Winter grouse hunting requires significant physical effort from a person, as well as a certain level of “hunting” skill. To return with the loot, a person must be athletic, excellent at skiing and have good shooting skills. At the same time, he must understand the habits and habits of the bird - be able to search and find holes, know the favorite feeding grounds. But, on the other hand, this type of hunting is quite prey. A large black-tailed whale with dark blue plumage, bright red eyebrows and snow-white undertail will be a valuable trophy for any hunter.
Grouse hunting in winter
Usually in winter, black grouse hunting is practiced on holes, because these birds prefer to wait out the cold under the snow. Despite the fact that this method is considered one of the simplest, it still requires certain skills.
Firstly, the hunter must be able to locate holes - holes in the snow in which birds live. Secondly, you need to learn to determine which hole is inhabited and which game has left long ago. Thirdly, the hunter must be able to move silently and unnoticed, so as not to prematurely scare away the prey. And, naturally, it is advisable to study the habits of the bird in advance and practice marksmanship, since the success of the entire fishery will depend on this. It is these nuances that we will consider in more detail in the following sections.
Character and behavior of black grouse in winter
Since the grouse is a very cautious bird, the most effective method of obtaining game is hole hunting. This method is based on the behavior of these wild individuals during the cold season.
Note: In general, black grouse tend to live in forest edges, bushland or open woodland near fields. In summer, these birds can be found alone, but in winter they prefer to gather in small flocks, which is to the advantage of the hunter, since an experienced hunter, subject to certain rules, will be able to find such a flock and shoot a lot of game.
For the winter, birds do not fly to warmer climes, but remain to spend the winter in their familiar environment. Since with the onset of frost, young tree shoots, birch catkins, cones, needles or tree buds are mainly used for feeding, you need to look for a flock in such places.
Figure 1. In winter, black grouse feed mainly on tree buds
It should be borne in mind that black grouse react very poorly to cold and strong winds, so they prefer to spend most of the day in shelter under the snow, going outside only to feed. However, in severe frost, the bird can constantly remain under a snow cover (Figure 1).
Knowing the behavioral characteristics of black grouse, you can make winter hunting for them truly effective:
- After sunrise, when the air begins to warm up, the birds fly out of their shelter and fly to the nearest trees to search for food.
- If there is not enough food near the roosting site, the flock can travel quite a long distance in search of it.
- When the bird is satisfied, it falls straight from the tree into the snow and buries itself in it. The black grouse disguises the resulting hole by sweeping the snow with its tail.
The birds remain in such shelter all night, but, if necessary, they can move under the snow cover, breaking through passages with their wings. However, it is still possible to find a black grouse in such a shelter, because it never burrows deeply. Even the largest hole will be at such a depth that, by sticking its head out, the black grouse can examine the surroundings.
Search for bird roosts
In winter, with its long and cold nights, the black grouse has adapted to endure unfavorable conditions by hiding in the snow. As soon as the snow cover reaches the required height, the birds in the evening, after feeding on the trees, fall into the snow and spend the whole night there. Hunters take advantage of this; they go around the land and, having found birds, shoot them.
This is interesting: Effective placement of girders. Where to look for pike in winter?
But of course, everything is not so simple in this hunt. It is necessary to know well the areas where birds prefer to spend the night, to detect fresh holes in advance and to approach them correctly.
In cold weather, black grouse stay in the same areas as in the fall. They prefer fields with numerous birch trees, ravines, forest edges and the edges of swamps.
In the first half of winter, upland game is especially abundant near fields where grain crops were harvested in the fall. For overnight stays, they choose places with deep snow cover and lack of wind.
An important condition for a successful overnight stay is the nature of the snow cover; it must be loose and deep enough. Snowless winters with severe frosts or strong crust formed after a thaw are destructive for black grouse.
When looking for bird holes, the hunter must take into account the direction of the wind; they go under the snow, trying to hide from it with folds of the relief, thickets of bushes or trees. It is extremely rare for birds to spend the night in open fields.
The size of the area on which the holes are located is always not constant and depends on the following factors: the number of birds in the flock, the size of the favorable area for overnight roosting. In some places they spend the night almost side by side, in others, on the contrary, the distance between the holes reaches several tens of meters.
Features of winter hunting
Winter grouse hunting is divided into passive and active. The first is carried out with stuffed animals, which are used to lure birds. The second subspecies is more interesting, as it involves independently searching for holes and luring grouse out of them (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Winter fishing is one of the most productive
Regardless of the chosen method, due to the severe frost, hunting requires careful preparation from the hunter. Since black grouse often live on the edges of swamps or in thickets of bushes, you need to properly prepare clothing that will not restrict movement and at the same time allow you to move relatively quickly and silently through the snow. In addition, it is advisable to have binoculars with you, since in relatively moderate winter temperatures birds can sit not only in holes, but also in trees.
