Early Spring Grouse

 A nice male grouse game strutting through our place the other day. Surprisingly, I was able to get fairly close and get some nice shots. I love these moments living in the woods!

Notice how the black tail band is solid, not broken? That's a male.

Steve Smith from Pointing Dog Journal taught me that. 

Thanks Steve!

Ruffed Grouse ~ Oct. 2015

 The Ruffed Grouse.....

Bird Statistics - The Grouse

I am re-visiting this post, I hope you don't mind. It amazes me. 

This is the life statistics for a grouse. 

I am surprised there are any left in the world!

Survival Rate of 1000 Grouse

Grouse Hunting In Scenic Montana

 

There was a bit of an overcast, so we headed out for a drive and hunt. Overcast skies can make for really good lighting for photography. I'm still looking for the day I catch a big male Grouse in the sun, strutting as they do, with their tail feathers spread out, big black neck puffed up. I have a few pics, but have yet to get the one I really want. 

There were signs of fall all around...

And signs of summer still lingering on......

We decided to go up Elk Creek.  It's a narrow canyon so we drive the road along the creek. We drove upwards for a little while then ran into a grouse in the road. We waited for it to leave the road then I started creeping up to get a picture.

Dan got Sport out for a little training.  But before he could release him, the bird flushed.  The hills are so steep here, that a lot of the times, the bird will choose to fly instead of run. So we let Sport run around for a few minutes just in case there were more birds. There were no more birds. ):

So we headed out again. In no time, we came across another one. This one headed of the road before I could get out. I got a few shots before she took off running and then flushed out and headed 40 miles South! Well, maybe it wasn't really 40 miles, it just seemed that way and it may as well been 40 miles because it was way to far for the dog to follow down hill.

Again, we headed out with no bird. Not in the game bag anyway. I think my gentlemanly grouse hunting husband is starting to lose his patience.

From here out it was : Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3.....3 more times and there you have it. An entire afternoon of that was enough. Oh, and it seems that most of the birds we found were along the creek bed, as expected,  and at about the same elevation.

 We did see some interesting stuff though.......

These are Eastern Comma Butterflies. Did you know that butterflies don't eat? But they have to have water. That is why they are all over this dung, for the moisture content. Lovely, right? Beauty and the Yuck!

Mushrooms, of some sort. No expert here. 

Maybe Casey knows what they are!

A friendly little Garter snake looking for some sunshine.......

And scenery that explains why I live here. 

 

 And at the end, the best part? This is the way home.

 

Ruffed Grouse Makes Friends With Hunter

A grouse makes friends with a hunter? Really?
Honestly, I'm not surprised. I've actually had them walk up to me when I was feeding a little corn to the deer. They only do this in mid winter when food is scarce. It's very special though, when it does happen. This is a video from Keloland Television, of a grouse who made friends with a hunter. Unusual and very cool!

 Click Here:
Grouse Buddy

Opening Day of Grouse Season in Montana ~ 2010

Today is opening day of grouse season in Montana. 

Stay connected to see today's grouse report 

when Dan and Mikey get home tonight!

Steve - 

If you're reading this, we miss you being here.

Feel better buddy!

Happy Times -  September 2009

Steve, Dan, Happy and Mikey

To Hear A Grouse Drumming - Click Here

To Hear a Grouse Drumming, Go  to:
http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/grouse-facts

Are you hearing these around where you live??

Hungry Afternoon Visitor

A Hungry Afternoon Visitor

A little ruffed grouse stopping by for a bit of bird seed.

Only 3 More Days of Grouse Season for Montana

December 15TH is the last day of Grouse Season for Montana. That gives us 3 more days and my husband says it's never enough. I suspect the Gordons feel the same way.  Happy is still in "hunting mode". Every time Dan walks through the house, Happy is watching. Sometimes he even gets up and follows him about. He doesn't want Dan to leave the house without him. Once it gets dark, which is about 5:00 these days, he settles in for a nap before dinner. Until then, he is always on the guard ready to go.

