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.

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.

They are all in Maine.

That's just mean.

three hours with a great dog resulted in zero contacts in eastern Tenn.

I hardly ever see grouse anymore. I did jump a woodcock this afternoon as I walking out.

You guys are in the wrong places...I've seen some out my way!

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.

I flushed one today in the national forest in Bland County.

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?

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??

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.

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.