Grouse hunting windy days

[BOUNCED]

This past weekend was a bear to hunt given how windy it was. Two guys and two dogs this weekend and managed one flush. We hunted all types of cover except the thickest of pines. I've hunted Grouse nearly 30 years and the windy day results are always the same. I've come to the conclusion that they must roost in the safety of the heavy pines until the wind subsides.

Is anyone having success on windy days? If so where are you finding birds?

[tacklejunkie]

This past weekend was a bear to hunt given how windy it was. Two guys and two dogs this weekend and managed one flush. We hunted all types of cover except the thickest of pines. I've hunted Grouse nearly 30 years and the windy day results are always the same. I've come to the conclusion that they must roost in the safety of the heavy pines until the wind subsides.

Is anyone having success on windy days? If so where are you finding birds?

I agree. The two worst days to hunt...IMO...are heavy rains and strong winds. The best is right after the rains and wind

[CANOPY SAM]

I would also add that 1) It's a bit harder for dogs to catch scent in REALLY strong swirling winds 2) It's much harder for us to see or hear movement in the woods, and likewise 3) It's much harder for grouse to hear or see movement in the woods, so (at least I think) they're less likely to flush.

My two favorite times to hunt ruffies are dead calm when they break cover and it's so loud you jump, and just after a couple inches of fresh snow!

On windy days I don't hunt ruffed grouse. I can always change gears and hunt sharptails, but even they can be tough to find and flush on really windy days.

[BOUNCED]

On windy days I don't hunt ruffed grouse.

This is going to be my new motto but it's hard when you only have so many days you can hunt.

dam job is always getting in the way of the good days

[Feathers Rainin]

Hunt after the wind and you will have great hunting. They come out after being tucked down in the wind. If you hunt during the wind hunt with as many dogs as possible. Be ready because you won't hear the flushes unless they are right next to you. Two of us hunted Sunday between duck hunts for about an hour and a half with two dogs and got 6 birds on 8 flushes, only shot at the 6 we got. We went because the wind wasn't too bad but by the time we got to the trails it was really going. Didn't hear any of the flushes except for one right by the trail. All of a sudden a grouse would be flying by from the direction the dog ran in.

It sucks when the weather doesn't pan out for your window of time you can hunt. It always seems to be nasty weather during the week and beautiful on the weekends during the duck season.

[GSP4ME]

We hunted this past week in NE wisconsin. WInd every day and yesterday rain and snow mixture. we had 12 flushes in an hour in one area that was thick pines on the left a dry creek bed down the center and a mixture of oak and beech on the right. the birds all came from down along the edge of the pine and flushed into the oak and beech trees. I have never seen the shooting that easy, even two woodcock. I have hunted a lot of years and never seen a area hold so many birds in such a small area

[wdgold]

I have had some very good hunting during days right before a low cold front was moving in. The day before is best, I know this may be hard to believe but about 5 yrs ago we were hunting a day before a big cold front was to move in that night and we flushed at least 30-35 birds that day with 3 of us and 2 dogs.

[Grum]

On windy days I look for thick, young aspen, even better if the area has some hills and ravines.

[Boar]

How about time of day, Wen it gets to be a crisp frosty morning but eventually warm up into the 60's like today wen would you head out to hunt? wat time frame of the day would be best flush birds.

[Boar]

Also wat causes this? Bad luck? Evertday from mid august to wen Im done bear hunting, I'm seeing grouse along the trail I bait. alway one or two an sometime 3. Thier just cluking along an dont flush, fun to watch. As soon an im done bear hunting which is today for the season but most time end of sept. I grab my daughter an we walk the trails thru the woods. Cant find one. See then everyday for 6 weeks then as soon as i grab the shotgun they dissapear. I know that guy has to work for birds if he really wants them. but all of a suddne theyve moved from the edges of thrails to thick stuff, is it lack of tree leaves an brush leaves? that cause them to dissapear

[charliepete]

It's tough to say why you might not be seeing grouse when it's time to hunt. Fall dispersal could be one thing. The momma busts up the family group come fall and some of the birds you were seeing have probably been run out of their cover. Food would be another likely bet. Grouse change their patterns within their tiny home grounds based on available food sources. They might eat clover on a trail until wild strawberry leaves tender up and then switch to them (or any of the hundreds of other things grouse like to eat).

Most likely it's just the hunters version of Murphy's Law in play. If you really don't want to see a game animal....just pick up a weapon and try looking for one.