Ruffed grouse

I, myself like shooting grouse, especially Ruffs and Blues. Here's two I shot 3 months ago with my .410 Wingmaster. I recently bought another gun that will be used primarily for grouse; a Remington 870 Riot Gun Wingmaster with an 18" barrel fixed cyl. bore made back in the 70s. I got it in almost new condition for less than a new 870 express.

First post and kind of late to the party on this topic.

I too hunt ruffed grouse without a dog, but I use a single shot 20ga with handloads. Must be a glutton for punishment. I hunt on my inlaws' 140 acre farm that is about half hayfield and half thick hardwoods. Stuff is so thick you can barely get your gun up in some parts.

It may not be sporting by many others, but I have no issues ground swiping birds. More times than not, I see the birds in range on the ground before they even flush. I walk quietly and don't have a dog stomping around the woods ahead of me. I hunt for food, not for sport. Taking birds on the wing is rewarding and fun in itself, but if I see a grouse in the open in range on the ground, I will not hesitate to kill it on the ground.

Because I have no dog, I become the dog in a way. I'm the eyes and ears in the woods. I'm not sniffing around looking for birds, I'm using my eyes and ears looking and listening. It's a challenge altogether. If you're hunting like me, look for motion is the best advice I can offer. Grouse only fly a short distance from where they were flushed, maybe 20-30y at most. If you keep your path, they will likely flush again. With a flushed bird, I will mark where it landed, wait a minute or two, then circle around approaching from downwind. Yes they can smell you. Always walk to end on an odd number of steps. That's how deer walk. Three steps, stop, five steps, stop. You'll mimic the sound of a deer walking and it will put the grouse at ease and not stressed. Camouflage isn't just visual, it's auditory as well. You can get closer and kill it this time. I've flushed and stalked a bird 9 times before killing it 200y away from the original spot I saw it. 200y through thick hardwoods 20-30y at a time takes a long time. I just had more patience and persistence than my prey. I won.

We have a short grouse season here and I'm just a weekend warrior. I average 12-15 ruffed grouse per season. All are taken with a single shot 20ga and 3/4oz handloads.