Subscribe by Tonight and be in the first summer issue mailing! The perimeter of a 10- to 12-year-old hardwood clearcut that harbors patches of evergreen vegetation and a few mature trees to produce hard mast is an ideal north Georgia grouse haven. However, a big running dog has to learn to work hand signals to keep the dogs hunting crossways to your travel direction, not just up and down a logging road. A look back on times in the mountains when dogs and grouse mattered most to men like Arthur Truelove and Herb McClure. If youve got rhododendron or laurel, therell be some birds there. At the beginning of the season, grouse are still in their family broods, prior to Octobers scattering, or crazy flight. They are more numerous and susceptible to hunting now than theyll be later. Always said I was gonna take the scattergun one year and get me a couple. Grouse don't just require good habitat, they require a cooler climate. Buying direct from reloading manufactures let me load boxes of 12 gauge shot shells with 1 1/8-oz. http://www.zerotohunt.com/try-ruffed-grouse-hunting/. I really did get lucky with this dog and he is an absolute joy to hunt with. Arthurs theory about shooting was, one can only learn how to shoot by shooting. Monte Seehorn is the habitat chairman of the Ruffed Grouse Society of Georgia and has been hunting grouse in north Georgia for nearly four decades. The views expressed within the comment section do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of The Sportsman's Guide. I went to a mountain top that a forest service friend had told me he had seen a few grouse in and hunted for a few hours. The Pacific Northwest has several very different habitats for grouse. I threw up and covered the one in front, and when I shot, it almost hit me falling at my boots. Cant agree more about finding the right habitat and playing the angles. The trick to triggering winter flushes is to get into the heart of the habitat. Edges of older clearcuts are still prime habitat during January and February, but try to find areas of dense growth combining mountain laurel, rhododendron, ferns and water. The only grouses Is evers killed were by slipping-up ons thems, when thumping on a log, and thens shooting its head-off with mys rifle.. Moreover, little is known about the effects of recent management actions, especially prescribed burning, on grouse abundance and distribution. Complimented by ever increasing large populations of; Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Snipe, King and Clapper Rail, Sora and Virginia Rail and Crows available for open season hunting. Then she held her head up and was following her nose till she locked-down on point. Bang, bang, bang went Fats gun, and three grouse came tumbling down. I want to try it again. Hunters are responsible for knowing and abiding by seasons and limits or be subject to charges and fines. Sometimes a lucky hunter will happen upon an area particularly rich in foods such as late-season acorns or wild grapes that may hold several birds, but grouse are generally solitary by nature. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse to go hunting more often (and it worked). $500 Per Person For All Inclusive Hunts. Talking about luck! Grouse hunters in Michigan will have expanded hunting opportunities in the Upper Peninsula (UP) this year. Another factor that Monte and some other hunters feel is contributing to the population decline in grouse isthe increase in wild turkey populations and the resulting competition for habitat, which is exacerbated by the loss of habitat diversity caused by logging restrictions. I always considered myself as a mountain person, who liked to trout fish, grouse hunt, and hunt native mountain wild turkeys. If all of the woods looked like the woods at Russell, there would be an abundance of grouse & quail! In the Great Lakes states, quaking aspen-white birch forests are undeniably the best and most productive habitat for grouse. Dove hunting tradition runs as deep as the culture of southern bobwhite quail. I began building a Scandinavian scribe-fitted log home, which took 13 years to build. I asked him what made a grouse flush so legendary, and his eyes brightened with memories. Use these habitats as a general guide, but dont be afraid to try finding new coverts elsewhere. Ideal winter grouse cover will provide flowing water, sufficient green vegetation and protection from predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes. When Fats was nearing Dot, three grouse flushed all flying away the same way. The ruffed grouse, however, is an enigma in the world of birds when it comes to winter survival. Read the Full Article: Ruffed Grouse in the Winter Time, Ruffed Grouse Society. It is certainly true Labs, gsps, brittanys all can make wonder hunting parters. Can't disagree with that, but the elevation of the WMA is much higher than Toccoa, but grouse are probably not thriving there, if there are any at all. Back in those days when we hunted, there were no food plots or drivable roads off of the main U.S. Forest Service roads, just logging roads. Please visit theGeorgia Wildlife Resources Division for the most up-to-date