Selection of weapons and equipment
According to experienced hunters, the best weapon for hunting black grouse is a smooth-bore weapon, in particular a regular double-barreled shotgun. Of course, in terms of its technical characteristics it is inferior to modern pneumatic weapons, but it is ideally suited for hunting in severe frost, when pneumatic weapons may misfire or have other malfunctions.
In addition to uninterrupted operation in severe frost, the double-barreled shotgun also allows you to fire two shots at once without additional reloading, which is extremely important when hunting shy grouse. When choosing a weapon, you should pay attention not so much to the range, accuracy or good sharpness of the shot, but to the uniform distribution of the shot. For this parameter, it is better to choose a gun with a barrel of the cylinder type with pressure or pay (Figure 4).
Figure 4. You can catch game using pneumatics or a regular double-barreled shotgun
The choice of ammunition also plays an equally important role. Many novice hunters are interested in which shot number is preferable for a given type of fishing. It should be taken into account that the black grouse is a bird that is quite strong against wounds, but in winter its resistance is significantly reduced. In addition, it should be taken into account that in winter this game is caught mainly on holes, which means they are shot from a short distance and most often at point-blank range. Based on this, it is better to choose shot number 3 or 4, but shot number 5 or 6 will also cope with the task quite effectively. Such ammunition will provide the necessary accuracy and strength of the striking impulse. Even if you are not confident in your accuracy, when shooting with such shot, you will be sure that the wounded animal will not be able to hide.
In addition to the gun and ammunition, you need to prepare other equipment necessary for the hunter:
- Wide skis for fast and silent movement on the snow. Their length should be about one and a half meters.
- Binoculars will help you spot game in the trees while feeding or pinpoint the location of bird holes.
- It is also advisable to put a flashlight in your hunting backpack: winter days are very short, and you can get carried away with hunting and linger in the forest until dark.
- Clothes should be moderately warm, since hunting black grouse requires constant walking through the forest. In addition, clothing should not rustle or stand out visually, so that the birds do not notice the hunter prematurely.
Dogs are usually not used to hunt grouse, since even the most trained assistant may not deliberately make unnecessary noise that will scare away the game.
We select cartridges
For a truly successful hunt, you need to choose the right cartridges. Typically, the first shots are fired using dispersant cartridges with a shot number of 3 or 4. Such ammunition has good sharpness and produces an even spray of shot. Experienced fishermen advise choosing cartridges with two-component gunpowder (for example, Tecna Nobel Sport, m92s, Sunar-M or Irbis-M), as they have proven themselves in shooting in severe frost. But it is not recommended to use ammunition with foreign-made gunpowder, since they are not suitable for cold weather.
Some hunters prefer to go hunting with a small rifle equipped with small-caliber 5.6 mm rimfire cartridges. Such weapons and ammunition will also be enough to shoot game at close range.
Chuck selection
Expert opinion
Makarov Igor Tarasovich
Hunter and fisherman with 20 years of experience. Wildlife lover
It is advisable to make the first shots with dispersant cartridges, using shot number 3-4. They have good sharpness and produce a uniform shot pattern.
It is advisable that the cartridges be equipped with two-component powders, such as: Tecna Nobel Sport; m92s; Sunar-M; Irbis-M as well as low-porosity single-component powders such as Sokol, these powders slightly change their characteristics at low negative air temperatures. And such gunpowder as Sunar-32; Sunar-35 and similar imported gunpowders are not advisable to use at temperatures of -25 degrees Celsius and below, in particular, when firing from semi-automatic gas-operated weapons.
This grouse hunt is mainly a walking hunt, and it takes place during deep snow. Because of this, it is not recommended to put anything unnecessary in your backpack.
Since this is winter hunting from the approach, it is better to use cloth in combination with wool for clothing, and leave all the newfangled clothes “a la Gortex” at home. The ideal winter shoes are felt boots.
Be sure to wear quilted zigging mittens over thin woolen gloves. Bring a thermos of hot tea. And be sure... check your skis, or if they break during a hunt, you will remember this hunt for a long time. Well, as they say: “No fluff or feather!”
This is interesting: Goose hunting in spring: tactics, equipment, bird habits
Grouse is a desirable and valuable trophy for any hunter. A large red-browed bird with blue-black plumage makes you experience the moments of excitement and excitement that accompany grouse hunting. The valuable birds are harvested at different times of the year.
