Author Topic: Ruffie Forecast (Read 3300 times)

walleyes · « **on:** August 25, 2013, 08:42:46 PM »

What's everybody's prognoses on the ruffie population around the province this year.. I haven't been in the outback for a while but I know close around home I am not seeing many or any as far as that goes.. Only a few more days and we can get after those succulent little birds.

Sonny · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:49:27 PM »

Not seeing many around here either..

The last few years have been really skimpy for birds here also.

btw...The opener is 5 days before my days off...grrrr

All the dumb birds will be shot off by then...lo

AxeMan · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2013, 08:52:49 PM »

Saw a few in the northwest 300's lately. I think it will be alright there. Ruffies seem to be good at hiding out early in the year.
I am going to be hunting them and scouting for pretty much the whole early season.
.22 is sighted in deadly already.

deerman · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2013, 09:09:05 AM »

I have been out scouting and putting out trail cameras for deer a fair bit lately and have not seen a grouse. (around Rocky)

In the spring when I was shed hunting I heard a few drumming.

I have a calf moose draw in 510 so I will be spending some time up there and last year they had a fair number of grouse. I'm told.

Weste · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2013, 03:15:06 PM »

Last year we did a little hunting north of High Level and the Grouse populations were doing excellent. We also seen quite a few in 302 and 305 and managed to get a few meals for the family.

walleyes · « **Reply #5 on:** August 27, 2013, 03:24:15 PM »

Got to look in the berry patches this time of year boys..

JIMMY 808 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2013, 07:45:16 AM »

Been out around Rocky hunting grouse last few days ended up seeing close to 20 birds only one on the road. Of course I run the world’s best bird dog so I have a unfair advantage over most. What was discerning all the birds the dog and I found were mature birds have not seen any first year birds. Being this early and so hot it can only get better come October.

deerman · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2013, 08:01:27 AM »

I haven't actually been hunting for grouse except for about the three min. after I saw one on the road side. I got out and shot two, an adult and one of this years brood.

But the good news is my dog who is a raw rookie who was gun shy up, until recently, retrieved one of them for me and showed a lot of enthusiasm to go look for some more. She is a lab/setter cross and retrieve a ball like crazy and will retrieve from water.

Jimmy did you go to the liquidation auction for "Timber Creek" on Saturday?

[attachment deleted 180 days old]

AxeMan · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2013, 08:03:10 AM »

A buddy and I shot 7 of them on Saturday while we were out scouting. It will only get better.

JIMMY 808 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2013, 09:04:17 AM »

Quote from: deerman on September 16, 2013, 08:01:27 AM

I haven't actually been hunting for grouse except for about the three min. after I saw one on the road side. I got out and shot two, an adult and one of this years brood.

But the good news is my dog who is a raw rookie who was gun shy up, until recently, retrieved one of them for me and showed a lot of enthusiasm to go look for some more. She is a lab/setter cross and retrieve a ball like crazy and will retrieve from water.

Jimmy did you go to the liquidation auction for "Timber Creek" on Saturday?

Good looking do you have there.
I have a English pointer coming this coming spring from Wisconsin my GSP is 7 so it’s time for a fresh dog.

I didn’t make it to the sale I had intentions to go but honestly as you know that store struggled for whatever reason there really wasn’t much there I would have been interested in. It is too bad I did support him whenever I could but man he made it tough to spend money in there.
How about you did you make it?

Doug N · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2013, 09:04:43 AM »

Saw a few on the cranberries yesterday. My son managed a couple within his bow. He was pretty stoked.....first blood as a bowhunter.

JIMMY 808 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 16, 2013, 09:12:44 AM »

Quote from: Doug N on September 16, 2013, 09:04:43 AM

Saw a few on the cranberries yesterday. My son managed a couple within his bow. He was pretty stoked.....first blood as a bowhunter.

Are cranberries the little red berries with about three on the same stem?

BruceW · « **Reply #12 on:** September 16, 2013, 04:38:42 PM »

We always called those, "bunchberries". Which could be right, or wrong. If you just search for wild cranberries there's lot's of pictures of them.

deerman · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2013, 07:27:15 PM »

The trouble with "common names" is different people call things differently and so it is hard to communicate to others, what berries the grouse are eating.

There is a low creeping berry usually called bear berry that grouse eat a fair bit.

[attachment deleted 180 days old]

Doug N · « **Reply #14 on:** September 16, 2013, 09:41:16 PM »

Quote from: JIMMY 808 on September 16, 2013, 09:12:44 AM

Are cranberries the little red berries with about three on the same stem?

These are what I always have know as low bush cranberries in Alberta. They are apparently Lingonberries AKA dry-ground cranberries (Vaccinium Vitisidaea).

http://zoneonegarden.blogspot.ca/2008/09/northern-saskatchewan-wild-berries-and.html

Tuc · « **Reply #15 on:** September 17, 2013, 09:07:59 AM »

Two years ago the ruffie pop exploded over here in Sk. but I haven't seen alot of them since.

walleyes · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2013, 06:03:40 PM »

Sure hope to get out tomorrow evening and have a look around here.

walleyes · « **Reply #17 on:** September 19, 2013, 06:41:10 PM »

Couldn't make it out,, Sam could not get away from football practice,, maybe this weekend, darn it..

walleyes · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2013, 09:08:38 PM »

Sam and I made it out this afternoon, hit some nice country that should of held some ruffies but no go.. Only saw a couple Spruce Hens that we passed on but no Ruffs.. Oh well it's early another month and it will be better,, I hope..

deerman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2013, 07:34:50 AM »

Still not seeing many birds but getting a few. Yesterday was out checking trail cams with my daughter and she murdered one after firing one warning shot.

[attachment deleted 180 days old]

Author Topic: Ruffie Forecast (Read 3300 times)

walleyes

Sonny

walleyes

Tuc

walleyes

walleyes

walleyes