wierd grouse hunts

[o town]

gentlemen,
This is the time for reflection and planning for the coming year. (unless you're one of those strange ice-fishing persons)
I know you all are struggling through the snow and you think I'm basking by the pool with a banana daquiri and shooting doves off my bird feeder, but it's 100% humidity and 30 degrees outside. It's cold as hell!
Anyway, I saw a post on where to find grouse and there was a nice response about checking the crop when you got one and finding out what they were eating and then finding the source.
It reminded me of something that happened 20 years ago that seemed perfectly logical at the time, but, in retrospect, is really weird and I wondered if anyone else has other weird grouse stories.
My story was that we saw a bird fly across a road and we followed. There were a few birds there and we 'harvested' one. Its crop was full of mountain ash berries. Doc and I were scratching our heads because the only mountain ash trees we knew in that area were on a plain that had been flooded by freak rains. After much mumbling and fumbling, we decided to put up the dogs and put on our waders.
So here's the picture; 2 guys sloshing along in 1'-2' of water and there are no ducks around. We're after grouse! Guess what. The place was alive with birds. I've been in on a lot of 40-50 bird flushes, but this was the topper. They were happily munching away on berries and flying up into the white pines to roost. If we hadn't checked that bird's crop and done the unthinkable by going into the water, it would have been just another day.
Sooooo...It got me to thinking that I'm sure there are a bunch of you all that are adventuresome and have discovered our little wily friend in strange places or have strange shots or strange anything with grouse that you'd like to share. Let's hear it. It'll get us thinking about next year.
o town

[bonasabuster]

nothing

[This message has been edited by bonasabuster (edited 02-12-2001).]

[This message has been edited by bonasabuster (edited 02-12-2001).]

[Worm Dunker]

This isn't a wierd hunting story but filling out my turkey permit reminded me how we found a new grouse area. We set up in a new area and started calling turkey after awhile with now answer my buddy tried gobbling and when he finished a grouse drumed.He goggled again and the grouse drumed again. Then a second one answered then a third.Pretty soon there were five different cocks druming. Neadless to say we went back there and did real well last fall.

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