MORE GROUSE

[sixshot]

Today was another beautiful fall day here in Idaho & the grouse were out again in full force. The grandson's were tired after their football game so me & Callshot loaded up again with our 32 maggies & hit the trail.
After building up the front sight a bit with JB weld I had it shooting right on the money. The first chicken was a Ruff grouse & I hit him & he started running right down the trail towards me, he couldn't fly but I think his daddy was a Roadrunner because he could really run, he cut up the hill above me & I took off after him but without my Crocs I had no chance, he got away.
Because the trails are so dusty you can't stay close together on the 4 wheelers, Callshot had to stay back a ways. On the next stop their were 4 Blue grouse together, dusting in the road. Steve came up beside me & we went to work, I got 2 of them & the others got away.
easing on up the road I got another one, this one was a young Ruff, so now I have 3 of my 4 bird limit.

These are nice young birds, they will be great in the dutch oven today.
I decided that Callshot needed to be up front so he could start whacking some, he took off & hadn't went 50 yds when I spotted 2 more Blue grouse picking berries in the shadows, I got one of them, now I'm full up, 4 birds.
Steve got shots at 3 of them but didn't connect, he will next time, I won't shoot until he scores.
Beautiful fall colors on these mountain maples.

This is my 4 bird limit with the 32 maggie, the little 100 gr cast is great on grouse with 3 grs of WST, I've said before, you can eat the bullet hole.

Dick

 

[don44]

Thanks for the story and the pics... Looks like your weather is a lot clearer than ours is in the Boise area. :)

 

[callshot]

We have had sooooo much smoke in the vallies that we can't see the mountains from town. It has been this way most all summer. As far as the birds and my shooting, my trifocals don't work very well. I can see either the front sight or the bird and then guess. Birds are hard to hit anyway and I haven't had 200 years of practice like Dick has had. There were also too many other people on 4 wheelers keeping the birds and dust stirred up. We will go again in the middle of the week when they are working. Nice to see the fall colors on the leaves. Steve

 

[mb111263]

Looks like a great time was had! Steve, hope you brought enough ammo this time! :wink:

 

[contender]

Definately another fine day in Soda! The air is getting cooler,,, the leaves are changing,, and fall is just around the corner here. I open this & it makes me smile seeing friends enjoying such fine days afield. Makes me long for another trip west,,,!

Steve, flatten Dicks tires so you can get out ahead next time!

 

[Black Dog]

I have purchased my license and hunted waterfowl and birds - dove, grouse, pheasants, quail - every Fall in Michigan where I grew up, and later in Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina for more than 60 years. Sometimes I had a dog, sometimes I didn't, but I always shot birds flying, with a shotgun. Although I had plenty of opportunity, I didn't think then and don't think now that it was sporting to shoot any birds on the ground, regardless of whether I was using a handgun, .22 rifle, or shotgun. You all must have different rules in Soda Springs, Idaho. Black Dog

 

[contender]

Black Dog,,, yes,,, many folks who bird hunt feel it isn't "sporting" to hunt birds from the ground. But,, it's also looked down upon by many of the same hunters to attempt bird hunting with a handgun. Grouse are ground birds,,, and often prefer to run vs fly. And when you are hunting w/o a dog, or especially meat hunting,, our true history shows that people took game however they could. Meat in the pot vs an empty belly caused many animals to fall using methods that are no longer considered "sporting." And if I'm not mistaken, sport hunting came to us from the English rulers & aristocrats who could afford to do things differently. And lest we forget,, a shotgun was incorporated by those who wanted meat, yet weren't the best shots.

Now,,, also,,, in many different parts of this country,,, different methods of hunting are considered normal in one state while it's highly illegal in another state. Example; Bear hunting with or w/o dogs, over bait or not allowed to bait come to mind right away.

So,,, while many of us do understand the sporting principals,, we accept & understand the differences as long as they are legal. (At least on this Forum!)

And if you think it's easy or not sporting,,, maybe you should try it before you judge.

Again with bear hunting here in NC. We are not allowed to hunt over bait. Most hunting is with dogs running bears. I haven't been invited to hunt bears with the locals much because when asked,,, my first question is; "Can I use my handgun?" Most of the folks around here do not believe a handgun can kill a black bear. I've heard it all from; "We had two guys shooting at a bear with a 44 magnum, and it didn't stop it. When we skinned it, we shook the hide & the bullets fell off." To another common excuse; "I don't want anybody using a handgun because they might accidently kill my dogs."

Both are pure BS.

So, cultural & regional differences can make some folks question methods used afield. Here,, on this Forum we do not judge as long as it's legal. And when it's not an easy task,,, we applaud the hunters who are successful.

 

[ajw65]

I tire of hearing people, telling others, what is sporting and whats not. If it is legal, mind your own business.

 

[Jeff Hoover]

Well said, ajw65 !

 

[sixshot]

I guess even though its legal, the Idaho Fish & Game should check with Black Dog to clear this up. Don't want to offend someone in Florida with "our" game laws, yowee! I have shot them out of the air with sixguns but not a high percentage, plus its not always safe to do so.

Dick

 

[bigboredad]

I have purchased my license and hunted waterfowl and birds - dove, grouse, pheasants, quail - every Fall in Michigan where I grew up, and later in Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina for more than 60 years. Sometimes I had a dog, sometimes I didn't, but I always shot birds flying, with a shotgun. Although I had plenty of opportunity, I didn't think then and don't think now that it was sporting to shoot any birds on the ground, regardless of whether I was using a handgun, .22 rifle, or shotgun. You all must have different rules in Soda Springs, Idaho. Black Dog

WOW! :shock:

 

[Ethang]

Dick thanks for sharing the story. I really enjoy the accounts of the trips you two do and the pictures. I especially like that your using the 32 mag. Please keep them coming.

 

[COR]

I have purchased my license and hunted waterfowl and birds - dove, grouse, pheasants, quail - every Fall in Michigan where I grew up, and later in Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina for more than 60 years. Sometimes I had a dog, sometimes I didn't, but I always shot birds flying, with a shotgun. Although I had plenty of opportunity, I didn't think then and don't think now that it was sporting to shoot any birds on the ground, regardless of whether I was using a handgun, .22 rifle, or shotgun. You all must have different rules in Soda Springs, Idaho. Black Dog

Always one in the bunch...