information on bird hunting in Georgia. In other words, Fats shot at a spot out in front of were a crossing grouse would be. In predominantly dry areas, you sometimes find them close to water sources first thing in the morning. These span-worms completely defoliated the mountain hardwood trees in the summers, which made the mountains look like it was wintertime. To me, this was some good shooting. Places like mature forest and young forest, swamp and mature forest, old fields and young forest. I realized they didnt understand that in grouse hunting, especially the thick early-season woods, thats about all you get. Going around a curve just out of sight from where the mountain man was working, Star locked on point. Our objectives are to: Estimate Ruffed Grouse abundance in Georgia and produce a distribution map indicating where density is greatest. Ideal habitat is typically young aspen as thick as you can find it. Ruffed grouse in Georgia? The Trueloves started hunting deer in the mountains. He did not allow any loud talking or noise. So, my last 10 years before I quit, my hunts were just Star and myself. After Arthur Trueloves legendary Dot passed away in 1969, Truelove gave up grouse hunting forever. I learned from Arthur to hunt grouse when the weather was very cold. The Summer 2020 Issue of Project Upland Magazine cover story featured Durrell Smith and his research into the history of African-American bird dog trainers in the South, primarily in Georgia. More typical is a pointer that does very well on Woodcock, but when it comes to the King, the flush comes at a time of the birds choosing, not the hunters. This gun was bought new and given to Arthur in the 1930s when Arthur was 14. I've seen them here over 6000'. Fats taught me a lot of lessons about grouse. Beyond the feathers of Georgia, there are small game animals with fur that are available to hunt in the state. If hard hunting is something that drives you, then hunting ruffed grouse in Georgia is worth the journey. I've found the sweet spot from 3,000 to 4,000. Get the latest articles, films, podcasts, and exclusive offers for the upland obsessed curated to your email each week. In Pennsylvania, the ruffed grouse flush rate last hunting season was stable compared to the 2020 flush rate, both of which were higher than the tough years of 2018 and 2019 in which severe West Nile Virus outbreaks impacted the population, says Reina Tyl, Pennsylvania Game Commission. Ruffed Grouse populations have declined in the Appalachian Mountains largely due to landscape-scale changes in forest management. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I manage myself too, If there is a brood, I wont harvest more than two and I try not to hit the same area/trail more than twicebut I live in Northern MN and there is plenty of public land available to hunt. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have millions of acres of prime grouse habitat available, and much of it is publicly accessible. The bird hunts they did were done on foot from the homestead to many areas in a different directions each day and covered 12 to 15 miles. Overall, the north side of the mountain is better than the south.. The season is split into three parts: first opening September 5th and running to the 30th, then a brief window from November 21 29, and finally the late season arrives on December 8th and runs to January 31st. Ryan Lisson is a biologist and regular content contributor to several outdoor manufacturers, hunting shows, publications, and blogs. Other favorite hunts were the Sea Creek drainages, and the creeks in the Jacks Gap area. Finally someone writing about grouse hunting that actually seems to know what theyre talking about! Our objectives are to: Estimate Ruffed Grouse abundance in Georgia and produce a distribution map indicating where density is greatest. The roads often crisscross through clearcuts, and they provide birds with grit, which aids in digestion. She would hunt up high on a mountainside or down on creeks in the roughest thickets. Was there a grouse in that thicket waiting to blow up into the big blue sky beyond the trees? She was tracking and working her way up a steep bluff. Its time to get up. We continue to run his insights into bowhunting to help others, which Mike would have loved. They prefer higher elevations; quite a bit of the Chattahoochee National Forest has good habitat for them. This is somewhat subjective, but many grouse hunters use guns that are way too heavy, with barrels way too long for this brush-busting sport. The last three men were from Buford, and all three were Bona Allen leather company men who hunted with the Trueloves. My credits for my being a grouse hunter are owed to a great grouse hunter who was the late Arthur (Fats) Truelove, of Gainesville. We never killed our limit of Tennessee bobwhites, but the memories are worth much more than a limit and a cold Coke never tasted better than at the tailgate cleaning quail. Noise will scare a grouse and cause wild flushing, he told anyone who was fortunate to hunt grouse with him. In 7 seasons we are approaching the 600 mark on grouse and woodcock. When Star had finished retrieving