Ruffed Grouse Attack!! (Wooly Type Pics)

[Lawdwaz]

As harrowing as it was, it was fun too.

This summer will be the third that it has been hanging around my buddies place.  It has never been fed anything, ever.

He has pecked my hand last spring/summer hard enough to draw blood.  One time last year he jumped INTO the small wagon I was hauling with a load of logs, being pulled by the 4 wheeler.  I was under way and he was climbing from log to log, even with the chain saw, fuel and oil banging around too.  He is attracted to the 4 wheeler as that's what always draws him out though sometimes he'll come if someone is working up in back in "his" woods.

Sunday he was particularly ornery!  I was going to put a bird house for the season so I had it on my shoulder as I drove the 'wheeler up on the hill to the usual spot.  I looked down to the edge of the woods and here he comes out of the base of a pine tree.  Right away the attack starts.......

 

I'd turn to walk away and he comes pecking at the back of my pants and boots.  Usually he won't come too far into the open but today he did, relentless.  Cooing and making all kinds of grouse noises.  After awhile it gets a little old as I had work to do.  Finally my buddy came up and we got the bird house up, all the while afraid we were going to crush the grouse.  At one point my buddy stepped on his tail and pulled a pile of his tail feathers out.  (actually that happened last year but I did it while backing up with the 4 wheeler.  The feathers grew back pretty fast too)

So after a good 20-25 minutes of this I bent over and grab him to give him a tune up...........I released him after enough time to snap a couple pics then released him.

When he landed, he was PISSED.  He walked away, occasionally looking back and giving me the stink eye. 

There was a pine tree that came down in the past few weeks so my buddy wanted me to cut it up in bite sized chunks and we'd toss it off the lawn and back into the wood.  Don't you know that little SOB stood UNDER the areas I was cutting and didn't care when the branches would (gently) fall on him! He would NOT leave.........

At one point I put my running saw on the ground (chain brake engaged) and he walked around it like it was his.  I finished cutting and set up a cool picture I'd like to sell to Stihl.

I took a pile of pics but thought this collection was the best.

Adios.................

PS, it's just an assumption that this is a male.

Edited April 26, 2018 by Lawdwaz

[Daveboone]

Grouse are my favorite bird. I used to love to hunt them, but seldom do any more. They love the area around my camp...its loaded with overgrown apples/ thornapple, and poplars. Just listening to them drumming away makes me smile. They are loaded with personality, and can be very territorial. 

A few years back, we had a cock pheasant that was very sociable. whenever we went outside walking in the woods he would show up and tag along with us. I am sure he was released.

[wolc123]

7 minutes ago, Daveboone said:

Grouse are my favorite bird.

Mine also.  I have no use for chicken or turkey, which taste kind of like cardboard, almost completely flavorless.  Grouse, on the other hand, has a rich somewhat nutty flavor that is way better than any other white meat I have sampled.  

[mowin]

That is hilarious.  I've been ” charged", but they always ended before contact.  Had to stop in the middle of the road once, because a grouse didn't like the looks of my truck.  Lol

[wooly]

Very cool encounter and GREEEEEAT pics man!

Grouse are another one of those birds I never have much luck getting close to.

[Lawdwaz]

3 minutes ago, wooly said:

Very cool encounter and GREEEEEAT pics man!

Grouse are another one of those birds I never have much luck getting close to.

You'd burn up a half dozen 36 exposure rolls of film on this guy....

[Moho81]

I had a friend that had a grouse just like that on his property. The grouse would always hang around when ever he was working or hunting. Loved the 4 wheeler. Would always jump on the back. So weird.

Great pics and I would find that so cool to have happen


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[turkeyfeathers]

Many years ago there was a hen who nested right near the 8th tee at Lancaster country club. For 3 years in a row. Any time a golf cart would pull up she would come off her nest and meandor around.  I was playing a ton of golf back then so would see her a bunch.  ‘‘Twas a sad day when we found feathers in that area as some critter got “ the dumb grouse “ as we named her.  

Great pics Larry. 

[grampy]

Awesome pic's and story! Though I've had a bunch of up close observations, sitting in natural ground blinds and stuff, over the years. I've never seen anything close to that! Very cool indeed. A grouse with an attitude! 

[philoshop]

Nice saw choice, Larry!

 

[Doc]

I have heard of grouse behaving like that before. What do you suppose is going through his brain? What would make a bird behave like that? One of these days he will try that with a fox or coyote or some other predator, and he may not be so pleased with the results.

[Lawdwaz]

11 hours ago, Doc said:

I have heard of grouse behaving like that before. What do you suppose is going through his brain? What would make a bird behave like that? One of these days he will try that with a fox or coyote or some other predator, and he may not be so pleased with the results.

I don’t know what he is thinking.......

He’s lived three years so far!!

[fasteddie]

Lawdy Lawdy .... awesome pics and story . Really enjoyed this post ! 

[crappyice]

I thought there would have been one more picture...




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