A prized bird

[Squaw Bend]

There is much nuance to the color variations or phases of ruffed grouse.

Our most common bird is what folks call “gray” phase, with a black tail band and, black ruffs.

We also see red, and intermediate (brown) color phased birds. In my local, I see far fewer red phased birds than either gray, or intermediate.

Regardless of the color phase, almost all our birds have black ruffs, and a black tail band. A very small percentage of the birds have a bronze ruff, and bronze tail band.

This past Friday I walked in on a point, and a beautiful red phased bird flushed. I was fortunate and connected with the shot. When my hunting partners dog retrieved the bird, he exclaimed, “wait until you see this bird!”

He walked over and handed me a beautiful red phase, bronze ruff, bronze tail band, male bird. A relative unicorn in our area.

[Hellmtflies]

Excellent!

[Variant]

Well Done!

[gt05254]

Absolutely beautiful. Congratulations! Where I did grad work on ruffed grouse in east TN, red phase birds were the norm; I don't remember ever seeing a gray or intermediate phase (red, gray and intermediate are the 3 phases many of us recognize). More grad research in Central NY and Adirondacks....IIRC about 1 in 4 in Central NY was red or intermediate, far less than that in the Adirondacks. I weighed some monsters up there.
Long gone are the days I hunted grouse 100 days a year and had 40 flush days. Sadly.
Thanks for the impetus for some nice Sunday morning reminiscing.
Gary

[Hellmtflies]

Here in Montana the ratio of gray to red is far and away in favor of the gray. But that said, I have folded a number of red phase birds here too. If I had to make a guess based on my hunting experiences here, I'd say the ration id 80/20 in favor of gray. This is based on my hunting over the past twenty years here at about 30 days each season. I'll note too that we do not have nearly the numbers of ruffed grouse that places like Wisconsin or Minesota have.

[Squaw Bend]

I can’t imagine a life without ruffed grouse and the places they call home.

[Bamboo Don]

They are beautiful, they try to introduce Ruffed Grouse here in Missouri 20 years ago but never work out.
Now there trying Prairie Chickens.

[prairieschooner]

Very nice!

[GerardH]

Well done, SB....beautiful birds.

When I started grouse hunting in the mid-70s, it seemed like gray-phased grouse greatly outnumbered red-phased birds in northern WI. A true red bird was almost like a trophy back then. The last 25-30 years, it seems (anecdotally) that gray is not quite as common and I can't remember the last time I bagged a silver bird. Red-phased (I include brown birds within the spectrum of "red") are the majority of what I've encountered the past couple decades. But again, all anecdotal.

I've gotten a couple red birds similar to what you have pictured with chocolate and even chestnut colored ruffs that really took my breath away. But they're all beautiful in my hand, I never take them for granted.

Glad the woods are treating you well.

[dannerak]

Beautiful

[oldschoolcane]

They are beautiful, they try to introduce Ruffed Grouse here in Missouri 20 years ago but never work out.
Now there trying Prairie Chickens.

Yes, wish that had worked out. Have to be one of my favorite game birds. They are just amazing.

[GerardH]

They are beautiful, they try to introduce Ruffed Grouse here in Missouri 20 years ago but never work out.
Now there trying Prairie Chickens.

Yeah, back in the '70s & '80s the WI DNR did a grouse for turkey exchange with Missouri.....you guys want your turkeys back?

[oldschoolcane]

Actually, the turkey numbers are starting to go down also? Along with the quail? Lack of habitat is the usual answer I get.

[gt05254]

My nearest neighbor's daughter up on the Miramichi texted me a video of a beautiful, big grouse this morning...dead on my porch. That 12-foot glass slider may be a problem. I'll have to cover the glass for the winter if this happens again. Can't have the house grouse committing suicide on my watch!
Gary

[RBishop]

There is much nuance to the color variations or phases of ruffed grouse.

Our most common bird is what folks call “gray” phase, with a black tail band and, black ruffs.

We also see red, and intermediate (brown) color phased birds. In my local, I see far fewer red phased birds than either gray, or intermediate.

Regardless of the color phase, almost all our birds have black ruffs, and a black tail band. A very small percentage of the birds have a bronze ruff, and bronze tail band.

This past Friday I walked in on a point, and a beautiful red phased bird flushed. I was fortunate and connected with the shot. When my hunting partners dog retrieved the bird, he exclaimed, “wait until you see this bird!”

He walked over and handed me a beautiful red phase, bronze ruff, bronze tail band, male bird. A relative unicorn in our area.

Looks like a Browning Superposed?? Nice bird and gun!

[gt05254]

A 35-year old me facetiming with a male I just hung a radio on (where did the last 38 years go???):


Gary

[Squaw Bend]

A 35-year old me facetiming with a male I just hung a radio on (where did the last 38 years go???):


Gary

Gary that’s a great photo!

38 years ago I was in my mid-20’s and was chasing setters through the woods.



In this photo from that time period, I see my first Winchester model 21 leaning up on the right side of the tree and, my first setter.

As you say, where has the time gone?

[Bee]

Growing up grouse hunting and living in southern Appalachia I was in an area where all manner of red or brown phase grouse colorations existed. One day I had the ultimate threesome of The Three Kings. All fully mature males




The ruff color was also reflected in the tail band colors of each bird. Black, Cinnamon ( or red) and Chocolate brown. Back when grouse were plentiful here we saw a lot of red /cinnamon in addition to the far more common black. The Chocolate seems to be the rarest here.

When I hunt areas where the gray phase birds are prevalent those gray birds with the red ruff and tail band are to me the rarest and most striking of all the ruff grouse colorations. Anywhere. I found red phase birds way up in to Manitoba which surprised me. I have never seen a red or brown phase in the mountain west.

[NMGW]

Hunting ruffed grouse is a bucket list item for me. Living in New Mexico I have only hunted Blue Grouse.

[shotgunner]

What a great collective of photos! Thanks for that.
Sadly, our population here has become very diminished.. Personally; I lay most the blame on nesting predation.
In my opinion, they are the most beautiful upland game bird out there.