Grouse Numbers Down

[baccala]

Grouse numbers seem down in PA this year. Just got back from hunting 3 days near Smethport, PA. First day 21 flushes, next day 16, last day 14 flushes. Last year, they had 30-40 flushes by lunchtime and would quit because eveyone limited out. Three of us killed 6 grouse in 3 days, not so good. We blame it on the wet spring and summer. Poor hatches, young grouse killed off. My local covers are down also, but not as drastically. There are some birds around but you have to hunt hard to find them.

[RUSS0079]

I guide for my business up state and I would agree from one of my guided hunts a couple of weeks ago. We had 16 flushes total the first day and only 3 the second. Now alot of my coverts were underwater the weeks prior so I think the birds moved to higher elevations in my bottom coverts. Just hoping that they have moved back down to the hollows in the second season so I can really gauge the numbers. But when I did bust birds, they were 8 in a beech stand. They were tearing the beech nuts up. You might want to target those, as I heard the crop was bummper.
Russ

[baccala]

We have been hunting beechnuts. Your right about a bumper crop. I did talk to some New york guys and grouse numbers are apparently good up there. I was hoping to go out tomorrow, but not with all those bear hunters out there. I used to hunt lots of private land but those areas no longer produce, and for the past 5-6 years, I hunt public lands. We'll see how the Fri and Sat after Thanksgiving turns out.

[RUSS0079]

Headed up with the family for the day on the last day. Will take them out for some grouse with the dogs. Will report on the day, before our big lunch! Get at them and good luck!
:wave: