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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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Grouse in the woods??
Just returned from my first attempt at locating the elusive grouse in some of Virginia National Forests. Sad to say the demise of the last few years seems to have continued. Well traveled clear cuts revealed loads of food (enough wild grapes to make wine) and lots of acorns, but 3 plus hours of walked yielded nary a flush for myself or my golden. Just wondered if anyone out there fall turkey hunting had been flushing any anywhere. PS. Pa is looking better all the time although I sure hate to drive 3 or more hours one way just to move a few birds.
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Sat Nov 05, 2011 7:52 am |
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Bird Dog
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2004 4:50 pm Posts: 2650 Location: central Va
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
Tut, My results monday mirror your own, Good cover,and covered ground. Dog did point three woodcock, nice, but a let down when you're waiting for the whirr of wings. Only thing I can say is woods were still thick so they can be anywhere, but if there were many we would have stumbled on one somewhere.
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Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:57 am |
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Coalman
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm Posts: 1305 Location: Seacoast NH
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
They are all in Maine.
_________________ Keeper of the Mountain Province Division Tenth Legion
Your eye in the Northeast sky Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com
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Sun Nov 06, 2011 11:00 am |
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Vic
King of Spring
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2005 7:40 am Posts: 2706 Location: Baltimore, MD
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
That's just mean.
_________________ Vic
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)
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Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:48 am |
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Gobblenow
Co-Owner/Dog Feeder
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:20 am Posts: 3806
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
three hours with a great dog resulted in zero contacts in eastern Tenn.
_________________ "even after almost a half-century of hunting of the noblest game bird I am going to confess that I am still in the kindergarten; and I doubt if any human being ever acquires a complete education in this high art."
- Archibald Rutledge
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Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:20 am |
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TScottW99
Boss Gobbler
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:59 pm Posts: 2851 Location: Roanoke
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
I hardly ever see grouse anymore. I did jump a woodcock this afternoon as I walking out.
_________________ "What gets us jangly is the suddenness of everything. We hunt turkeys because we want to hear them gobble, watch them strut and all that, and we hunt them with shotguns because we want to be close to them when those things occur." - Jim Spencer
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Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:12 pm |
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huntingwhoas
King of Spring
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:27 pm Posts: 462 Location: Augusta County, VA
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
You guys are in the wrong places...I've seen some out my way!
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Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:17 pm |
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HokieGobbler
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:23 am Posts: 891 Location: Luray, VA
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
I saw one in Page County during bow season and on another property in Page I hear them drumming every time I am out there, but I haven't seen one yet this year.
_________________ Lovin the Hokies!!!
Ryan
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Mon Nov 07, 2011 10:45 pm |
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TScottW99
Boss Gobbler
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:59 pm Posts: 2851 Location: Roanoke
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
I flushed one today in the national forest in Bland County.
_________________ "What gets us jangly is the suddenness of everything. We hunt turkeys because we want to hear them gobble, watch them strut and all that, and we hunt them with shotguns because we want to be close to them when those things occur." - Jim Spencer
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Tue Nov 08, 2011 5:14 pm |
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Coalman
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm Posts: 1305 Location: Seacoast NH
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Woodcock are southbound
While hunting deer Monday we had numerous woodcock flushes. The last few days in the 60's has probably delayed any hasty departure. I watched one come to roost while on stand tonight. If it is true they migrate by the full moon they should be in VA soon. Four days so far in our local NH woods chasing bambi and one partridge flush.
_________________ Keeper of the Mountain Province Division Tenth Legion
Your eye in the Northeast sky Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com
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Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:52 pm |
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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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Re: Woodcock are southbound
Coalman wrote: While hunting deer Monday we had numerous woodcock flushes. The last few days in the 60's has probably delayed any hasty departure. I watched one come to roost while on stand tonight. If it is true they migrate by the full moon they should be in VA soon. Four days so far in our local NH woods chasing bambi and one partridge flush. Nice thing about Va is the Woodcock early season ended yesterday. What are those folks thinking?
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:37 am |
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turkey_slayer
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:10 am Posts: 405
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
Ive honestly seen more grouse this year than the past 5 years combined! All have been way back, not near any clear cuts just open woods with some underbrush. I cant figure out what there eating cause theres no soft or hard mast. Seen something last week that I had never seen. There were 4 grouse together and about 8 squirrels. I was just sitting there looking for deer and the grouse came flying in and landed about 40 yards from me. Well the squirrels didnt like that so they came up flushed them. The grouse would fly up in the tree and the squirrels would head back down the mountain. The grouse would fly down and the squirrels would come back right away, flush them, then go back down. They done that for about 4 hours till dark. It was interesting to see!
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:25 am |
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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
turkey_slayer wrote: Ive honestly seen more grouse this year than the past 5 years combined! All have been way back, not near any clear cuts just open woods with some underbrush. I cant figure out what there eating cause theres no soft or hard mast. Seen something last week that I had never seen. There were 4 grouse together and about 8 squirrels. I was just sitting there looking for deer and the grouse came flying in and landed about 40 yards from me. Well the squirrels didnt like that so they came up flushed them. The grouse would fly up in the tree and the squirrels would head back down the mountain. The grouse would fly down and the squirrels would come back right away, flush them, then go back down. They done that for about 4 hours till dark. It was interesting to see! You sure they weren't dwarf turkey's??
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 11:39 am |
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turkey_slayer
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:10 am Posts: 405
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
Nope they were grouse, I think From what Ive seen the hens had a great nesting season though! There were poults everywhere around here in july and august.
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Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:15 pm |
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Gobblenow
Co-Owner/Dog Feeder
Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:20 am Posts: 3806
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Re: Grouse in the woods??
The fact that the conversatons are discussing seeing a grouse, or two grouse, or maybe three grouse should tell you the overall pitiful state of grouse populations in southern applachia. We are talking about birds that were abundant twenty to thrity years ago. Not single bird sightings.
_________________ "even after almost a half-century of hunting of the noblest game bird I am going to confess that I am still in the kindergarten; and I doubt if any human being ever acquires a complete education in this high art."
- Archibald Rutledge
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Fri Nov 18, 2011 4:31 pm |
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