Hunting for grouse in winter from the approach has some peculiarities. Exciting, highly athletic hunting forces the hunter to be extremely attentive and careful. At the same time, a quick reaction is required to catch a black grouse in sight, with the noise of its wings and the “chuffing” of flying out from under the thick snow.
Hunting tactics
There are quite a lot of methods for catching game, but in the case of black grouse hunting in winter, the method most often practiced is from the approach, or on the holes. In fact, this is the same method, and the hunter’s task comes down to three main goals: to detect bird holes, quietly approach the distance required for a shot, and shoot at the frightened birds taking off.
Each stage requires certain preparation and knowledge, so we will look at each stage of the hunt in more detail.
Hole detection
It is advisable to find the holes in which the black grouse are hiding in advance. The fact is that in winter the day length is very short, and you simply may not have time to get game before dark. Shooting grouse at night is extremely difficult, and you will simply waste ammo without getting any game.
Figure 5. Hole detection is a key part of the hunt.
There are several ways to choose the time and place for hunting. Firstly, you can conduct reconnaissance on the eve of the outing and accurately determine the habitat and roosting of the birds.
Secondly, if you go fishing in a familiar forest, you can simply check the locations where these birds prefer to live. Naturally, in the latter case, you will need knowledge of the habits and habits of grouse in winter (Figure 5). If you go fishing during the day, it is better to look in advance for the birds’ feeding or roosting area and return to it at a more appropriate time, for example, at dawn.
The following tips will help you quickly find grouse holes:
- It is better to move in search of shelter along the edge, but at some distance from the trees, since birds prefer to make holes in such an area.
- It is advisable to stop and inspect the snow cover with binoculars every 100 meters. This way you will definitely not lose sight of possible holes.
- If you go hunting with a partner, you need to move in search of holes at a distance of 10-15 meters from each other, staying close together.
- As a rule, the holes stand out from the surrounding snow. From a distance they look like small mounds and differ slightly in color.
These rules should be followed when searching for shelters in open spaces. If you move through a birch forest or open forest, your visibility will be limited, so you should only view the area with binoculars if you are sure of the presence of game in the area. You also need to move extremely carefully so as not to accidentally scare away the game.
How to approach the hole
When hunting on holes, you need to be ready to shoot at any time. At the same time, you need to approach bird shelters with extreme caution so as not to scare away the game ahead of time. Steps should be quiet, slow and as even as possible (Figure 6).
Note: There is no point in getting too close to the hole. It will be enough to get close to a distance of three meters: it will be enough for an accurate shot.
When you have found a hole, you need to decide whether there is a bird in it. To do this, use the following method: carefully inspect the snow around the hole. If there is another one next to it, and the prints of its wings are clearly visible in the snow, it means that the black grouse has already left its hiding place. If these signs are not present, it is enough to loudly tap the ski on the snow several times to scare the bird away.
Figure 6. You need to approach the holes slowly and quietly so as not to scare the game ahead of time.
It is not recommended to concentrate your attention solely on the hole itself. When falling under the snow, the black grouse can dig holes in it, moving away from the main hole to a distance of up to two meters. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that the bird can fly out from anywhere. But be sure that you will not miss the grouse flying out of the shelter, as this is a very spectacular process: the bird flies out of the shelter, raising a large snow cloud. When you see him, you need to immediately take a shot
Shooting correctly
Even if you are mentally prepared to shoot and expect a bird to appear at any moment, you will still have to shoot suddenly. Since the distance for a shot when hunting on holes is minimal, you need to know how to shoot correctly (Figure 7).
For the fishery to be successful, you should:
- Gun fire, as a rule, is fired after the flying game, so you need to aim below the body of the bird, but in the direction of its movement.
- Aim so that there is a small gap between the muzzle of the gun and the grouse. Since shooting is carried out from a short distance, the size of the clearance is chosen by no more than one body of the bird.
- When aiming at one bird, try not to get distracted. Grouse may start flying out of other holes, but you have to set yourself up to hit a specific bird flying out of a specific hole.
- If, when approaching the selected hole, game takes off from a neighboring hole, do not be distracted by it: try to scare away only certain prey. If you turn around and start aiming at another individual, you can lose both grouse at once.
When you manage to shoot one bird, try to immediately switch your attention to another nearby individual. Despite the fact that the black grouse is quite strong to the wound, the wounded animal will not go far, and you can get it at any time.
Figure 7. When hunting grouse, you need to be ready to shoot at any time
The best option is not to raise the entire flock, but only one or several individuals. In this case, you can pick up killed game, wait until the flock calms down and try again. If the entire flock has left the shelter, you will have to go in search of a new location for the holes.
