by MJ Logan

Created on: August 28, 2009   Last Updated: August 29, 2009

It is fall and the rustle of the undergrowth is overshadowed by the glorious colors of the changing leaves. The morning dew dampens your pants and shines your boots. You move along slowly but steadily, headed for that patch of balsams where you found a covey last year. The dog is 20 feet ahead of you, sniffing the air and you see her go birdy. Yes, they're back.

Grouse hunting in the northern part of the country means ruffed grouse if you're from just about anywhere east of the Rockies. In Northern Wisconsin, they sometimes call them partridge, although that is a nickname up there. The bird is a brown and tan flurry of feathers, weighs about 2-1/2 pounds live and its explosive launch into flight startles even the most seasoned hunter who is ready for it.

Grouse hide in thickets, presumably to scare the tar out of anyone unprepared for their sudden and noisy departure. In the spring, the males drum their wings on fallen logs with a beat that starts slow, then increases to a frenzy before dying down. It's part of the mating ritual. By the end of June, it is all over but the hatching.

Look for grouse in thickets. Eschew the hardwoods and head for the lowlands, down by the creek bottom or on the side of a ridge where berries are plentiful. Without a dog, you'll have little warning. Even with a dog, if the wind is wrong, the birds will surprise you both.

Grouse are hunted with shotguns; few people would consider it right to hunt them with a rifle. Small shot in sizes 6, 7-1/2, 8 and 9 are good in light loads. A single pellet is enough to bring them down. Large pellets make a mess of the meat. 12 gauges are popular, so are 20 gauges and a few folks still have a "sweet sixteen" that seems the perfect middle ground.

As you approach a likely covert, be ready. The explosion may come at any moment. The birds may burst into the air one at a time, or the entire covey may take flight at once, leaving you to pick a single bird. Be sure to "shoot where they ain't," a lead is necessary to hit a fast moving bird.

At times they may be found in popular or aspen groves, or hanging out in balsam thickets. They eat the buds off the twigs. In early morning and late afternoons, walking old logging trails or railroad grades is a good choice for easy walking and possible birds as they pick up grit for their crops.

In winter, when it's cold and there is plenty of snow, few events match a grouse exploding from a snow drift right under your feet. If you even remember you are carrying a gun, you'll have to find the bird and shoot through the cloud of snow it takes up with it. The sight is amazing and experience terrifying.

Grouse are a challenge to be sure. They aren't the hardest birds to hit, once you get the hang of being ready for that explosion. Finding them isn't a sure thing either. It seems though, that generations will use the same thickets and covers year after year.

You've got the shotgun at the ready, moving closer to that balsam thicket. The dog is birdy and you're ready. Thundering feathers there they go, rocketing around those trees, up over the ridge and out of sight in seconds. The dog looks at you with disgust. "Hey man I found em, you're supposed to shoot em." Uh huh. Next time.

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