1st Time Hunter - Successful Grouse Hunt

[1stLand]

Didn't ever think I would FINALLY get my Hunting Licence this year, but after a lot of free time, I decided to take the Hunters Education Course online and then purchased an Upland Game Bird Licence 3 weeks ago.
It was also less than a month ago, I bought my first Firearm - A Remington 870 12 Gauge, after seeking advice on this very Forum on what to buy.

I have been reading up on previous posts on this Forum on how to hunt Grouse, their Habitat, Hunting Tactics, What to look for & have been watching endless Youtube videos on Grouse Hunting, How to Field Dress the Bird, as well as learning more about the Remington Shot Gun.

I had been out 3 previous times in the past 2 weeks by myself, looking for Grouse in the Foothills, scouting for good locations / habitat but hadn't seen a single Bird. Every time I went out, I left my Shot Gun in my truck, and took my Air Pistol instead (yes its less than 500 fps). My 4th outing, I drove to a new spot and did alot of scouting. Didn't see any birds and I felt I was looking in the wrong type of forest / habitat, so I hopped in the truck and drove 50 km to another area of Crown Land. It was getting late at this point but I kept walking in the woods along a game trail as the scenery was so beautiful. Still no sign of birds. On my way back home I decided to try one more spot in the General Area as it was a nice trail / cutline. I walked slowly about 1 km, stopping ever so often and listening for any movement in the underbrush. Still nothing, so I decided to turn back and walk back to my truck. On my way back, I decided to stop walking and take a break and look around. Just as I did that, I hard some leaves move and to the Left of me was a RUFFED GROUSE! I couldn't believe it, finally seeing a Grouse, I thought my eyes were playing a trick on me. My Adreneline was pumping. I was also devastated because I didn't have my shot gun with me, just my air pistol. I slowly grabbed my air pistol, and lined up the shot, I pulled the trigger and nothing happened. Air Cartridge must have spoiled. I was so dissapointed, but I would not give up. I took a few pictures of the Grouse with my camera so I could take stock of the spot it was in and I slowly moved down the trail, hoping the Grouse would stay in the same spot and ran 1km back to my truck to get my shot gun.

(Now it has been probably 14 years since I fired any sort of gun. When I bought my Shot Gun a few weeks ago, the plan was to go shooting for target practice and to get used to my gun, but I was apprehensive about doing that for some reason)

When I made it to my truck, I loaded my Shot Gun for the first time (actually it was probably the first time I ever loaded a shot gun) and made my way back up to the same spot. When I got there the Grouse was gone. I wouldn't be defeated. I moved up the trail about 100m to see if the Grouse advanced farther, and then I went into the forest and slowly and carefully walked the game trail hoping I would see some movement in the deeper woods. As I advanced a bit further, I heard cracking and snapping of bushes, a HUGE WHITETAIL BUCK was running up a hill about 30 yards ahead of me. At that point I figured my day of hunting was over and the Bird was gone, but I decided to take the game trail back to my truck anyways just in case. Sure enough I spotted the grouse in between two skinny trees about 30 feet in front of me. I took the safety off my Shot Gun and lined up a shot. I wasn't confident I would hit the bird between the two trees so slowly I moved towards the birds trying to get it to move into a clearer opening, as I advanced, it advanced into a more open spot between the trees until finally I knew I had to take a shot or risk having it fly away or run into deeper woods. I pulled the trigger, trying to physically prepare myself for the first blast & recoil of my shot gun ever. Direct Hit! Grouse was flapping around, and I knew I had hit it with my very first shot. What an awesome sound the gun made. It was a surreal experience to finally get a bird, all on my own.

Cleaning the bird was a piece of cake thanks to the instruction of Youtube. Breast came out easily after stepping on the Wings and pulling the legs. I ended up making "Grouse Fingers" and even roasted the legs. Tasted amazing. Even gave some to the Girlfriend and she loved the taste of Grouse.

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[rottie]

Congrats, they make darn good table fare

[Bigwoodsman]

Nice!
You're hooked now!

