Grouse?

[CZMark]

If you can hit grouse with a flintlock, you're a much better man than I. :hatsoff:

 

[bigbore442001]

As a teenager,there were many grouse coverts here in central Massachusetts. My friends and I did a lot of grouse hunting after school was out. We were pretty good in being able to get a couple on every other outting.

Our habitat has shrunk and changed to a more mature wood. In addition, there are more predators around which take their toll.

I have hunted ruffed grouse in northern New England a bit. Especially Maine. I actually shot most of my grouse road hunting in the large forests with a .22 lr handgun or my TC Contender handgun with a .410 barrel on it.

I do have a funny grouse story. Last fall, the little farm that Dad and I hunted had a young male ruffed grouse living there. It would follow us to our deer stands like a little dog and would fly up to the branches of his stand. It would purr in his ear and at times land on his head or shoulder. We have some pictures of the little grouse but alas, the farmer's dog killed it.

 

[bucktales]

One time in Vermont, I spent a morning hunting them without success. When I returned to the camp, there was always a couple hanging around the nearby apple trees. These birds sometimes appeared drunk, must have been chowing down on fermented apples. It flew straight into the side of the camp and broke it's neck. Got a free bird without firing a shot.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Anybody go after the grouse with your Muzzleloaders?

Finest kind! I pester them with my New Englander and occasionally one alters course and flies into my shot cloud (straight cylinder bore).

For years I tried with a Bess. Next time someone feeds you that line of milarky that "a smoothbore can take birds, bunnies and deer" you just invite them on a grouse hunt. Not them birds (in flight, anyway) with a 46" bbl, 10# musket.

I belonged to the Ruffed Grouse Society for years and should probably re-up my membership. My little Ithaca/SKB 20 ga. 200-E is grouse heaven, but there's just something about a day afield with a m/l fowler (aka:"a grouse scare").

 

[sachem longrifle]

you guys need to head to Wisc/ Minnesota. Tons of them around here

 

[colt100]

4 fell to my pedersoli today. Lots of them up here.

 

[KyFlintlock]

any pics of the 4?

Wess

 

[colt100]

None that I can share

 

[Greenmtnboy]

Out here in CO we have blue grouse not the smartest bird on the planet so I usally head or neck shoot them with my 45 flinter or 36 blue ridge when using a muzzleloader

 

[rabjr]

Man I envy you Gman! :hatsoff:

 

[KyFlintlock]

Great pics, you look like you stepped right out of the olden' days. :thumbsup:

Wess

 

[Greenmtnboy]

smell like it to. After two days of humping to 12,000 ft calling elk in to my clients I am ready for a good ol fashion whore bath :rotf: