Hunting the spunky, but cyclical, ruffed grouse can be both exasperating and rewarding. Now I've got to admit, a huge part of hunting success for this wonderful upland game bird is shooting accuracy and proficiency, and I just am not the marksman with a shotgun that I am with a rifle. But as important as being a good shot is, it is equally important to know how grouse behave and to put yourself in position to get a good shot. With that said, here are five key points to focus on for improved ruffed grouse hunting results:
1. Choose the right gun and stick with it. Shots at grouse come super fast, so the gun mount has to be right instantly and consistently. That's just not going to be the case if you're changing guns all the time. Changing barrels depending on the bird species being hunted is way preferable to changing guns completely.
2. Shoot skeet with some regularity and increased frequency as hunting seasons approach. It's great hunting practice and will boost your confidence and your effectiveness. You'll find that you will get used to seeing your targets break and that confidence will carry over to your field shooting. You move differently, you're not tentative. You expect to see birds fall and they do.
3. Always be ready for birds to flush. Whether you're using pointing dogs or spaniels and other waterfowl retrievers, you need to work together as a team and always keep an eye on your dog. I've seen numerous hunters with pointing dogs only pay attention when the dog goes on point, and as a result are surprised by wild flushes and miss many good opportunities. Keep your trigger hand on your gun and use your left hand to push brush out of the way so you can always get your gun into action quickly.
4. Make the right approach and don't stop until you're in a spot for a good shot. Dogless hunters know the trick of stopping to make birds flush, and grouse hunters do it inadvertently, pausing on the way to a point and making birds flush wild. When your dog goes on point, walk in a rhythmic, steady cadence to the bird until you reach a place that you can shoot.
When cover is so thick that there is no "right place," take turns with a partner. One of you goes where you can shoot; the other plunges into the thick stuff. Look for escape cover like conifers where the bird will want to fly, then cut the grouse off by coming in from that direction.
5. Read the line of flight. Grouse are not swift flyers. The heavy cover they're hiding in just makes them seem fast. Get a good bead on them by simply identifying where you can shoot and the bird's probable path.
If you can't see your partners, call out so you'll know where they are. That tells you where you can't shoot safely and gives you your shooting window. When a bird flushes in that window, you only need to see enough to read its line of flight.
Line is much more important than lead. If you can get the gun ahead of the bird and shoot on the right line, chances are you will hit it.
Ignore brush and pull the trigger. The odds of a grouse being directly behind a 10-inch tree trunk the instant you shoot are slim.
Remember, a grouse in hand really is one of hunting's greatest trophies, the satisfaction of which ranks right up there with a trophy whitetail. Why? Because you work for them just as hard and earn every one you bag! Good hunting!
James Nelson is an avid, lifelong hunter and he enjoys sharing tales, tips and tricks from his hunting adventures at his "Hunting Tips And Tricks" website at http://www.huntingscopes-jei.com/.
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