Go Back   Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum > Main Category > Hunting Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-16-2021, 09:23 AM
osterous osterous is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 87
Default Grouse season-end review

In early Sept, I was feeling a bit discouraged about the prospects for the new season. So I asked what others were expecting. Now, with the season over, I was wondering what folks have experienced. My personal impression/experience is that this season was a lot better that last season, but not as good as the two previous seasons. In general, I would call it average over all. Success was achieved however, with a lot more effort, both in walking and with driving. Also,it seems that the further north one goes, the greater the success. What are your impressions?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:17 AM
marlin1's Avatar
marlin1 marlin1 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 4,083
Default

only hunted sharptails . Population seemed good , not as good as a couple years back but still managed 3 . Ruffles I saw while deer hunting were few and far between in 300 zones
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:28 AM
Hunter3006 Hunter3006 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 120
Default Grouse up North

Grouse numbers up North in the 500s seem to be pretty healthy in my area. In my early September and October outings, I seen a lot of ruffed grouse, few spruce grouse and quite a few sharptails pending the area. I was fortunate to get my limits without much difficulty. As the end of November approached, I seen fewer ruffys and more spruce grouse, mainly hens...possibly because of the amount of snow we received. In comparison to last year, this year was much better
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:29 AM
bessiedog's Avatar
bessiedog bessiedog is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,372
Default

Ruffie numbers in 306 402 and 400 were healthy

Blues were in good numbers....

Lots of spruce around too
__________________
"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live.”
-HDT
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends on the character of the user." T. Roosevelt
"I don't always troll, only on days that end in Y."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:40 AM
Alexey Alexey is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Posts: 157
Default

I was out four times. Got the limit on the first day which appeared to be just a pure luck, as I did not see a bird on three other outings in 406.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-16-2021, 10:53 AM
magoonpointboy's Avatar
magoonpointboy magoonpointboy is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Calgary Area
Posts: 277
Default

312 was above average.
__________________
Proud member of the Boom and Crockpot and Poke and Yum Clubs - Eating tomorrow's trophies today.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-16-2021, 11:04 AM
Donkey Oatey Donkey Oatey is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,260
Default

326, 328, 330, 332 poor to very poor. Compared to years past. Most of the ones I did see were spruce.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by huntinstuff View Post
Attention Anti Hunters
Sit back
Pour yourself a tea

Watch us "sportsmen" attack each other and destroy ourselves from within.

From road hunters vs "real hunters" to bowhunters vs rifle hunters, long bows and recurves vs compound user to bow vs crossbow to white hunters vs Native hunters etc etc etc
.....

Enjoy the easy ride, anti hunters. Strange to me why we seem to be doing your job for you.

Excuse me while I go puke.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-16-2021, 05:08 PM
SouthWestRanger SouthWestRanger is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 350
Default

312 well above average, good sharp tail numbers in the east, actually really great numbers of sharptails, put some up today while walking the dog.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-16-2021, 06:43 PM
abhunter8's Avatar
abhunter8 abhunter8 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Drayton Valley, AB
Posts: 699
Default

336, 337, 509, 234, were all poor. 12 days of hunting deer and grouse and only saw 2 ruffles. Did see quite a few Huns this year but didn’t have a shotgun with us on that trip.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-16-2021, 07:59 PM
Flight01's Avatar
Flight01 Flight01 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Fort McMurray, AB
Posts: 2,514
Default

Spent most of my time in 512 as that’s where I had my early moose tag. Not many ruffies, a few places had pockets of spruce hens. Overall a slower grouse year. In November I saw only a few grouse in 512/517/519/529... only bagged 2 spruce and 3 ruffies all year. Now I wasn’t out hunting hard but usually I pick up 10-15 of each species in a given season.
Did see more rabbits this year. Shot a few in October and snared a few in December
__________________
Be sure of your target and what lies beyond.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-16-2021, 09:10 PM
jungleboy's Avatar
jungleboy jungleboy is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 6,568
Default

338 birds were spotty but overall I think an improvement over last year. All roughies I think I saw one spruce grouse.
__________________
Preacher: “Well, there's a lot of sinners here abouts. You wouldn't want me to leave before I finish my work, would you?”.

Last edited by jungleboy; 01-17-2021 at 12:10 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-16-2021, 09:16 PM
catnthehat's Avatar
catnthehat catnthehat is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,526
Default

Ruffies in the 500's where I hunted were scarce as were spruce grouse..
Cat
__________________
Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-16-2021, 09:46 PM
KGB's Avatar
KGB KGB is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 5,509
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jungleboy View Post
337 birds were spotty but overall I think an improvement over last year. All roughies I think I saw one spruce grouse.
Last year we did pretty good there, this year wasn’t that great at all! We were seeing 2-3 birds if we lucky! But got a few bunnies - ther was not much snow on the ground so we could see them good!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-16-2021, 11:35 PM
Speckle55's Avatar
Speckle55 Speckle55 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: CANADA
Posts: 6,268
Default

There were a few clutch's early giving us a 38 grouse day seen

over all numbers were about the same a last year

we saw 192 grouse of those 5 sharp-tail's which are not open

2019/20 we saw 206

2018/19 we saw 350

Upland hunting in the foothills has been awesome

.22 Semi Rem 597 4x Bushnell 38gr American Eagle

head shots only

mmmm nothing like a grouse supper

David
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 124722433_648751372418608_5726665548361082589_n.jpg (35.0 KB, 73 views)
__________________
Scientific and Analytical Angler/Hunter
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-17-2021, 12:05 AM
jungleboy's Avatar
jungleboy jungleboy is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 6,568
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KGB View Post
Last year we did pretty good there, this year wasn’t that great at all! We were seeing 2-3 birds if we lucky! But got a few bunnies - ther was not much snow on the ground so we could see them good!
Ya it was weird would go out one weekend and barely see a bird and then next weekend we would see a dozen. We were mostly in the Carrot tower area

