[Potter Bound]

I believe this to be grouse sign - thoughts?

I first found this -

then looked to the other side of the logging road and saw this -

I believe the grouse was tucked back inside his cave - you can see where his wing hit as he flew out -
Then landed and "stretched" as seen in the first photo and walked away.
What do you think?

Saw 3 gouse in an 8 mile walk yesterday.

 

[wingshot]

It's 'snow roosting' and very important to winter survival for the grouse. Cold winters without sufficient snow depth for snow roosting are much harder on the birds. Snow is a pretty good insulator as it turns out. Relatively dry, deep snow without a crust on top is ideal.

 

[Pghbirdhunter]

Cool pictures!

 

[Callmaker60]

Yes, that's a neat find.

 

[clermont]

Very neat. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Big Don]

very cool!

 

[OldDublin]

Would that every area of the ruffed grouse range in the appalatchians be blessed with snow....snow is a Mae West, of sorts, for the bird.

 

[Potter Bound]

Plenty of snow in Potter on top - 17" plus.

 

[ruffedG]

Even better find when the bird is still in the snow roost...

 

[jimsdad]

Many years ago we did a lot of grousing in Indian County in the snow. Some of my fondest hunting memories are of the several occasions when a grouse blasted out of the show, all wings, speed, a blur of powered white and speckeled brown and that thumping burrrrrrrr of hammering wings. I tell you that there were many times when I was so surprised that I either did not shoot or just shot in the general direction of the ghost.

 

[timberdoodle]

Perfect snow for a snow roost too!! Found one this AM

 

[ruffedG]

Had what I consider a fair day today with snow knee deep. We hunted XXXXXXX for about 4-5 hours... Moved 7 birds with one to the bag... My friend flushed two out of snow roosts... All the snow roosts that I found were empty... Tough hunting but fun...

G

 

[Born2Hunt]

This great grouse hunting.....Follow the tracks in soft snow until they disappear under the snow...then look for air holes if they have been under for long periods of time. In hard snow look for the air holes.

They will go different directions under the snow. I have walked the tunnels and had them fly up between my legs and hitting me with their flapping wings on take off.

As in the photo above where the grouse has flown away before the hunter arrived.....make a good search in the general direction of the Angel print in the snow shows for a hundred or two hundred yards and you just might jump your grouse....Be ready at all times.

 

[ruffedG]

The snow roosts we found had no track leading to them... I think they "dive" into the snow from flight...

G

 

[Barberry]

C'mon ruffedG...I need to know where you were hunting. I need a better clue than XXXX.

 

[ruffedG]

I didn't hunt in XXXX, I hunted in XXXXXXX. If you see a green chevy you are getting close...

G

 

[Born2Hunt]

The snow roosts we found had no track leading to them... I think they "dive" into the snow from flight...

G

You are so right. I have seen them do this in soft snow.

 

[Born2Hunt]

XXXX Is that a grouse crossing sign similar to the deer Xing signs.

I always wanted to make a cartoon of two deer siting on the highway next to one of those crossing signs playing X/O's, but I am Handi capped...In that can't draw.

 

[Barberry]

Huh...green chevy, I am getting on GoogleEarth right now.
BTW, great pictures Potter!!!

 

[trev]

ruffedG, did you get a new truck? What happened to the red Dodge?