I have an upcoming bear hunt to begin on Sept 10th.
I really like to be in the northwoods this time of year.
I have always managed to bag a few grouse while spending the mid-day doing whatever.
Today I finished putting all of my arrows together for this hunt and it got me to thinking, what is the "go-to" head for grouse?
So there you have it what do you like to use?
I know many of our western hunters will pick up a grouse or two while enjoying the Elk woods, What do you use on the pointy end of your stick?
Thanks all
Chuck,
I use some MA3 bobbed back about 1/2". They work great on Flu Flus.
Mike
well i have never hunted grouse with a bow (yet ;) ) but for small game like rabbits, squirrels, chipmunk, and nuisance birds on the farm (starlings and house sparrows :banghead: .) i use my field point with a washer behind it; adds penetration and shocking force yet prevents snaking should one miss :rolleyes: also works great for bull frogs too ;) nothing fancy but hey it works for me...
A 160 grain blunt worked for me on a cheap cedar arrow. When hunting rough grouse it seems that they a have a predictable habit of flying straight at the nearest tree and then flying around it.
I cant seem to hit them so I guess it doesnt really matter :knothead:
I killed all mine with a WW.
Best of luck sir!!!
Wasen't it the Wild Traditions dvd where that kid killed one throwing a rock?
I figure rocks are cheaper than arrows and I would miss the same. :D
Chuck - I usually use a rubber blunt for grouse and ptarmigan, as it penetrates less with a pass through or miss. Better at bouncing off rocks also. Have used hex heads also but they'll stick in a tree or bury in the duff.
Rubber blunt for the one I got, hit it in the back and penetrated the cavity, he took off flying and augered in about twenty yards down the hill dead as a door nail!
I like a blunt with a washer behind it, but I've had the tip of the arrow kink when it takes a solid hit off the edge of the washer on a shot. Years ago I busted grouse with this combo. I still consider it a viable small game whacker, but with a smaller washer. Now I'm experimenting with nylon washers, because maybe they'll break before kinking the arrow.
I just ordered a couple of RFA Talons to take with me on my upcoming Alaska trip, and hope to bag a few grouse with them.
When we had them around in decent numbers in SW MI I used to just use field point and those adder things. Also sometime judo points. Same stuff we used on rabbits. Now I kind of like the SGT's a lot because they don't get under the cover too bad and come in a lot of point sizes.
For Ruffed Grouse you can use just about any head you want. I've killed them with regular steel blunts, Judos, and HTM Rubber blunts. They are not a big bird by any stretch and are relatively easy to anchor.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/mengrouse1.jpg)
For Blue and Sage grouse you really need something with a blade. Like Wingnut said, an MA3 is great for the purpose and puts them down quick.
They are really big birds and pretty dang tough.
I shot a "bomber" Sage grouse a couple of years ago with a Hex blunt. He flew at least 2 hundred yards and if I hadn't been hunting with a dog I'm not sure I'd have found him.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/08Wyochickenssunset020)
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/darkchickenduo.jpg)
I like Swickey judos for grouse and aim for the head so as not to damage the meat. Not hunting bear this year, but grouse season here opens a week later than bear, so we need to pass on grouse the first week of bear season.
Judos for me too!
They are grouse gettin machines!
Plain old blunt, I use them for most of my small game. Shawn
Zwickey Condor.My fave ,hex blunt second.
Thanks for all the replies.
I have come up with a match set of broadheads for bear, field points for practice and Judos for practice and grouse.
I may try to work up some blunts but I plan to travel lite so I don't want to many options to confuse me. Probably will leave the field points at home as well. I mostly stump for practice and warm ups.
Thanks all
CTT
I carry an arrow with a judo point while I elk hunt. If I see a grouse, that's what I use or if things get slow and I want to shoot leaves and pine cones I have an arrow for that.
I just use a .357 case on the end of the arrow, whack them with that and they just flop over dead.
I've used .38 casings in the past, they work well. I've used "adders" behind a steel blunt when I was shooting aluminums. My new favourite is the Ace hex head. Shot a few ptarmigan while sheep hunting two years ago. Just a great, solid head that I will be using again when I go for caribou in two weeks.
Have a buddy with a Cajun draw that loved to expound on his experience.
He was hunting in Canada approximately 35 years ago and had a Native American guide. After firing several rounds from his shotgun, the guide asked, "Why do you waste shells on the grouse? My buddy replied, "What should I be using?" The guide bent down, picked up a stick and raised it above his head and in a striking motion said, "Hit them with a stick."