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Grouse hunting tips:

(Blue, Ruffed, Spruce courtesy Wikipedia)

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• Grouse (Blue, Ruffed, and Spruce) are found all over the forested areas of Washington State.  They are at pretty much every elevation of the forest.
• The number one way to hunt grouse is by looking for them on logging roads.  You can travel either by foot, by vehicle, or by bike on any logging road and find grouse gravelling in the road.  Gravelling or dusting is what these birds do to get sand in their gizzard to help grind seeds or to get dust in their plumage to discourage mites.
• When spooked, Grouse typically fly up into the closest tree and land on a branch which is about 12 to 20 feet in the air.  Or they will run off the road/trail just into the brush.  They typically will just stand there.  It is not difficult to get at them.
• The more inaccessible the road, the higher your chances are that you will get in to grouse.  Locked gates which lead into relatively newer clearcuts will be a lot more productive than open roads where other hunters will just simply drive.  The birds which hang around drivable roads don’t last long.
• Grouse hunting is great when using a 20 gauge or a .410.   Use number 7 or 8 shot.  It doesn’t take much to bring down this chicken sized bird.
• Grouse hunting with a bow and arrow is a great way to practice your shooting. Always carry a couple of Flu-Flu arrows with you, or get a blunt tip to put on the end of your standard arrow.  The only drawback to using a Flu-Flu is that the larger feathers tend to make a lot of noise in  heavy brush.  If you are hunting deer, the added noise is not conducive to keeping yourself quiet.  In addition, by using the same arrow as your broadheads, the ballistics are similar enough that it makes for great practice.  Be sure to clearly mark your bird arrow for low light conditions.  You don’t want to accidentally shoot a deer with a blunt tipped arrow.
• Sage grouse are currently a protected species in Washington State.  There are no seasons for them.
• Heavy snow will push grouse into areas where the snow isn’t.  The birds primarily feed on grasses and nuts on the bare ground.  Deep snow prevents them from getting to ground forage.
• Ruffed Grouse make a really interesting drumming sound in the fall.  Pay attention to this sound and you might be able to find a few of these birds.
• A dog can be used in non-deer seasons to help flush birds.
• Don’t shoot grouse while they are roosted.  It’s not sportsmanlike and it damages the tree.  Get the bird to flush so that you have a good shot at the wings.
• Field dress the grouse immediately after you’ve killed it.  Pierce the skin just below the breast bone with your fingers and reach up inside the cavity to extract all of the internal organs.  This will immediately help cool the bird and will keep the meat from spoiling.
• Early season grouse hunting is a great way to scout out your deer hunting areas as they occupy the exact same wooded areas.
• While it is easiest to hunt grouse from skid roads, don’t forget  to go off trail as well.  Some Eastern Washington areas which are more open and off trail can hold coveys of grouse.  These coveys can hold dozens of birds.  If you happen upon one of these groups, the sound of dozens of flushing birds at once is quite loud and startling.  The only downside to this is that you could potentially end your hunt by quickly limiting out.
• Some hunters use a sling attached to their shotgun, as toting a shotgun in hand for long distances can become tiresome.
• In some areas, the WDFW has placed barrels for depositing a clipped wing from your grouse.  Be sure to help the biologists out by submitting a wing from your birds.  The biologists use this information to help set limits, determine distribution, and other helpful things to determine the health of the grouse population.
• “Grouse are where you find them” is the rule.  They are widely distributed and is difficult to advise specifically where to go.  Our suggestion is to look at the big game section of this website to find places to go.
• The population of the three huntable species of Grouse in Washington State vary from year to year.  Spring hatch conditions, age of surrounding forests, winter freezes, fire, and the like all affect the availability of huntable Grouse.
• Grouse are quite tasty.   Pan frying them immediately back at camp can provide for a gourmet meal.  Bring an onion and mince it in with the breasts.  If you can manage a bit of wild rice along with the grouse, you will have a meal fit for a king.
• Always practice good muzzle control.  You are hunting in forested areas with limited visibility.  There is no excuse for accidentally shooting yourself or a hunting buddy.  Hunter orange is required in most situations.
• Leave alcohol back at camp.
• Grouse hunting is a perfect way to introduce a kid or a neophyte to the joys of hunting.  Very little stealth or knowledge is required. 
• Bird Cleaning Tips

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