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Post by nhmountains on Feb 12, 2017 17:27:27 GMT -6
I took this photo while deer hunting a couple years ago. The partridge flew in and pecked at a few apples. Knocked them to the ground and pecked them until they were finished. I love the colors of the bird with the snow. Camo'd up pretty good.  |
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 12, 2017 17:28:34 GMT -6
Sandbur and I call them partridge. Most call them ruffed grouse.
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Post by westbranch on Feb 12, 2017 18:15:49 GMT -6
My dad still calls them partridge.
This reminds me, when bear hunting last fall I watched one cross the trail in super slow motion about 30 yards away. It was on the edge of an opening and it got the flattened grass where the atvs came through and it took about 2 minutes to cross about 4 ft of flat grass. Once it got to the other side where there was some longer grass and brush it took off running quickly. Must have been worried the fast motion would be seen by a predator.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 12, 2017 19:10:50 GMT -6
Good points WB on the cover. As I've cleared out that orchard to get more light for the apples I'm seeing fewer of them there. We have lots of them. I can usually see 6+ on a walk along our trails. We have lots of woodcock in the summer too.
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Post by sd51555 on Feb 12, 2017 19:43:43 GMT -6
I had one out in the plot 30 yards away from me and I kept losing it until it would move a little. And I've got great eyes yet.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 26, 2019 20:27:03 GMT -6
Sandbur and I call them partridge. Most call them ruffed grouse. Partridge drumming counts in Camp Ripley are up this spring. |
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Post by benmnwi on Apr 26, 2019 21:09:46 GMT -6
Ruffed grouse are the best tasting bird I've ever had.
That fact helps me justify planting way too many trees and shrubs specifically for them. They also seem to respond quickly to habitat projects, so with a little tree planting and chain saw work you can end up with a couple extra birds in the freezer.
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Post by Reagan on Apr 28, 2019 6:57:26 GMT -6
I haven’t heard a grouse drumming or jumped one in years. We used to kill the occasional bird while rabbit hunting.
Seem to be nearly extinct in my part of the world. Not sure why.
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Post by nhmountains on Apr 28, 2019 7:03:01 GMT -6
I haven’t heard a grouse drumming or jumped one in years. We used to kill the occasional bird while rabbit hunting. Seem to be nearly extinct in my part of the world. Not sure why. Are the woods mature? Logging and opening up the woods would be better habitat for them. |
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Post by nhmountains on Apr 28, 2019 7:06:26 GMT -6
We flushed two partridge and 2 woodcock yesterday walking with the forester. I’d just told the forester we had quite a few woodcock when one flushed up in front of us. He mentioned cutting poplar and yellow birch and letting them regen were the two best partridge food sources.
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Post by Reagan on Apr 29, 2019 11:51:30 GMT -6
My old place was mature but the land we lease next door is not. Used to hear drumming grouse all the time. Now nothing.
The neighbor to the south cut 40 acres for clear cut. I thought that might help. It’s about 8 years old and still haven’t seen or heard one.
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Post by chummer16 on Apr 29, 2019 14:20:50 GMT -6
We flushed two partridge and 2 woodcock yesterday walking with the forester. I’d just told the forester we had quite a few woodcock when one flushed up in front of us. He mentioned cutting poplar and yellow birch and letting them regen were the two best partridge food sources. I have lots of yellow birch and lots of partridge. I was up two weeks ago and the drumming was heavy. Sounded like a bunch of lawn mowers starting in the distance. We go through spikes where we have tons of them then they go down but always seem to be a few around. I prefer the drumming over turkey gobbles and they taste way better. At least the only one I shot did. |
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