If  9 months is a long time to us, imagine how long it must seem to our bird dogs, waiting for next season to roll around. A very long time I bet! It's been really cold here, minus 8 one night, and Dan hasn't really been out much, but I'm sure he'll want to make the most of these last few days. I hope you guys do too.......before you settle in for that long winter's nap!

Survival Rate Of A 1000 Ruffed Grouse

According to the Ruffed Grouse Society:

From 1000 Ruffed Grouse chicks hatched in the spring.....




Only about 400 will survive to early autumn......

About 180 will survive to the following nesting season.....

About 80 are alive a year later......

About 36 live to breed a 3rd time ......

About 16 may breed a 4th time.....

And only 1 out of 2200 chicks hatched, may live as long as 8 years.


For more detailed information about the Ruffed Grouse,  please click on the title above and you will be linked to the Ruffed Grouse Society website.

Ruffed Grouse, Limb Chickens, & Fool Hens

Photo's By: Dan Thomason


It's been raining for several days. I had to make a run to the transfer station this afternoon so I threw a couple dogs in and took the long way home. I saw a Ruffed Grouse run off the road about 50 yds. ahead so I hit the brakes, popped the latch on Gracie's dog box, slipped a couple shells in the side by side and headed down the road. Grace hit a point when she scented the bird and as I walked in behind her, a grouse flushed on my left. It went straight away behind a thicket and I never saw a feather. Grace was still 20 yds. ahead and locked up. As I moved into position, ready to fire, the grouse flushed into a tree and landed 10 ft. above the ground. It sat on the limb and just looked back at me with no concern. Locals call these grouse "Limb Chickens" or "Fool Hens", and most of them will get shot with a .22 rifle. I walked away. Maybe next time he will fly where I can get a fair shot. Probably not, but maybe....DWT

American Bird Conservancy - Cats Indoors Campaign

In the United States, alone, there are more than 77 million pet cats. A study in 1997 showed that only 35% were kept exclusively indoors, which means that about 65% of those cats are free to roam outside. It is estimated that some cats may kill over 1000 birds and small animals, mostly mammals, every year. Wild (feral) cats are  estimated  at between 60 to 100 million.  They live almost exclusively on the small animals and birds they can catch. These not only include mice, but also, rabbits, squirrels,  and chipmunks. Birds that nest on the ground, such as Grouse and California quail, are susceptible to cat predation.

Cats are not a natural part of our ecosystems. They were domesticated in Egypt over 4000 years ago. They were brought into the U.S in the 1800s to help control the population of rodents.  Sounds good, but the small animals that they are killing are also prey for birds such as Great Horned Owls and Red-tailed Hawks. They are competing with the natural predators.  Cats also do not discriminate between birds of plenty and endangered species.

Fact: The hunting instinct is not related to the urge to eat.

Fact: Cats that wear bells, still kill birds. They just learn to be quiet doing it.

Fact: Unlike other predators, cats do not have to kill to survive.

Fact: Places where cats do not reside,  have twice as many birds, as the places that have cats.

Fact: Unvaccinated cats can transmits diseases, including rabies, to other cats, humans, and native wildlife. Cats are the most reported animal, to have rabies, to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fact: Unaltered cats are prolific breeders. A female cat can have 3 litters a year with at least 4 - 6 kittens per litter.


What kind, and how many animals a cat kills, depends on the individual cat, the time of year, and the availability of prey.

Roughly, 60% to 70% of the wildlife killed, is small mammals.
               20% to 30% are birds
               Up to about 10% are amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

Help make a difference. Make sure you spay or neuter your cats to prevent unwanted litters. Keep all vaccinations up to date, to prevent the spread of disease. Ultimately, it is our responsibility to be responsible pet owners.  

The only sure way to prevent domestic cat predation on wildlife is for the owners to keep their cats indoors. Pass the word on!

Information from: American Bird Conservancy, Domestic Cat Predation On Birds and Other Wildlife.

