Weather Conditions for Grouse Hunting?

[JJK]

Since I work all week and have other stuff going on I can't hunt as much as I'd like to. But I'll want to hunt every chance I get regardless of the weather.

What are the best weather conditions for hunting ruffs?

Are there any conditions that cause you guys to pass on a day of hunting?

[TylerS]

My best days hunting usually come on sunny, calm days. Don't know why. I haven't hunted with a dog for ruffs, so we do the "walk a few steps, stop, look, listen, repeat" thing. When it's calm and sunny out, it's much easier to see and hear grouse in the underbrush or in trees.

I hate hunting when it's raining. Seems to me like the birds hunker down and all you get for a day of walking is wet socks and a runny nose.

[NAGORSKI]

I've shot grouse in snow,rain, and 70 degrees and sunny. I think they are more likely to be out in the sun in the morning and late in the day on the gravel by clover. But I plan a weekend to hunt and you can't controll the weather so I hunt no matter what. I'ts always nice to get out no matter what. Good luck.

[Harmonica Bear]

I hunt in any weather, regardless. However, I think my best days usually go hand in hand with calm winds.

[setterguy]

Yup, same for me. 5-10 mph is perfect. about 35 degrees and sunny. But I hunt when I can.

[Kyle]

windy as heck today, got down in some thick stuff and ended up flushing a couple woodcock. The only grouse we flushed was actually sitting in a pine tree and flushed about 60yds away from us.... few more leaves can come down in my opinion. And the ticks can die any time now...

[uplander]

Hunted in the [PoorWordUsage] this morning. moved 15 birds in just over 3 hrs..The best was when I met a guy coming out of one of my favorite spots and said hows the bird huntin...he said terrible he hadn't seen a single bird since sunrise and there were no birds around here. So I parked my car there and in 90 min moved 7 grouse and 2 woodcock. My point being they are always somewhere...you hunt when you can...rain or shine..some bad weather days have suprised me!

[Matt Breuer]

The days I absolutely cannot pass up are sunny-calm days after a few days of rain and cold. An eve. like tonight would be perfect aorund Bemidji, unfortunately, I am stuck at work. A really odd warm day in late November or early Dec. is tough to beat too. Sunny and calm, and just warm enough for the birds to come out of roost. I love tracking birds in the snow and coming up on coveys that are on a hillside catching some rays.

Stupid birds consume my every thought....

[SledNeck]

light mist rain/ calm

You can almost guarentee that ever clump or balsams or pines are holding grouse. Its easy, just send the dog in an get ready.

Last year on a perfect day like that I had flushed 25 or so in an hour, it was epic.

[JJK]

Sounds pretty clear, Thanks.

Back in 2002 I got laid off in October, 2003 laid off at end of September. Hunted 55 of the of the 60 day duck season, it was great. Sure could use 2 months off right about now. I'll hunt every chance I get, plan on calling in 2 Fridays and a vacation day for another Friday in Oct. May even skip work on the last Friday of the month. I hope the weather is good every weekend until deer season.

[FLnick87]

where are the best places to look for birds in a 15-20mph wind?

[CANOPY SAM]

I really love to hunt grouse on a still, calm day. My favorite is right after a fresh snow.

Find birds in a 15-20 mph wind? Tough conditions. It's hard to even hear em' get up in that kind of wind.

[Matt Breuer]

With the high winds we've been having this year I have been pleasantly surprised with how well the birds are holding and how many are still coming up near the edges. Dogs have 'em on lock far enough away for me to be ready, and they hang in the air for an extra second...

Best place to look on a high wind day is in the air!

[gritsnham]

Im still kinda new to the sport but around the Duluth area it is hard to get to many days without wind and lots of times this year it has been that 20mph+range. Still flsuh plenty of birds close to the trail in lowland areas and near ridges around heavy thickets and pine stands. If you are not making to much noise its also a lot harder for the birds to hear you and you can get some really close flushes on windy days.