|
Post by mountainmark on Oct 3, 2013 7:39:36 GMT -7
I should have taken a pic. At least I know my muscle memory is still intact Had to take my shirt off to carry a bunch of mushrooms in it and was walking through the woods like a shirtless Putin with my twelve Ga. ;D A bird flew up, and before I knew what had happened it was flopping on the ground! And I didn't even drop my mushrooms! Glad to know I can still hit those birds on the wing
|
|
|
Post by thywar on Oct 3, 2013 17:50:11 GMT -7
good instinct and reaction
|
|
|
Post by offtrail on Oct 3, 2013 18:54:53 GMT -7
Not sure I believe you, were they magic mushrooms? no, then I believe you. Grouse and wild mushrooms, man does that sound good. So what was the grouse hiding in and tell us about the shot. Most of the time they stay in the thick thick brush and bust out when you least expect it. Most of the grouse are south of here now days, we hunt doves now and they are fast.
|
|
|
Post by mountainmark on Oct 4, 2013 5:16:31 GMT -7
Not sure I believe you, were they magic mushrooms? no, then I believe you. Grouse and wild mushrooms, man does that sound good. So what was the grouse hiding in and tell us about the shot. Most of the time they stay in the thick thick brush and bust out when you least expect it. Most of the grouse are south of here now days, we hunt doves now and they are fast. We have a good amount of Ruffed Grouse in my area. They are flighty here and often will flush before you are within range. This one flushed in range but in thick brush. I had to shoot through a bunch of leaves but that is why I use 6 shot early season and graduate to 7 1/2 after the leaves fall. About every year we take a trip to northern Maine on a grouse hunt and the birds up there behave much differently. They generally only flush when you are in pouncing distance. I think this is because up north in the paper company land they have a lot of under brush, and there only real predators are foxes and coyotes who need to jump on them. Back home the main predators are hawks, so they flush early, zig zag and place barriers between themselves and the threat, as hawks hunt by sight. I find their adaptability quite fascinating. The shot was about twenty yards as it flew away. Only got a couple pellets in the breast
|
|
|
Post by offtrail on Oct 4, 2013 7:57:29 GMT -7
Not sure I believe you, were they magic mushrooms? no, then I believe you. Grouse and wild mushrooms, man does that sound good. So what was the grouse hiding in and tell us about the shot. Most of the time they stay in the thick thick brush and bust out when you least expect it. Most of the grouse are south of here now days, we hunt doves now and they are fast. We have a good amount of Ruffed Grouse in my area. They are flighty here and often will flush before you are within range. This one flushed in range but in thick brush. I had to shoot through a bunch of leaves but that is why I use 6 shot early season and graduate to 7 1/2 after the leaves fall. About every year we take a trip to northern Maine on a grouse hunt and the birds up there behave much differently. They generally only flush when you are in pouncing distance. I think this is because up north in the paper company land they have a lot of under brush, and there only real predators are foxes and coyotes who need to jump on them. Back home the main predators are hawks, so they flush early, zig zag and place barriers between themselves and the threat, as hawks hunt by sight. I find their adaptability quite fascinating. The shot was about twenty yards as it flew away. Only got a couple pellets in the breast That's how the grouse act around here, wait till your right on top of em. Bust out of the brush at the last minute giving you a slight heart attack. It's not unusual to be in a odd position when the bird takes off, climbing through or over brush seems to be the norm I have to drive a long ways to do any grouse hunting so I don't go anymore but I sure do miss it.
|
|
|
Post by mountainmark on Oct 4, 2013 10:08:21 GMT -7
Come to NH buddy! I'll take you to the best spots It is like hunting a different bird when we go up north. A dog might be helpful there. But I don't have the time to train a dog, so I'll just go on the way I do. I walk a few steps, stop, take a step, stop. When you stop, they think you've seen them and flush. It's great fun and a good change from bowhunting in October. They are the best tasting bird I know of too!
|
|