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I just re read that...it's good your flush rate was higher...not that you never shot one...

 

Ha!  I agree.  Getting skunked is a fairly common phenomenon in my world.  If it came easy it wouldn't be worth it. 

 

According to the DEC survey the average grouse hunter only takes 1.5 birds in a season.  And that comes after 16 hours of hunting.  William Tapply works it out to 1 in every 13 birds you flush falls.  While we can take into account the hours it takes to bring a grouse down, the miles is another matter.

 

Last season on a weekend hunt out in Region 7 I estimated it was 10-12 miles of hiking to take the grouse I did. 

 

But that's what it's all about, what makes it a worth it.  It's hard work to pin that fan on the wall.

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  • 2 months later...

Hi Scolopax, I am a new member of this group and I am moving to Ny from Europe. I am a passionate Woodcock hunter over my pointers dog and I am starting reading about the grouse ruffed which seems to live in the same habitat then the Queen of the Wood....I wonder how is it possible that the average is 1birds every 13 flushes....is the bird very smart or the habitat difficult... Or both? Do you use pointers? Thanks :)

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