Ready....Set.....Go....!!!

[AZ_Native]

Everyone tell me your secret Blue Grouse hunting spot in 3....2.....1......

 

Ok, so that might be a bit of a stretch for anyone to tell me. I might stand a better chance of snow in downtown Chandler this week! Last year, I saw a Blue Grouse on one of the reservations while driving to go fish. I know there are a few small pockets of these birds in AZ, usually accompanied by long, steep, grueling hikes to get to them. Well, I just came across a group of them a couple of weeks ago. Apparently called a "lek". Fits right in to the timing of the tail end of the year where they form their leks. At first, I thought they were turkey poults, but only later realized that was not what I was looking at. As well, I have a spot where I regularly see band tailed pigeons. So, I am super pumped to bag each one of these birds later this summer and plan on spending the effort to do it. I know the grouse have a 1-2 acre range so I am holding high hopes to bag at least one when it opens. Same thing with the band tails.

 

Obviously, I would never divulge my super dooper top secret locations, nor would I expect anyone else. But, anyone else here have some luck getting some of these birds? I would be stoked with just one of each but hoping to get a few when I am out. I am just excited I have some solid locations to succeed with this endeavor. Post up some pic's if you have them! A side question to this, would it make it more difficult to bring along a Chocolate Lab for the Grouse? I'm not to sure if they will stay in the tree with a dog running below or if they would have a tendency to run off on the ground. My pup keeps a pretty consistent 20-30 yards perimeter and works in arcs in front of me. (not sure where or how he learned this, he just developed it naturally and has never had an interest in going beyond that). Would not be feasible to take the pup going after the pigeons. I have observed them enough while hunting other critters and the best method for them seems to be finding the location you know they frequent and still hunting them.

[Couzer]

Right on! I have a spot and need to get back in there, about 8 miles off the road. My lab found them on the ground and they flew up and stayed in the tree. It wasn't hunting season then, but I will return to kill one.

 

Make sure you post the pics if you get one! These are cool little birds

[brademan76]

Oh hai! I'm always game for an upland bird excursion even if it is a stretch. Have bird-dog and will travel!

 

Where you in the east or up north?

 

I've always wondered if I just winged a band-tailed pigeon and it was otherwise healthy if I could breed it with racing pigeons and how their offspring would turn out as racers.

[AZ_Native]

Interesting comments Vowell. I kind of wondered if the pup flushed some on the ground if they would hold in a tree. Sounds like I'll try to take him out there and work him in the area I saw the birds. I'll definitely post pictures if I succeed in getting something. Brademan, I am somewhere in the state of Arizona... Specifically, I am between the CA and NM borders of Arizona and I am South of the Utah/AZ border. I'd give you GPS coordinates, but I'll be darned if my GPS quite working right when I started typing this post... As for your breeding ideas, I think there is a forum somewhere on pigeon sex that might be applicable!!!

[Tres]

I was just talking about going to chase some grouse.

[AZ_Native]

I've heard lot's of people say the San Fran Peaks hold them, but that is a TON of land to cover to get on top of them. Up in the Kaibab as well. That would be a fun trip to chase them and some Chukar, but it's a heck of a drive from the Phoenix area. I read they were looking to re-introduce the grouse in several different locations in AZ. That would be awesome if they did that. I am sure a lot of people would have a good time chasing them if there were more populations and pockets of them in our forests.

[Couzer]

I'm pretty sure those reintroduction areas are closed to hunting grouse. I was emailing the biologist about them and their habitat.

[AZ_Native]

I'm pretty sure those reintroduction areas are closed to hunting grouse. I was emailing the biologist about them and their habitat.

 

 

I wasn't sure if they had actually started reintroduction. I think they should keep those areas closed for some time after the planting. I also think they should email me the exact location once they open it up....