RSSCategory: Ruffed Grouse

Ever See These Parasites Before?

Ever See These Parasites Before?

When we were in Minnesota last year, we heard tell of a worm-like parasite that was suspected to have been bringing down the grouse population. Never saw it ourselves – probably didn’t kill enough birds (lol) – but recently a compadre of ours sent us these photos of parasitic worms he found in his first […]

October 3, 2011 | By | 10 Replies More
Varying Reports for MN Grouse…

Varying Reports for MN Grouse…

…Surprised?! Is the ruffie hunting in Minnesota off to a slow start or not? Probably depends where, when and how you’re hunting – just like it always does – plus the amount of leafy and green vegetation still there. But nonetheless reports vary. From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: > It’s way too early to call […]

September 27, 2011 | By | 1 Reply More
2011 Compiled Ruffed Grouse Forecast

2011 Compiled Ruffed Grouse Forecast

Last year we did this and it was a super-popular post, so here it is again. This is a compilation of info from newspaper reports, info from Paul Fuller/Bird Dogs Afield, the Ruffed Grouse Society’s (RGS) forecast and the forecast in the autumn issue of The Upland Almanac – plus a little anecdotal info we’ve […]

September 23, 2011 | By | 2 Replies More
Should Forecasts Be Banned: Part 2

Should Forecasts Be Banned: Part 2

Last week we published the first part of a point by point rationale for why bird forecasts are more bad than good, and should potentially be banned…or changed, per the below. Here’s the second and final part. If we’re missing something here or got our logic wires crossed, make sure you let us know. Also […]

September 19, 2011 | By | Reply More
No Time for Grousin’ or ATVs To Blame?

No Time for Grousin’ or ATVs To Blame?

The Minnesota DNR recently published some pretty interesting details about a survey it conducted of grouse hunters. There’s a lot in there and we’ll talk about more of it later, but this installment addresses why folks don’t grouse-hunt more. The Duluth News Tribune picked up on the fact that when those surveyed (2,313 hunters surveyed, […]

September 14, 2011 | By | 11 Replies More
Maine Not Looking Great But…

Maine Not Looking Great But…

…We’re Going Anyway! Maine is one of many states that doesn’t publish an upland bird forecast – which we used to think was slacking but now think might be a good idea (more on that later in the week). So every year at least one member of the press chases down the upland bird biologist […]

September 12, 2011 | By | 3 Replies More
Weather: Are Gamebirds On the Move?

Weather: Are Gamebirds On the Move?

Weather has been hammering our gamebirds. Actually hammering everything, but gamebirds seem a bit more sensitive to these changes. Every time we talk about that, global warming comes up, and…no definitive conclusions reached, even with the help of a good (or at least decent) bourbon. But on that topic, did you happen to see the […]

September 8, 2011 | By | Reply More
Hobbes, Hannah and An Odd Grouse

Hobbes, Hannah and An Odd Grouse

Brian Heft is a bird hunter who’s also the park manager at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Virginia. We saw some photos he shot, and asked about the story behind ’em. Here’s what he said: My first bird dog was a German Shorthair Pointer named Hobbes (I love the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes). […]

September 2, 2011 | By | 1 Reply More
MI Ruffies Looking Great Too

MI Ruffies Looking Great Too

Lakes states newspapers have been reporting that the grousing will be off the charts in MN and WI (though we did get an anecdotal report that WI may not be all that in some areas), and now comes a recent report that Michigan may be similarly stellar. Time for a “Yooper” invasion! Some highlights of […]

August 22, 2011 | By | 6 Replies More
MN Ruffie Harvest Up, Hunters Too But…

MN Ruffie Harvest Up, Hunters Too But…

Ruffed grouse hunting is about as exciting as watching paint dry, grass grow or – maybe a little better – making donuts. Of course that’s not true, but apparently a lot of hunters think so, especially when compared to sitting up in a dang tree all day hoping for a deer to walk by. Now […]

August 8, 2011 | By | 2 Replies More
New England Grouse Looking…Okay?