Snow Berry Bush Good Grouse Food

Grouse love Snow berries this time of year, after most of the rest of the berries are gone. You may find Grouse still in groups, or in singles, but either way, there's a good chance if you've got a healthy snow berry bush around, eventually you'll see some grouse there.

The Sound of a Grouse Drumming

Photo By: Karen Thomason


If you've never heard a grouse drumming, take a listen to the one on the RGS website. It's like no other natural sound in nature. Some say, and I agree, that it sounds just like someone trying to start a motorcycle. Click on the TITLE to go to the RGS website and hear a grouse drumming.

RGS Makes Grouse Seed Mix

Photo By: Karen Thomason


The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) has their own mix of seeds and legumes for grouse habitat. The "Trail Mix" includes legumes, chicory, red, white and crimson clover, alsike clover, and birdsfoot Trefoil. You can order it right on the RGS website. It comes in 6lb. bags, which according to their instructions, will sow a half acre. The cost is $32.00 per bag, plus S&H. We have planted plenty of clover around our place but I'm thinking of getting some of this next spring and giving it a try. I love to have grouse around. I get a lot of opportunities to photograph them and I love to hear the males drumming in the spring. I like that this seed is formulated especially for grouse.

One In The Game Bag!

ADULT MALE GROUSE
DAN & HAPPY ......................Photos By:Karen Thomason



We drove up the creek this evening. It was hot again but cooled a bit towards evening. I ran a 10 month old male pup first. "Jack" did really well. He spent some time on the road but hit the brush like a big dog. He didn't find any grouse but hunts real nice. I put "Happy" out for a run and as we were picking him up he came by looking pretty birdy. He locked up 25 ft. from the van then broke and started tracking again. I hurried 20 yds. up in front of him and cut 10 ft. into the woods. "Hap" locked up again 30 ft. in front of me. We had a grouse pinned between us!! The bird didn't think much of his situation and flushed at me, and to the left. I knew instantly that the first shot was behind the grouse so I swung the gun faster and hit the trigger again. The bird is pictured above. A very nice adult male! DWT

Avian Pox & Tumors on Grouse PIC

Avian Pox Tumor?


The pic on the right was taken first and the bottom pic, several weeks later. That's assuming it's the same bird. It may not be.












Ever seen a grouse or any wild game bird with a bump on it's bill, like this? If you have, I'd love to hear from you. I've seen this grouse twice in my back yard chasing grasshoppers. Other than the bump, she seems fine. I did a little research and have concluded that this bump is most likely a tumor. Apparently, there is a Avian Pox that birds, of all kinds, wild and domestic, can contract. It causes wart like tumors on the non-feathered area's of the bird's body. It is not contagious to humans, but very contagious to other birds. It is , however, suggested that if you handle a bird like this, you should certainly take precautions and thoroughly cleanse your hands and clothing. Unfortunately for the grouse, there is no way to help her. If it is the Avian Pox, the tumor will eventually dry up and fall off. This can take a long time. Meanwhile, if the tumor gets bigger, it could obstruct her breathing or effect her vision. She may have tumors inside her as well, such as on her liver. There are several causes, and other side effects of Avian Pox. For more on this subject, click the title above, Avian Pox & Tumors in Grouse PICS.

Adult Male Grouse - The Ultimate Challenge!

September is all about coveys. The hens have all their chicks gathered about them and when you get into a bunch of grouse together, it is always a hen with her brood. The single birds flushed in September are almost always adult males. These are last springs drummers. They staked out their territory last spring and have defended it all summer. These grouse avoided me last season as well as the hawks, owls and coyotes that enjoy a Grouse dinner as much as I do. I make a mental note of where I flush these big boys and plan hunting trips for specific birds, much like a deer hunter looks for that monster buck he spotted before season. These grouse have a specific area that belongs to them and won't be too hard to find. However, they are very difficult to approach and putting one in the game bag is a challenge I enjoy. DWT