What you describe here must not be ruffed grouse. Could be Sage, sharp tail or spruce grouse. I don't beleve there are any Ruffed Grouse in ND due to the lack of forest land. Ruffed grouse would never come that easy unless you shot them on the ground which still can be a challenge if they have been hunted before. How you describe the Northern Wisconsin grouse sure sounds like ruffed. In NE Wisconsin.... (East of Three lakes), we don't see anyone but Ruffed Grouse there.
Gun right now, I'll start using the bow after Saturday. Cook them in a lot the same dishes we would use chicken. My wife and I, especially my wife, enjoy cooking and have been at it for a while.
They were ruffed grouse. (tho' there are also sharptail grouse and sage grouse up there.) Part of my internship was ruffed grouse drumming log surveys.
Those are different personality birds than we hunt (and most others). Never heard of anyone thinking ruffed grouse could be close to caught by hand. No one I know consiers them to be easy birds. For example: http://www.suite101.com/content/where-to-hunt-ruffed-grouse-a146931
Every year I say I am gonna do more small game hunting. Back in the day when I whacked the 1st buck by me in archery, I got to do TONS of small gaming. And back before I lived in an area where deer season ran for weeks and weeks after christmas I would get a lot more late season small game hunting in. I guess I just need to adjust my priorities. You guys got me thinking though. Maybe I will take a walk behind the house tomorrow, loads of squirrels back there.
I gave up the squirrell hunting years ago. I was cursed,,every one I ever had killed had a nut sack the size of a softball and was old as dirt. Old squirell dosent eat good I have been thinking about bringing the recurve for a rabbit hunt with my neighbor. He has some champion beagles.
Im duck hunting a lil bit right now (Kind of, the birds disappeared down here unless your on the big water) but one of the enjoyable types of hunting I do is crow hunting. That mess just doesnt get old. Went earlier in the week and shot 6 of em. Some days with 30 birds can be had if you have plenty of spots to switch up your spreads.
I'll take the over if that's the line. I'm going to say 8 will be the total. You guys have inspired me. I'm going to find something to hunt. Not sure what yet.... something. Hopefully something that's good eatin.
Can't say I've acquired a taste for squirrel, so I don't hunt them. I do enjoy late season small game here in PA, and a few buddies of mine used to go out for rabbit/grouse, etc, but haven't the past few years. I actually enjoy bird hunting sometimes more than archery. Like GFY said, Grouse are a humbling bird around here. They stick to cover for a long time, and when they bust, it's FAST, and LOUD. Good times.
The over was the good bet. My buddy shot 4 and I shot 2. We had a good time just hanging out. We surely could've killed a few more. But, that's enough for a meal....and it was cold! Back at it, soon.
You're just used to the WI birds Brad. At our cabin, probably not far from where you hunt, they are extremely skittish. Pretty much the same way all over WI. Come up to my camp in Ontario sometime and you'll see a totally different manner to the same bird. They are dumb as hell. Using a shotgun would be cheating, even if you did flush them. We shoot them with slingshots. Three of us have gone out and gotten a limit of 15 birds in 45 minutes with the slingshots before. Unfortunately, we've had 3 wet spring and summers in a row and the population is way down. I have some video clips of dubs shooting a couple with his bow last year. The third, and best video, he accidently deleted. I'll see if I can get it uploaded.
Very interesting Dan. I wonder it is just the hunting pressure that makes them that way or what? In regards to the population, the wet springs compounded with the fact we are getting close to the bottom of the 10 year cycle makes for some tough hunting. Would love to see the video.
This is the (I think) recipe I was looking for - Squirrel. I'm gonna try this, tomorrow....and I'll let you know how it goes. If it's like the squirrel I had a few months ago, I'm going hunting again ASAP. ************** ~ quartered and cleaned squirrels, 1 per person ~ buttermilk ~ OldBay seasoning ~ flour ~ salt & pepper ~ shortening Soak your meat for at least an hour in buttermilk. Combine the flour & OldBay until you can see the flour turn light pink. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper to taste. Heat up your shortening to 375 degrees in a iron skillet or deep fryer deep enough to cover the meat. Roll or shake your meat in the flour mix and fry until the coating is golden brown. Take it out and place it on a rack to drain. Place it in your oven for about 1/2 hour at 275 degrees. Serve and Enjoy!
I want to ...trying to firgure out what gun .17 HMR or .22 Mag? One of the places I hunt is just full of them
As soon as I get time again, I will be loading the coonhounds up and hitting the woods. I've only been out twice this year, but I haven't had a whole lot of time lately.
Our squirrel season close the 31st, I'd love to get out and take a few just to try the recipe you mentioned.
