[RyanR]

I was wondering if anyone might be able to point me in the direction of some possible grouse hunting or a good resource for locating some likely grouse areas to start exploring? I've never hunted grouse much in PA (I hunted them a bit in college in NH) but I would really like to start. I have a young DD and I plan to hunt with him as much as possible over as many species as possible (quite frankly only hunting stocked pheasants gets old.) I live in Carbon County and I'm looking for some public areas to start exploring within an hour's drive of me. I'm not trying to gleen anybody's exact spots but just kind of looking for a nudge in the right direction to log some miles in walking and begin finding decent areas on my own. Even just a good resource would be much appreciated?

PM's gladly accepted on this subject!

 

[burk313]

Ryan,the grouse are in their down cycle right now..It is tough to find them..You could try some Huntingdon County Game Lands..Call the regional office in Huntingdon,PA..The Land workers could give you some tips where to take your dog..

 

[RyanR]

Ryan,the grouse are in their down cycle right now..It is tough to find them..You could try some Huntingdon County Game Lands..Call the regional office in Huntingdon,PA..The Land workers could give you some tips where to take your dog..

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I've got a young DD with boundless energy and drive to hunt so the down cycle doesn't bother me and I really enjoy exploring new hunting areas even if it is mostly just taking the shotgun (and pup) out for a long hike. PA is beautiful country and I've only hunted a small area of it and have a real desire to explore so much more of this great state. I'll shoot the office an email. (I didn't grow up in the classic hunting household, my dad got into a bit it only because I wanted to learn to hunt as a kid. The only places he really knows about for hunting really are mainly the places that I've found and take him too. Instead of that knowledge coming from a grandfather to father to son it's me on my own finding it out alot through trial and error. I don't have my own kids but my nephews have shown interest in hunting and I'm working to pass the love for hunting to them.)

When I hunted the White Mountains Nat'l Forest in NH with my young labrador I didn't know squat but he nd I love to explore. We'd park at an access gate and just walk the old logging road or trail for hours, sometimes all day, and then turn around and hike back out near dark. That's kinda how I learned the more productive areas from the unproductive areas.

 

[angus]

Google maps will list all of the gamelands and forests in PA. Locate some west and north of you. Take a drive up and see what you can find. There is good grouse hunting closer to you than driving to Huntingdon.

 

[OldDublin]

The Ruffed Grouse by Atwater and Schnell would be a good start.

 

[PA_Sportsman]

Not so sure about a down cycle, but regardless you have grouse in Carbon Co.

 

[Pine-Creek]

Ryan,
Try planning a trip to the Northern Tier, Potter/Tioga and west, get a place to stay for a few days and investigate
both the SGL's and the SFL with your dog, bring a back tracker and a compass its a big woods up here.
Pine Creek/Dave