Grouse Question

[paleoman]

#3886

This young bird just walked right up to me and hung out within a foot or two. I’ve had the broken wing fake out during nesting season happen before, but this was unique for me. I assume it is living up to the name “fools hen” and has never been bothered. But in over 50 years of living in grouse country, it’s a new one. Anyone had this happen?

[Charles Ek]

#24695

You have a fair amount of company in this. Grouse are somewhat known for this behavior: Examples

[Ralph]

#24718

Maybe it was just sizing you up for Daddy.

😀

I mean you look like you fit the time period.:D

[paleoman]

#24746

Thanks eids! Interesting behavior it is. Ralph – a few decades ago I would have gone Caveman on it:D Guess with just a few miles on me now I just like watching as much, probably more.

[Ralph]

#24779

I know what you mean. Lots of things these days I be watching instead of chasing, (my wife has something to say about that, nothing to do with me turning 69 Sunday):lol::lol:

And I oughta be chasing turkeys too but I’m just not into it this year, yet anyway. Maybe if the wind settles down then I’ll go.

We have no grouse in this country. Lesser Prairie Chickens in some ares. They(the birds) have become quite the battleground subject between the feds and the rest of the human race.

[Don Thomas]

#24787

Grouse are funny. Grouse of all species can be wary game birds most of the time and remarkably dumb at others. Spruce grouse are known for naive behavior (good news when you are feeding moose camp with your bow up North), but they all can do it. Some years back we had an adult blue grouse show up at our MT house and hang out on the deck. Before long, it was walking through the house when we left the door open. This was in the spring, so the bird was at least a year old. It was a cock bird, presumably looking for love in all the wrong places. Fortunately, it never ran into one of the retrievers. Ours all have soft mouths, but I’m not sure they are that soft. Don

[Jason Wesbrock]

#25383

For a few years every time a friend of mine and I would hunt the back half of his acreage a ruffed grouse would find us and hang out for a while. He has photos of it on his boot, shoulder and arrow. The closest it ever got to me was a foot or two away next to me in a tree. Perhaps ot knew I was picturing it wrapped in bacon.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#25396

Yeah, I’ve had them walk right up to me while I’m sitting in the woods. As long as you don’t move, they can be pretty curious.

But then this happened…

[Ralph]

#25712

I once emptied my quiver trying to hit one of them danged fool’s hens. Beats me why I couldn’t hit it. I was ticked and flustered. In frustration I picked up a fist sized rock and threw it at the bird and I’ll be damned if I didn’t hit it and kill it. Sticks and stones:?:?

It tasted mighty good that evening after being broiled over the campfire while I re-sharpened all my broadheads.

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