What is the swampy cover grouse seek, after the leaves fall?

[jjz]

What is the type of cover grouse seek after the leaves fall, I know it is marsh type areas. I guess my question is what type of marsh/swamp areas are better. I think I know they dont use tamarack, spruce or peat bogs but I have never hit the late season honey holes I have heard people talk about here. I can't see them using cattails either, I think a swamp with thick willows would be the ticket but have failed to find one in my core hunting areas. I am just looking for any pointers on what I should look for to find late fall/early winter grouse magnets.

Thanks

[tacklejunkie]

I find them the same place now as I find them in mid Oct. Wrist size aspens or maybe areas with some small saplings if there is a small clump of short pines.

I might find them in denser covers around swampy areas but never in marshy type areas although someone else may

[WalleyeDrifter]

I've had my best success in areas with thicker cover. Small evergreens, thick alder and blowdowns. I haven't had great success after we get more than 4-6 inches of snow. On a nice sunny day in December, it's great to be out in the woods. A grouse or two is a bonus.

[CNCMike]

Low lying wet areas, with tag alder and aspen surrounding them seem to work as opposed to an actual "swamp". It seems that anything with a bit of dampness, perhaps a little actual water, with some good cover, blackberry, raspberry, tag alder, aspen and blowdown surrounding it, are the better areas as the season progresses. I do, however, actually have a spruce swamp that holds a ton of grouse that I hunt in right after firearms deer season. The edge areas, where there are some aspen and oaks nearby are great. As for later season, once there is 4" or more snow on the ground, I find that the older poplar forests are where the birds are. 8" or bigger diameter trees...

[life=outdoors92]

It seems that anything with a bit of dampness, perhaps a little actual water, with some good cover, blackberry, raspberry, tag alder, aspen and blowdown surrounding it, are the better areas as the season progresses. I do, however, actually have a spruce swamp that holds a ton of grouse that I hunt in right after firearms deer season. The edge areas, where there are some aspen and oaks nearby are great. As for later season, once there is 4" or more snow on the ground, I find that the older poplar forests are where the birds are. 8" or bigger diameter trees...

completely agree. i find spruce swamps are some of the best of cover. walking the edges of them, such as where the aspen meets the spruce can be deadly. especially if the spruce swamp is near a road. some of my biggest flushes (even my biggest of 22 birds) came out of one.

on sunny days, they could really be anywhere, especially in the tops of trees basking in the sun, so any good spot aspen or conifer spot will work. however, i have noticed on cloudier days they simply retreat into more "squishy" ground and stay in the conifers. balsams seem to be the most deadliest. also don't forget to track them in the snow! it can be quite fun tracking them all their way up to their burrow and having them explode at your feet!! good luck this winter!

[Pinusbanksiana]

I shot 5 grouse in a span of about 10 minutes one day on a frozen sedge swamp with sparsely scattered waist high willows. They were out in the wide open, yet roosting in the sedge grasses. Flushed like pheasants.