Hunting Grouse In Down Cycles

I am a very newby grouse hunter, and was wondering from you veterans if you can share any tips and strategies for being successful hunting grouse when they are in a down cycle. I understand we might be a year or two removed from the peak, and sliding toward the down cycle again, so I thought I'd try to help my learning curve on these birds by going straight to the experts. Thanks in advance.

Thin, I guide in the Park Falls area, and really my flushes for a day are still around 20, and when the cycle is up average is 35 to 40, Hunt prime cover, When the leaves are still on the trees in maples the birds could be there, when they come off concentrate on raspberry brush in the hardwoods or anything green, once raspberry brush is off, they move to heavy cover, work the edges of swamps, look for any clover on roads, aspen cuts with balsom trees are great spots and of course to be successful when the numbers are down is to have a good dog,they can make the difference of going home with 0 birds or 3. I hunt both flushing and pointing breeds both have there advantages. The woodcock are starting to move out 2 weeks ago I moved 30 in 2 hours and yesterday moved just 8.

I keep track of the number of birds I shoot starting in 1973.With a low of 6 to a high of 41 and it has made a difference for me with high years.But I do not think it is a down year this year, at least in my area.Because of a good spring we seam to have had a good hatch.I can not agree more with the comment about less idiots,on a down year, not to much pressure in my area.The things that I have always thought were the most important are a good dog,a fast handling shotgun,and probably the willingness to wear some shoe leather.

TBL, The other thing that will improve your success is learn to look for the right cover. When the population is "down", you will have less birds in marginal cover and the same number of birds in good cover. This year, look for water. It has been a dry year and grouse, like humans, need to stay hydrated. Use maps to find water and the right cover and you will find birds. Stay within 150 yards of water. A good dog dog will help you immensely.

Totally agree on the importance and value of having a good dog. I learned long ago that we don't need to train dogs to hunt so much as we need to learn to trust the dog and pay attention to what they are telling us about the birds. My dog pointed a bird last year that I walked around a couple of times before it finally went up. I almost gave up because the bird would not budge. Lucy never came off point so I kept kicking until the bird finally went up right between my feet. Made the shot on a bird that I would have walked past were it not for my canine companion. Your dog will tell you all you need to know about the cover and the birds if you are willing to pay attention.

As others mentioned, even in the down years, there are more than enough birds to hunt. Find the right cover, find the birds.

I can't comment on the down cycles of grouse but what I have noticed this year, is with everything being dry, walk what would normally be a swampy area. The grouse seem to be hanging out there being that it is cooler in the "more" moist ground. The best thing of all though is to get a good dog, it will teach you more than anyone on this board can. Good Luck If you ever need a hunting partner in west central WI let me know.

I think much of what has been said is true. I have always shot as many grouse in down cycles as I have in up years. I stick with the cover I know and it consistently produces. There is one spot I've been hitting the same week the last 5 seasons and I have shot a grouse in there within the same 50 yard radius in tag alder bordering a small pond every time I walk through it. In down cycles they will always stick closer to the best cover. In up years you may find them more widely distributed hence more flushes. I also agree that the news of up cycles brings hunters in from all over the place. The past two seasons, I have seen grouse hunters stacked up elbow to elbow in the little bar we go to in Iron county. In years past, me and my buddy would be the only hunters chasing chickens in the place. 2010 and 2011 we saw guides and dog boxes lined up in the parking lot every night. Met guys from all over the country too. Even met a guy from Maine one time and they already have great grouse hunting in Maine. Up or down, I cannot wait for October.

Find prime cover and you will find birds.If ya have a dog even better.I would hunt County and state forests...more cutting.Hunt above Hwy.64

When the cycle goes down, so do the numbers of idiots hunting them. True that. Once you find a few good spots , they are always there. Some times more numbers and some time a few less. If you are doing a lot of walking and not getting flushes, you might need to find there favorite local hang outs. Following the cycle we spend more time in the middles of it than the ups or downs. So it is usually consistent. The Key is not to destroy your honey spots. Always insprct their crops. Let them tell you what they are eating. Takes away a lot of guess work to find them.

When the cycle goes down, so do the numbers of idiots hunting them. So, it's really a wash. There are always birds somewhere.

TBL. I don't know where you are hunting. I was in SW Wisconsin Coulee Country. The Grouse population remained steady, never prime or bad. Then the WI DNR made a deal with the state of MO DNR to trade our Grouse for their Turkeys because MO had no Grouse, WI had no Turkey. Now MO still has no Grouse and the Grouse population in WI is in constant decline. I have also seen declines in Cottontail and Snowshoe populations as Turkeys have moved in. Turkeys hatch earlier, grow faster and devistate nests as they move along in search of protein. Some folks want to treat Wolves as varmints, I feel the same about the Wild Turkey Federation. A .243 or 22 Hornet hitting where the neck and chest meet will drop them at 300 yards, I've been told they flap a little.