Also , my bad I meant 338 sorry bout that.
__________________
Preacher: “Well, there's a lot of sinners here abouts. You wouldn't want me to leave before I finish my work, would you?”.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 01-17-2021, 12:10 AM
JonC JonC is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 191
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by osterous View Post
In early Sept, I was feeling a bit discouraged about the prospects for the new season. So I asked what others were expecting. Now, with the season over, I was wondering what folks have experienced. My personal impression/experience is that this season was a lot better that last season, but not as good as the two previous seasons. In general, I would call it average over all. Success was achieved however, with a lot more effort, both in walking and with driving. Also,it seems that the further north one goes, the greater the success. What are your impressions?
My experience was on par with yours

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 01-17-2021, 08:26 AM
Stinky Buffalo's Avatar
Stinky Buffalo Stinky Buffalo is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: A bit North o' Center...
Posts: 11,113
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by JonC View Post
My experience was on par with yours

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk


Fairly similar experience here as well. Put in a lot of shoe leather, and we potted more spruce grouse this year than usual.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 01-17-2021, 10:59 AM
Hunter3006 Hunter3006 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 120
Default 500s

Quote:
Originally Posted by catnthehat View Post
Ruffies in the 500's where I hunted were scarce as were spruce grouse..
Cat
Guess I should have been more specific. Lots of grouse in 536, ruffys and spruce. 535 holds a whack of sharptails.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 01-17-2021, 11:09 AM
kilgoretrout kilgoretrout is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 407
Default

I did not chase any Ruffies this year which are my favorite table fare but Pheasants were great this year and I did not hunt any release sites I saw lots of sharpies but season was already closed .....
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 01-17-2021, 11:18 AM
StiksnStrings StiksnStrings is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 373
Default

507/350 numbers seemed down this year and last year. Saw fewer Ruffies and more Sprucies this year. Birds were skittish as can be. Still managed a couple tasty dinners. Little gifts from the forest.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 01-17-2021, 12:42 PM
KGB's Avatar
KGB KGB is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 5,509
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jungleboy View Post
Ya it was weird would go out one weekend and barely see a bird and then next weekend we would see a dozen. We were mostly in the Carrot tower area

Also , my bad I meant 338 sorry bout that.
And they were very well educated! I have never seen them starting to run when the vehicle approached, but this year was different. They would freeze for a second and if they see the vehicle slowing down or stopping- they run like a antelope!
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 01-17-2021, 02:04 PM
JULIUS JULIUS is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 248
Default

Hunted mostly in 356 and it was an average year for me. I found that ruffies were very area specific . Some areas seemed barren then a few miles away they were thick . Not sure why but the river hills seemed to be more productive than usual while the poplar flats were thin.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 01-17-2021, 03:36 PM
Gamblor Gamblor is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 28
Default

I hunted in 336, 334, 339, 936, 248.

Early season I thought that I was going to have a ****ty year and not find many ruffed grouse. I didn't bird hunt much through November as I chased bigger critters. By late season I was consistently bringing multiple birds home each day and seeing a lot more flushes than that. Overall I saw more birds this year than the last 2-3 for sure.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 01-17-2021, 03:43 PM
Fwee6 Fwee6 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Rocky View County
Posts: 616
Default

312/318/320 all very poor for our group this year. Way below normal.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 01-18-2021, 08:47 AM
nast70's Avatar
nast70 nast70 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,239
Default

We saw average numbers in 349/350 early in the season. Nothing mid season, but higher numbers in Dec. The 2 trips to 358 yielded fewer flushes than usual early, but higher numbers in Oct, mostly because they seemed to be flocked up.
__________________
Long gone are the times when things were made of wood, and men made of steel.
author unknown
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 01-18-2021, 09:57 AM
Springer's Avatar
Springer Springer is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,191
Default

I hunted the 200 zones. I saw a few while hunting bigger Critters but it was few. The couple times i did go out on purpose for grouse i got skunked.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 01-20-2021, 02:46 PM
tracker's Avatar
tracker tracker is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 357
Default

I saw lots of Spruce while out in the mountains. Lots of Sharp-tails as well but a veritable onslaught of bird hunters in my area could fix that for next year.
__________________
"Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” - Henry David Thoreau
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 01-20-2021, 03:44 PM
Dubious Dubious is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,521
Default

Seen below average amounts of ruffies in areas South of #1 west of #2 north of #3 not the best Intel from me that area is vast and I wasn’t focused on them. there was still enough in the back 40 to supplement mountain house ever day or 2.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 01-21-2021, 01:13 AM
walleye guy's Avatar
walleye guy walleye guy is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 232
Default wmu 338

ruffies a few less than normal, hardly saw a spruce
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 01-21-2021, 05:29 AM
Positrac Positrac is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,281
Default

I hunted a total of 19 days in 512/518/530 and in that time I only saw a half dozen grouse in total and didn’t kill a one. Pretty amazing when you consider 3-4 years ago you couldn’t walk anywhere without kicking one up.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:34 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.