BW

[bowhunter9841]

Cut the breast into cube size pieces, and wrap in bacon, and put onto skewers, Throw em on the grill, and enjoy. Best way I've had them so far! Congrats on your first success!!

[Huntsman]

Good for you!!
Your on your way. I just had some grouse schnitzel the other night, tasty!!
Enjoy every last bite of yours and go get some more before season ends.

[Stinky Buffalo]

Congrats! Grouse are some of my favourite game.

[trigger7mm]

Congrats, hopefully the first of many.

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by bowhunter9841

Cut the breast into cube size pieces, and wrap in bacon, and put onto skewers, Throw em on the grill, and enjoy. Best way I've had them so far! Congrats on your first success!!

Thanks! I'll have to try this

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Thanks! I'll have to try this

Anyway you try it , it is fantastic!
Personally I would wait until you had one or two more and do a stir fry!
Cat

[hilt134]

Right on man i know the exact feeling. Looks like a good one.

[Scott N]

Excellent!

[Bow flyman]

Great story. I had the same feeling when I finally got my pheasant this year after several trips searching. I have been doing the bird hunting with shot gun for many years, and the feeling of downing a bird never gets old.

[shakeyleg02]

Good job man they are so yummy

[gs100bert]

great story but you need to consider getting a dog they make bird hunting much more fun .

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by gs100bert

great story but you need to consider getting a dog they make bird hunting much more fun .

agreed

[CBintheNorth]

I think it's safe to say that you worked harder for that bird than most do for a big game animal.
Congratulations and thanks for posting your adventure.

[Vook]

Cool story! Thank for sharing! It reminds me the very first hunt of my own.

[1stLand]

Got this one last Friday after walking in the Bush 5 Hours.
Of the 7 times I have been out, I have seen 3 Grouse in Total.
Beautiful Tail Feathers on this one:

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[300magman]

By the sounds of it you sure are earning every one of those birds, lol. Congrats.

[Speckle55]

Grats

great success story after all that work

Thanks for sharing

David

[moosehunter21]

Awesome congrats! finest eating chicken!

[Beeman]

I think this is the best hunting story on the forum this fall. Great job and good luck getting more.

[Boogerfart]

awesome! well done!

[Joe Black]

Great pose with the bass pro hat.

[waterninja]

Thats the spirit. I love to see someone get so excited about a grouse. Thanks for pics and story. I like the wood on your 870.

[caddisman]

Congrats on starting. Once you get a bit of experience you will want to move down to a 410 shotgun so that you have less pellets to deal with or even how some of us hunt with a 22 rifle for head shots of crop shots.
You seem to be in the right kind of surroundings. I tend to find more near the end of the day. If you have a dog sometimes that helps flush them into the trees about 15 feet up.

[Koschenk]

Congrats, thats awesome, welcome to the addiction.

Don't want to rain on your parade jusy a heads up for the future, even though it's under 500fps, since the air pistol is "designed to be fired with one hand" it is illegal to hunt with.

My guess is after this you'll be sure to carry the shotgun instead anyway.

Another vote here for 22 headshots too.

[jungleboy]

Great story and pictures . Don't toss the feathers ,they are great for tying flies or Jigs.

[Vook]

Originally Posted by Koschenk

Don't want to rain on your parade jusy a heads up for the future, even though it's under 500fps, since the air pistol is "designed to be fired with one hand" it is illegal to hunt with.

You haven't done you homework!

It is unlawful to
5. set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of
hunting any wildlife:
- a pistol or revolver unless
it is an air powered pistol or revolver that discharges a projectile at
less than 500 feet per second (often used for hunting small game).

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Koschenk

Congrats, thats awesome, welcome to the addiction.

Don't want to rain on your parade jusy a heads up for the future, even though it's under 500fps, since the air pistol is "designed to be fired with one hand" it is illegal to hunt with.

My guess is after this you'll be sure to carry the shotgun instead anyway.

Another vote here for 22 headshots too.

Lol...where on earth did you hear that from?

Air pistol under 500fps, legal as outlined in the ALBERTA hunting regulations.

LC