Blue Grouse Hunting?'s

[AZ8]

Don't hunt them in 4A, 5A or 31. Still off limits.

[Couzer]

Ok will do! Thanks for the heads up on 4, 5, and 31. and I checked with G&F there is no stamp required. 😃

[Sneaker]

Weird it says conflicting things in the regs, and the office says its not required. Plus it was free when it was required. Maybe there were just trying to get some kind of count of how many people were even attempting to hunt them, at one time.

[jim]

This is the statement for blue Grouse from the regs.

 

To hunt blue grouse in Arizona, you need a valid hunting or combination license. A migratory bird stamp is not required.

[Couzer]

Thanks guys, I was in the area of the mesa office so I stopped in and the gentleman at the desk said is no longer a requirement to have a stamp, just patience and a valid hunting license. I also called the Carefree and Pinetop offices and they also said just a valid hunting license no stamp required.

I'm just getting done pattering my 410 and I am having mixed feelings about taking it now. Looks like I'll be taking the SBE II 12 gauge. Might just bring both and decide next week when I get there? Undecided

[jim]

If you can find the birds your 410 should work fine if they are not nervous birds. However if they have been hunted they can fly exctremely fast thru timber and the 12ga will be your best friend. There use to be a good population around greens peak. I had also started finding alot in 27 before the willow fire and have not been back there since the fire.

[Couzer]

Thanks Jim for the info, around greens peak is where I am planning on hunting. If everything looks good with work I'll be leaving tonight to hunt tomorrow morning. I'm getting pumped to go!

[Couzer]

Well I was able to make it up to my spot where I have seen grouse before. This was literally a "shotgun trip" as I left my house at 2am and arrived at 6:30am. The weather was perfect, didn't need a jacket or sweater on, blue sky's with a little fog in the meadows. The Elk were screeing their heads off all morning and was able to call in 2 bulls to about 50 yards, one reply nice one guessing at least 360".

Unfortunately my little 410 compact shotgun never left my camelpack, but had lots of fun on the 10 mile hike. As I got home I chatted with a buddy that was up there chasing Bulls and he said he had a grouse fly up right at his feet and scared him half to death. He was only a few miles away from me that morning, so that was good to know I was in a good area.