| | | | | | | | | fall hunting | | | | | |
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:34 am |
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xuthal |
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Joined: 05 Sep 2008 |
Posts: 27 |
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Hello im new to this forum.I'm going hunting on the weekend and was wondering when is the best time to hunt for grouse,morning,afternoon,or evening?I live in northern Canada and fall is coming fast.Any tips for hunting grouse?I've hunted before but that was a long time ago and i just followed my brother so im not all that inexperienced.I use a 490 fps spring loaded rifle.Would this take down a rabbit?Thanks in advance guys |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:45 am |
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thepaladin |
Senior Member |
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Joined: 12 Dec 2007 |
Posts: 930 |
Location: TN USA |
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Never hunted grouse, but just a word here. Where ever you are check the local laws. While a springer will do the job, here in Tennessee it's against the law to hunt any game bird with an air gun. Other than that I'm not up on your chosen game. Squirrel and such here. |
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_________________ "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:56 am |
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Rogerflat |
Silver Status Member |
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Joined: 03 Jan 2008 |
Posts: 2051 |
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A 490 fps rifle should not be used to hunt any game. Air guns should not be used to hunt grouse period. The way grouse are hunted is by flushing them out of their hiding spots and shooting them with a shotgun out of the air.
If you want to shoot rabbits, I'd reccomend getting a more powerful airgun.
Welcome to the forum, btw. |
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_________________ I done been assisted by the trees and rivers. Never needed any minister to figure my divinity. |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:04 am |
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thepaladin |
Senior Member |
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Joined: 12 Dec 2007 |
Posts: 930 |
Location: TN USA |
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True, didn't notice the 490fps. that's why air guns are not allowed for game birds here. You would have to shoot sitting birds with an air rifle. Well.......unless you're very good.
No, just kidding. As said, the idea is to avoid shooting of sitting birds. And you got some good advice, check foot pounds of energy and don't get sucked in by the fps listed for the gun. Here's a sight I found helpful:
http://www.beemans.net/field%20use.htm |
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_________________ "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:07 am |
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yourdaddyjoe |
Supporting Member |
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Joined: 26 May 2008 |
Posts: 4027 |
Location: Tatorville, USA |
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Guess what just came into the shop yesterday...
I am holding a converted to shot gun 2240... I will be going through it to do restoration and mods... It's nick name is " The E-rat-a-cator"
Photo esay to follow... |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:13 pm |
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Rogerflat |
Silver Status Member |
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Joined: 03 Jan 2008 |
Posts: 2051 |
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I have "attempted" to grouse hunt before with a 20 guage shotgun. Those grouse would bust out once you got within 50 yards of them and fly low straight away from you through the woods. Needless to say, I never shot one.
I also spent lots of time in stands and sitting in the woods hunting other animals and never saw a grouse even once. So doing a still hunt with an airgun and waiting for them to come to you is also an unlikely scenario.
But I realize that some areas may have large grouse populations and they may not be as weary. So maybe hunting them on the ground with an airgun is feasible. |
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_________________ I done been assisted by the trees and rivers. Never needed any minister to figure my divinity. |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:02 pm |
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AirGunEric |
Site Admin |
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Joined: 20 Jan 2007 |
Posts: 6908 |
Location: "Out There" |
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Grouse can be taken with a .22 cal sub-500fps airgun- but not beyond about 15 meters/yards. Thus the dilemma Roger brought up- can you get that close to them? |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:11 pm |
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xuthal |
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Joined: 05 Sep 2008 |
Posts: 27 |
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I'm pretty sure i can get close to them,my brother and i used to hunt grouse with a 22 rifle and we would get quite a few.Also he would hunt with a crossman pump pellet/bb gun and he could take down some grouse with that little gun.The laws in my town say i can hunt with an air rifle,and the best thing about it is because i am native and have treaty rights i can hunt almost anywhere as long as its away from the population. |
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Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:51 pm |
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Rogerflat |
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Joined: 03 Jan 2008 |
Posts: 2051 |
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Quote: |
i am native and have treaty rights i can hunt almost anywhere as long as its away from the population. |
That's awesome!
From my experience, the best time to hunt is dusk and dawn. I've always had the best success in the early morning. Animals will begin to move in the morning once they can actually see where they are going. Often they have a pattern in their behavior, as far as going to a food source, then a water source, then bedding down for the day in a safe location for awhile then going out to forage again just before nightfall. Know your prey. Get out there when its freezing cold and dark out, even without your gun, and just watch and listen as the sun comes up.
I also recommend getting a more powerful rifle. Are you using .177 cal or .22 cal? |
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_________________ I done been assisted by the trees and rivers. Never needed any minister to figure my divinity. |
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:08 am |
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xuthal |
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Joined: 05 Sep 2008 |
Posts: 27 |
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177 cal,im working on buying a new one and possibly upgrading.Until then i will have to get close enough and take a head shot. |
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:02 am |
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xuthal |
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Joined: 05 Sep 2008 |
Posts: 27 |
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Well i went this morning and no luck,i didnt come home empty handed though,picked some mushrooms and made an omelet.I also found a new ball for my dog,i dont think i'll be taking him hunting with me though.When we used to hunt with 22's we would take my older dog with us but it was on small islands on my trapline.He would chase the grouse up a tree and we would pick it off with a head or neck shot(our mother insisted).Hopefully i will be getting a better gun with a scope soon and then ill go for some rabbits. |
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:23 pm |
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Rogerflat |
Silver Status Member |
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Joined: 03 Jan 2008 |
Posts: 2051 |
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Quote: |
.When we used to hunt with 22's we would take my older dog with us but it was on small islands on my trapline.He would chase the grouse up a tree and we would pick it off with a head or neck shot |
What do you consider a "grouse"? From my knowledge, they are not something that can be "treed". Dogs don't chase gamebirds, they flush them out. |
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_________________ I done been assisted by the trees and rivers. Never needed any minister to figure my divinity. |
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:03 am |
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xuthal |
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Joined: 05 Sep 2008 |
Posts: 27 |
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We used to call them "spruce chicken".They are grouse as far as i can tell,just the northern kind.They are also called spruce hen and are smaller and can fly for short distances.My trap line is far north in Canada and while not as close to the tundra i would say 250 air miles from the north west territories. |
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Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:54 am |
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Rogerflat |
Silver Status Member |
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Joined: 03 Jan 2008 |
Posts: 2051 |
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More info about the "spruce grouse"
http://fourriverscharter.org/projects/2007%20Watershed%20Wildlife%20CD/Animal%20Pages/Spruce_Grouse.htm
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...because of the spruce grouse‘s natural tolerance of and curiosity about the humans. That has “won” them the nickname Fool Hen. |
That's good that they are known for being "foolish" and curious about humans. That means that they are not weary and fearful of humans. That being said, it's no surprise that they'd be somewhat easy to hunt with airguns.
Btw Buck, what types of animals do you trap? |
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_________________ I done been assisted by the trees and rivers. Never needed any minister to figure my divinity. |
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:55 am |
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xuthal |
Member |
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Joined: 05 Sep 2008 |
Posts: 27 |
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Sorry i guess i should have said it was my fathers trapline.When i get the chance i go for mink,otter,wolf,lynx and pretty much any fur bearing animal.Prices aren't what they used to be though. |
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