Where to hunt Grouse
A lot of species go by the name of “grouse”. Perhaps the most thought after by North American hunters is the ruffed grouse; tradition dictates one should seek it in New England in the US and Quebec and Ontario in Canada, but good opportunities exist elsewhere. Sharptail grouse dwell in the Dakotas and other prairie states, and blue and spruce grouse can be added to ruffed grouse in the Rockies. In Europe, the famous grouse is the willow ptarmigan, known as red grouse in Britain, and white grouse elsewhere (because its winter plumage is white on the Continent, but not on the British Isles). Black grouse is the second biggest European grouse, and is a favorite bird to hunt in Scandinavia and Russia, along with the capercaillie, the biggest grouse in the world. Hazel grouse is a small shy bird inhabiting dense woods of Eurasia, and rock ptarmigan can be found in the tundra across the Northern Hemisphere.
Price distribution
Grouse hunting opportunities start at about $500, which may include a few days lodging in a camp, but are typically unguided. A fully guided hunt, with the use of outfitter’s dogs, may cost about $2,000, more for a hunt in a remote or iconic location. Black grouse and capercaillie hunts in Russia and Sweden typically go for between $1,000 and $2,000.
Learn more from our blog story
Capercaillie is the world’s biggest grouse. A mature cock may weigh over 12 pounds, and is arguably the most difficult of the grouse members to harvest. Only a limited number of cocks can be hunted on a special spring text, and our blog is one of the few places in the Internet where you can read about this unusual hunt in the English language.
4 Jan 2018 The Quiet Call of the Biggest GrouseWhen to hunt Grouse?
Grouse seasons usually open in September and run until December. The best time for grouse hunting depends on species and location, but October is usually the best bet. The classic stalking hunts in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries begin in late October, and continue into the winter, and the spring season in Eastern Europe runs in April-May.
Hunting methods All hunting methods (6)
The ways of grouse hunting are as varied as the grouse species. The Russians hunt black grouse from a blind, and the Swedes spot the birds on tree tops, stalk and shoot them with rifles. The British driven hunts for red grouse are legendary, with hundreds of birds killed in a day (the record, set in 1880s, is 1054 birds per one shooter). Hazel grouse can be taken only by calling, and stalking capercaillie to its mating song is something else again. But the most popular method by far is hunting over pointers and setters. You can hunt almost any species of grouse this way, both American and European. You can walk the grouse up without a dog, too.
Why hunt Grouse?
The meat of the grouse has always been considered a delicacy. New York millionaires dined on the ruffs, British lords on the red grouse, and Russian boyars on the hazel grouse with equal zeal. The experience of harvesting the bird is even more of a royal treat. Even as you see a photograph of an Atlantic coast woods colored by the brush of the fall, don’t you feel like walking under their red and yellow cover? Is there a better way to walk them than with a shotgun on your arm, and a trusty setter quartering ahead? Who can find words to describe the intensity of feelings as you walk to the point, expecting any moment a rush of flapping feathers that might make you forget how to fire that gun? Dark woods of the Rockies, wide open prairies, snow-covered silent forests of Scandinavia, awakening nature of the Russian spring, the grouse can take you around the globe on a journey as exciting as any mountain or African “slam”.
Horseback Grouse Hunt 2 Hunters United States
Experience western upland hunting in a unique way. Enjoy 4 nights, 3 days guided hunting for the trifecta of Idaho forest grouse; Ruffed, Spruce, and Blue. Stay your first and last nights at luxurious lodge, the remaining nights will be spent in deluxe wilderness wall tent camps. Hunt from both foot and horseback over pointers in some of the most amazing upland country imaginable. Dine in style with unbeatable views and amazing homemade delicacies prepared fresh. A very limited number of these unique wilderness adventures will be offered each year early September. This in an upland adventure like none other. $4,000ea / 2 Hunters
Trip duration: 3 days
Hunting season: 1 Sep 2021 15 Sep 2021
1x1 Upland Bird '21 United States
If you’re a fan of serious upland bird hunting, this is the hunt for you! This northwest corner of Montana consistently has good populations of what are referred to in the west as mountain grouse; ruffed, blue and spruce and LOC has over 200 square miles of hunting area permitted by the Kootenai National Forest. Hunt over our experienced English Setters and retrievers or bring your own dogs. Either way, there's nothing more exciting than watching good dog work and knocking down some of the most challenging birds in some of the most spectacular country you'll ever hunt! Blue Grouse Blue grouse, the largest of the three species are found in good numbers throughout the area. They frequent subalpine terrain featuring open ridgetops with stands of conifers, and feed on a variety of insects, berries, and plants. They are slate gray and camouflage well against their rocky environment. Spruce Grouse Spruce grouse are found in healthy numbers and frequent deeper woods, thick coniferous areas, and feed on insects, clover, berries, and evergreen needles. They are darker than blue grouse and sometimes appear blue-black. Spruce grouse, while not considered flyers, are a lovely bird and make an interesting addition to the trophy room. Ruffed grouse Ruffed grouse, though populations are cyclical by nature, are found in great numbers. They inhabit logged areas with ten to thirty year old regrowth, coniferous forest edges, alder and aspen groves and creek bottoms. They feed on insects, clover, berries and other plants, are mottled brown or gray and are especially flyers. It has been said many times that ruffed grouse are the king of the upland birds, and we agree. To that end we devote most of time in pursuit of these fine birds. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching a dog flush or point a ruffed grouse and making a clean shot just before it disappears into the darkest cover.
Trip duration: 4 days
Hunting season: 15 Sep 2021 19 Oct 2021
Upland Birds - Dove, Pheasant, Grouse United States
South Dakota has become a pheasant hunters dream spot. However, often overlooked is West River South Dakota's abundant sharptail grouse population and the greater prairie chicken. The greater prairie chicken is one of the most elusive birds that can be hunted. Here we take great pride in differing ourselves from the other lodges in South Dakota that focus on the pheasant. It's important to us and our clients to offer land that has an abundance of wild native upland birds the way nature intended. In this area of South Dakota some of the highest pheasant and upland bird numbers in the nation can be found, with vast expanses of native prairie still intact they flourish along with the sharp-tail grouse and prairie chicken. You and your dog will no doubt put some miles on the tall grass prairie. Bringing Your Dog - We have kennels for your dogs on site.
Trip duration: 3 days
Hunting season: 7 Oct 2021 31 Dec 2021
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