New England Grouse Looking…Okay?

But Bad Stuff Stirring in MA New England and ruffies (aka, wood or furry chickens) go together like deep-fried hotdogs and Mountain Dew. Okay, maybe not the right analogy but you get the drift. Here’s some info about the best New England grouse state – Maine! – as well as some not-so-good rumblings about an […]

July 22, 2011 | By | Reply More
LL Bean Says Grouse Are the Best

LL Bean Says Grouse Are the Best

Well…sorta! Check out the cover of its latest fall 2011 hunting catalog. Not sure if everyone got this cover or just the bird-heads or what, but it’s cool. No secret that we’re huge fans of Bean upland gear, and gotta say that we found a few must-haves/wanna-tries in this catalog. We’ll be testing out the […]

July 18, 2011 | By | Reply More
Is PA Getting Serious About Ruffies?

Is PA Getting Serious About Ruffies?

The ruffed grouse is Pennsylvania’s state bird, PA has lots of ruffies and the state is home to Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) HQ. And yet, as in many states, Pennsylvania bird hunters feel that ruffies haven’t gotten much attention in Pennsylvania. Is the state now out to change that? The state is seeking input on […]

July 6, 2011 | By | 7 Replies More
MN, WI Ruffies Looking Great?

MN, WI Ruffies Looking Great?

We’ve been getting a flurry of emails the last couple of weeks about how the ruffie population looks like it’s gone up for this season. We’ll take a look at what’s being said, and then give you our opinion. Wisconsin Highlights from this article: > According to 2011 spring drumming counts from the state’s Department […]

July 5, 2011 | By | Reply More
Virginia Trying to Allow Sunday Hunts

Virginia Trying to Allow Sunday Hunts

Virginia is one of several states that still has a ban on Sunday hunting, but the Virginia Board of Game and Inland Fisheries did its part to try and change that. At its June meeting, the board passed a resolution supporting Sunday hunting – which appears to be all they can do: The ban on […]

June 28, 2011 | By | Reply More
More Thoughts on Ultimate Ruffie Shells

More Thoughts on Ultimate Ruffie Shells

Last month we asked for your thoughts about designing the ultimate ruffed grouse shells (plural). Based on those comments (thanks!) plus ones in a shotgunworld.com thread we started, we wanted to update things – from our perspective, of course. In no particular order:

June 22, 2011 | By | 11 Replies More
Help Us Plan the 2011-12 Serious Bird Tour!

Help Us Plan the 2011-12 Serious Bird Tour!

How do you keep your Serious birdin’ spirits up in the summer months? Well, besides spending time with the dog, smacking some clays and trying to stay in shape, for us there’s…trip-planning.   If you’re lucky enough to hunt right outside your door, or close to it, great. But many of us have to jump […]

May 24, 2011 | By | 6 Replies More
Will We Finally Be Getting More Grouse?

Will We Finally Be Getting More Grouse?

The answer for growing more ruffed grouse is the same for all gamebirds: more habitat. No secret there. And in the case of grouse, that means cut trees. Cut ’em! They’ll grow back! And in the meantime, grouse and basically everything that lives in a forest will benefit. But that’s not as easy nor logical […]

May 19, 2011 | By | 5 Replies More
Grouse Shells: What Would You Like?

Grouse Shells: What Would You Like?

We’re in the process of designing our own shells for ruffed grouse. “Designing” doesn’t mean the engineering parts since neither of us is a reloader. It means the specs. Why are we doing it? Hunters can find upland shells and pheasant shells – and even shells designed for the different clay disciplines – but no […]

May 5, 2011 | By | 17 Replies More
Rabbits, Cutting Trees and Birds

Rabbits, Cutting Trees and Birds

We’re still amazed – literally – that the New England cottontail rabbit is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The cottontail freakin’ rabbit! Okay, not the similar eastern cottontail, but still. And what’s the issue? Apparently people – including people we all know – think it’s “cruel” or “ugly” to cut trees. […]

April 29, 2011 | By | 4 Replies More