking on uneven ground, climbing upward as the birds shift to a diet of conifer needles in the colder months. Again, I’m generalizing here. Many big game bow hunters will add a rubber-tipped arrow to their quiver, which offers ample impact to bag a bird that doesn’t demand much in the way of killing. We offer specialized hunts tailored to the needs of the sportsman. I decided not to brave the crowds and waited until the following Thursday to chase grouse with the birddogs. 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. And while they may not be the first two words that come to mind as you choke down the unexpected shot of adrenaline, that gray and white explosion actually has a name: Dusky Grouse. Colorado Blue Grouse 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. The dusky, aka blue, grouse is the only animal known to fly to higher elevations in the winter. If it’s stormy and the weather is just breaking, they tend to act as they do in the morning. I’ve walked through perfect habits, I mean the correct elevation and a buffet fit for a grouse king and not seen a single bird. When you start your season you’ll be chasing them in the lower elevation sage brush/aspen edges. Important Note*: Careful hunting your dog around drop-offs for obvious reasons, they don’t always think before they go chasing after the retrieve. Reverse migrators, a quirky habit of these guys. 3rd Week of October - Mid November: All the good tasting stuff is gone so we’re in the pines. Most others rely on shotguns of various gauges, often with an even-keeled dog at their side. They inhabit at least portions of 43 of Colorado’s 63 counties. If you think this is your secret spot and the next time you go there it will be swarmed in a sea of orange, you obviously hunt with your eyes closed. This is when you have the best chance at a covey flush. And, of course, they move uphill when it gets colder.”, Kausel has found his Routt County honey hole right around the 8,000-foot mark, where he works up and down remote ridges and draws littered with deadfall beneath September’s golden aspens. The thunderous eruption of wings and feathers bursting from behind a bush or beneath a tree as hunters hike the forest almost always catches us off guard. One way is to get in-between them and their escape route. Look for small trickling streams. Wow, you were quicker than I was, good job!). Same goes for the hard knocks of the outdoors and grouse hunting. Watch the video below for the breakdown of how I find my spots. Some complain about it (it’’s not like the old days!) Colorado Waterfowl Stamp: $10.13 $10.13 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp ... Grouse: Dusky (Blue) Sept. 1 - Nov. 22: West of I-25 only: Grouse: Greater sage-gro use: Season 1: Sept. 12-18 Area: GMUs 2, 3, 10, 11, 13, 18 except east of Colo. 125 in Grand County, 27, 28 except north and east of Grand CR 50 (Church Park Rd.) With birds so evasive, it can be difficult to find a point of reference to start the hunt. If they can flap their wings five times and make it to safety, they’ll call it good enough and do just that. Joined Aug 4, 2020 Messages 18 Location Colorado. Grouse hunting is a brotherhood (and sisterhood of course), there’s not many of us that take in the joys of hiking miles of vertical terrain for the potential chance of shooting at one of these glorious birds. There’s more orange here than in a October pumpkin patch. Years have gone into research and scouting in order for me to just flush my first bird, let alone to recover from the ensuing heart attack caused by it’s thunderous take-off to get a hurried shot off. Breeding aside, they tend to ease into the role, as if developing instincts with age. Colorado Dusky Grouse SUCCESS! Again a good angle seems to be the preference. A guide to finding and hunting the Dusky Grouse. As the day progresses and they feed uphill, they scatter and you’ll get into them one at a time. This works as well with cliffs by having your dog or hunting buddy kick them out and you cut them off. Colorado, United States • The Hubbard Creek region of Western Colorado is renowned for its exceptional turkey and game bird hunting opportunities. (Yea, yea, get your dog steady to wing and shot and this isn’t a problem. Big brother is watching, so don’t do anything you wouldn’t want to show up on Youtube out there. North America is home to 15 or 20 different grouse species. This is also assuming it is a “normal” weather year (I know, there is no such thing in Colorado, let’s make pretend). This may be a little counter intuitive if your a pheasant hunter, because when I’m out in the plains that’s all I see; tracks but no birds. They don’t run far or fast, mostly just mosey and sniff as the hunter follows close behind and awaits a signal. Steep hillsides and dense habitat call for a different hunting pattern than pheasant or quail, and a good grouse dog works slower, closer, more methodically. Again, some type of angle to the land is crucial. While we’re on the subject of technology, I figured I’d stay with the times and use it to help show how I use it to find my potential honey holes. Well, at least in my mind there isn’t. Musings & How-To, … 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 Special Permits: Prairie Chicken Permit $5 Habitat Stamp $10 Purchase License Online Visit State DNR Website but I love it. “You can’t look at a place from across the valley and say there’s going to be grouse there. Upland Game Fred Bohm October 09, 2015 5 Comments. So here is a guide to what I have learned chasing these mountain chickens every fall for the last few blessed years. Berry patches (currants) are a slam dunk as well. More of the game birds are harvested annually in its namesake county than anywhere else in Colorado. I’ve even found camp spots ahead of time by seeing other campers parked in the woods. It was a late start to the morning, but my brother and I reached the parking spot at the bottom of the mountain at about 7am. Colorado, United States • The Hubbard Creek region of Western Colorado is renowned for its exceptional turkey and game bird hunting opportunities. So I won’t give you exact elevations, but I think you can put a good guess on what it will be like in your area according to this: 1st - 3rd Week of September: I hunt sage fields that have have aspen patches nearby. During the spring gobbler season, the hunter can hunt archery or shotgun. We’ll get to food and elevation shortly, the two other important factors in finding them. Katherine said, “You have to pound ground when you’re hunting grouse. By necessity, a grouse dog works differently from other upland bird stalkers. Easy money is easily lost, right? and U.S. 40, 37, 181, 201, 211, 301 and 441. In steps technology. Musings & How-To, Big Game Fred Bohm March 19, 2018 Hunting, Bowhunting, New Zealand, How-to 5 Comments. Grouse don’t run like pheasant do so you’ll often find them close to their tracks. Please note this can vary according to where you live. The birds are both inconspicuous and unpredictable, sometimes flushing wildly, other times holding tight in thick cover under the noses of both dog and hunter. The grouse hunting season spanning from Sept. 1, 2020, through March 31, 2021, overlaps with most of the state’s big game seasons, not to mention the habitat, so it’s usually worth the effort to snag a small game license and come to camp prepared. Joined Aug 4, 2020 Messages 18 Location Colorado. So here’s the breakdown. Kausel, who has successfully chased grouse in northwest Colorado for more than 35 years. 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. DIY Bow Hunting New Zealand - Part 1: Pre-Plan an Unguided Hunt.
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