both grouse, I quit hunting right then and went home. Learn how your comment data is processed. He has researched the birds winter diet and said that during winter months, its primarily made up of evergreen plants such as mountain laurel, Christmas fern and foam flower. A good way to find ruffed grouse in the fall is to walk along transition areas between habitat types. I slip from my boots to my waders and in a quick, easy wade find myself in virgin country! Not one single bird could be seen flying off. Can you even hunt them? West Nile Virus certainly has taken a hit on them up here. Needless to say, I shot some skeet. Sometimes, a bigger ranging pointer will work, but its got to be one that works delicately and points at long range. Dog training in Georgia is permitted on the hunting dates for the species listed for each wildlife management area. Its a pretty unique and beautiful area.. For snipe, the best places to look are probably in the southern Hannahatchee, Chickasawhatchee, Elmodel, Horse Creek, and Flint River. This went on for the next hour and we pointed probably 3 more turkey. I had killed 13 grouse without missing. I, being tired and hot for the day, declined. Thanks! Gilreath and Williams creeks in Gaddistown were very special places, and almost all of the Blue Ridge WMAs creek drainages were, too. Most of northern Georgia is mountainous. It works best if youve got the bird pinned by a pointer; anticipate the flight path, check for clearings, note the sun direction, and position yourself accordingly. Vexilar FL-Series Flashers/Fish Finders: Which one is for me? As a response, the state of Georgia set up the Bobwhite Quail Initiative. Dogs Pointers Bracco Italiano Braque d' Auvergne Braque du Bourbonnais Braque Francais Brittany Drahthaar English Pointer Epagnuel Breton German Longhair Pointer Pointers German Shorthair Pointer Adults tend to spend more time in mature forests, foraging in the understory. Hiking through chilled high-country forests with a shotgun over the arm can be good for the soul, and grilled breast of ruffed grouse is definitely good for the taste buds. There were still a lot of acorns on the ground, and the birds were likely scattered and feeding throughout the forest. Of these 13 grouse without missing, there were three doubles. Going to her, I was making a lot of noise crunching in the frozen snow, loud from the freeze the night before. Before I could even summarize the situation there, a grouse flushed going across the logging road from my left to my right, and when I shot, it folded up and fell on the other side of the logging road. Luckily, grouse hunting takes very little hunting gear to get started. With all of these habitats, try to find forests that have been managed in the recent past for the best chance of finding birds. Mike Strandlund is the late editor of Bowhunting World Magazine and bowhuntingworld.com, and is a member of Mike Strandlund is the late editor of Bowhunting World Magazine and bowhuntingworld.com, and is a member of the National Bowhunters Hall of Fame. Since then, most of the young forest habitat that ruffed grouse prefer in north Georgia has grown too mature for them. I agree with the writer, IF the pointer is one of those rare canines that can approach and hold the bird while the hunter positions himself and anticipates the flush path. Fats was a blockmason by trade, when he worked. I went up to Coopers Creek WMA about 8 years ago and took a old dog (15 years old) that I had always wanted to kill a Georgia grouse over with me. Fats had all the talents needed to become a grouse hunter. To those that yearn for the tried-and-true old world of bobwhite quail and the more obscure art of grouse hunting, it is still there in Georgia today. The bird hunting season dates, game bird species available, and other information is subject to change. The 5000'-6000' range here is considered to be about the same climate as sea level in southern Canada or the northern tier of states. Buck was still holding his point, and tiny drops of blood blossomed on his lips and tongue courtesy of the blackberry tangles. Meyer, Rachelle. Biologists have concluded that ruffed grouse taken in the early part of the season do not affect the overall survival numbers, but those taken in winter will. You do not kill that many grouse just being a weekend grouse hunter. A pair of Georgia grouse and the shed from a nice ridge-runner buck sit atop Herb McClures jeep in this 1979 photo taken in the snow-covered mountains. Eighteen Grouse Management Areas (GMA), covering over 95,000 acres, are focused on providing optimum habitat for ruffed grouse and American woodcock located . Even though there is a season, I do not believe there is a hunt-able population in GA anymore. I also joined the Cherokee Gun Club in Gainesville back then and began shooting skeet at the old Buck-horn shooting range, hoping to improve my grouse shooting. Shotgun. Their dogs trailed a covey of birds by scent. Late one afternoon when Arthur and I had encountered a hard days hunt, with no grouse in our game bags, Dot became pointed way up high on the mountainside above the logging road where we were walking.