On the black grouse with a pointer and a husky
Hunting with a dog can be quite successful if it is well prepared for this hunt. It is preferable to take a pointer hunting in early autumn.
As a rule, a pointer is allowed to search for game early in the morning, when the trail is very fresh and the dog will have no difficulty finding it.
The hunter needs to carefully monitor the behavior of his four-legged friend so as not to miss the opportunity to make a shot.
The pointer makes a stand when she finds a black grouse in the bed. On command, she lifts the bird onto its wing, and the hunter shoots at that moment.
The grouse does not always withstand the stance of a pointer, so it can rise even earlier, which will not allow you to shoot.
In any case, you should notice where the birds flew to indicate to the dog the direction of further search. Young black grouse are more timid, but older ones prefer to hide until the last moment.
In late autumn, the husky behaves more efficiently, when the black grouse is located mainly on birch trees. This dog finds a bird sitting on a tree and begins to bark to inform the hunter about it.
Next, there is a careful approach to the tree where the orca is sitting. A shot sounds and the bird falls like a stone to the ground. Sometimes wounded animals happen when the game remains alive for another three minutes and tries to hide. Here you cannot do without the help of a dog.
Which is better to hunt: rooster or grouse?
Experienced hunters who respect the laws of nature will never shoot a female, since the number of livestock in the next season will depend on the number of females in the flock. At the same time, many fishermen admit that in the past they sinned by shooting grouse due to youth and inexperience. But any self-respecting fisherman will say that shooting female grouse is an unworthy activity.
Since the main prey is the killer whale, you need to be prepared not only for a sudden start of shooting, but also to determine the sex of the individual in time. Fortunately, females are very different from males in appearance. The Kosach has dark plumage with a slight blue tint. It has a beautiful forked tail with white tail and wing feathers. The grouse is much smaller in size and colored inconspicuously brownish-pockmarked. In addition, the male has a bright red crest on his head, by which most hunters distinguish their prey (Figure 8).
Figure 8. External difference between male and female individuals
As a rule, females are located at the edges of the flock, and males are in the center. In a similar way, birds bury themselves in the snow to spend the night. However, during takeoff in a thick cloud of snow, it is often difficult to determine the sex of an individual. If you accidentally shot a black grouse instead of a black grouse, don’t be upset. With experience, you will learn to distinguish them by appearance in just a second.
In the morning or evening
Hunting from the approach to the grouse in the holes is possible either in the morning, immediately after sunrise, while the grouse have not yet flown out to feed, or in the late afternoon, when they have fattened up, lay down in the snow for the night and calmed down a little. Here, hunting time will greatly depend on the weather and your knowledge of the bird's habitat.
This is interesting: Hunting from ambush for a hare - rules and features
In calm weather, with slight frost, black grouse can rise from the holes to feed almost immediately after sunrise. Under such conditions, if you know their habitat and roosting areas, and can get there by sunrise, then you can go hunting in the morning.
Otherwise, it is better to go out in the afternoon, from a great distance, 400 - 500 meters, spot their feeding areas and, after waiting for the birds to lie down in the snow, go along the holes.
In frosty weather, birds go out to feed much later, feed for a short time and lie down earlier . On such days you can hunt both in the morning and in the evening.
The flight of grouse from holes in the morning and evening is also different. In the morning, before feeding, the entire flock can immediately escape from the holes, while in the evening, the birds leave the holes more reluctantly, and therefore gradually, giving the opportunity to shoot more targets.
But there are days when, due to the weather, it doesn’t make much sense to go hunting for black grouse through the holes.
Secrets of successful hunting
If you do not have enough experience in hunting grouse and other game, you will need the advice of experienced hunters.
For poultry harvesting to be successful, the following conditions must be met:
- Inexperienced shooters are better off going fishing in the evening rather than in the morning. In the evening, the birds fly out of the holes one at a time and much slower than in the morning, so you will have more time to aim accurately.
- If possible, choose holes located next to a young birch tree. Frightened birds will fly away to the trees and, most likely, their wings will become entangled in the branches. This will give you extra time to make an accurate shot.
- Having noticed that black grouse are hiding in holes already at dusk, it is better to postpone the hunt and return to the same place in the morning, since in the dark it will be difficult to make an accurate shot.
Regardless of the time chosen for fishing, you should dress warmly and choose clothes that do not restrict movement. It is also strongly recommended to choose clothing in camouflage colors so that feeding birds do not notice your approach.
If you have never taken part in such a hunt, we recommend watching a video that shows this process in detail.
