Wing shooting ruffies

[obsessed1]

So most of my grouse hunting has been ground swatting with a 22LR. I'm not much of a shot gunner but do break more than I miss when shooting informal clays. I have a 28" break Action 20 g that I can do quite well with and would like to start trying to wing shoot them. Typically I hunt them on small trails through thick bush. I don't have a dog for flushing. How do you guys flush them so you have a chance at a shot before they get into the thick cover? Or do you shoot in lanes between trees? How do you properly swing in this case? We don't have much for upland other than chickens here but I love reading and seeing guys hunting pheasant and such and would love to try it someday. Definitely need to brush up on the worshiping skills lol

[hawk-i]

I will flush them before taking a shot, just IMHO to keep it sporting.

I use a Beretta 686 12ga.

You have to fast with ruffies because of the bush but it is a lot of fun...and its personally satisfying when you connect.

[obsessed1]

Originally Posted by hawk-i

I will flush them before taking a shot, just IMHO to keep it sporting.

I use a Beretta 686 12ga.

You have to fast with ruffies because of the bush but it is a lot of fun...and its personally satisfying when you connect.

How do you flush them ? Throw something?

[MaxxiD]

Sorry to jump on your post.

How do you identify them when you flush them? They're so quick. How do you know you're not shooting a sage grouse or a sharpie out of season?

[hawk-i]

coloration is total different, normally will spot them on the side of the trail and just keep walking towards them until they take off.

[catnthehat]

We hunt over a pointer so everything so everything is shot on the wing .
Cat

[cody j]

Originally Posted by MaxxiD

Sorry to jump on your post.

How do you identify them when you flush them? They're so quick. How do you know you're not shooting a sage grouse or a sharpie out of season?

Sage grouse numbers are down big time in the Grande Prairie area. 😁 I couldn’t help myself

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by cody j

Sage grouse numbers are down big time in the Grande Prairie area. ðŸ˜� I couldn’t help myself

That's why I haven't seen any Sage Grouse this year

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Smoky buck]

How often the little buggers make a run for it instead of flush there would be lots of missed opportunities if I was strictly wing shooting

[timsesink]

Pheasants only on the wing.

Grouse get shot where I find them. Good luck trying to wingshoot one whipping through a dense forest. I have shot a few on the wing but only after they've flushed before I could shoot them on the ground.

[Surly]

I hunt over a dog these day, so my situation has changed. I did, however, used to hunt by myself. Considering that ruffies like to run, getting them to flush in the correct direction can be a challenge. I found that walking about 10 feet in the bush along a backroad would get the birds to flush over the other side giving me an opportunity to connect. Coming up to a clearing from the bush will cause the birds to fly along the edge of the trees. Once a bird flushed at me and actually slapped me with it's wing...