TWO TRENDS For Late Season Ruffed Grouse Hunting in December (Grouse 1, Us 0)

A day or Ruffed Grouse hunting in December, and two trends I took away when finding birds.

[@jesscobb2279]

21 birds, that's some good hunting. Even though you got skunked you still found them at the snow line. Is the same way I hunt pheasant during the winter. Great video. Is why we call it hunting and not killing. God Bless.

[@northwoods2728]

My springer has actually watched your last few videos with me rather intently i might add. I think he knows what the video is about, especially when he hears the dogs and gun shots and notices the "grouse" woods. Another great video, appreciate the content👍

[@neilsheehan6765]

7:45 what a buck rub!

[@Allirys]

The quality of your content is awesome. The photography, comments, directions. Really cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Appreciate that! Thanks for following along! 👍🏻

[@Allirys]

If possible, I would like to see what you use/recommend for each bird you hunt. :)@@UplanderLifestyle

[@ronblackburn3683]

Snow and frozen leaf cover sure alerted (crunching footsteps) any birds that you were approaching; that’s got to make for tougher shots.

[@UplanderLifestyle]

It was our Achilles heal for the day. I normally don’t go out in crunchy snow, but I live a few hours south and with season opening back up I was going in blind on the conditions. There was more snow than I was expecting.

[@DonS-hu7bp]

Awesome video as always! You had that incoming bird with a third shot. Bring back the 12 gauge auto for an episode.👍

[@UplanderLifestyle]

You may be on to something! I may switch to the meat gun 😅 thanks for following along!

[@Grouseguy]

While I can appreciate a 12ga… 😊 thanks for staying with a double and leaving some for us.. I was actually glad to see you actually can miss .. because in one your earlier Northwoods videos .. I was getting depressed about my shooting capabilities 😂

[@adelhey100]

Love the content! Late season is weird. I generally hunt cover I wouldn’t even mess with in October but they’re in there. Has to do with the buds on more mature popple I think I’ve been told

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Yes, they feed on the buds of mature aspen later in the year once all the green leaves and fruit are gone. Thanks for following along!

[@krishendershot9763]

Does the age or type of cuts change in December for grouse hunting? I’m headed up to the northern Michigan in about a week!! Also that waxed canvas hat y’all have is my favorite hat of all time!!!

[@Talons_N_Tails]

Thanks for the video! Going to apply this information.

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Good luck out there!

[@mikedziki8427]

Great video as usual went out Saturday moved a ton of birds

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Great to hear! Good luck the rest of December. Hopefully the snow holds off.

[@ventureoutdoorswithkirk]

Yup, we've all had those days. Part of the game is figuring it out, doesn't matter what you hunt/fish.

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Absolutely 👍🏻

[@neilrobinson1991]

Would you ever do a video on a basic strategy in terms of what you look for on a map/e scouting for good grouse habitat?

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Appreciate the feedback, thanks for following along!

[@honeyhunts8380]

I love grouse hunting in December. When there is fresh snow on the ground, you can often see what the dog is smelling. Do you worry about the dogs encountering furbearer traps in Michigan? That's my biggest concern with late season grouse in Minnesota. I have had some very close calls in the past with baited conibears. Thanks for another great video!

[@UplanderLifestyle]

I do and I don't. I do because it would be a crappy situation, but I don't because it's just one of the risks involved when hunting with a dog. What gives me peace of mind about all these risks (snakes, traps, injury etc) is just accepting that something may happen, and if it does happen you need to be able to handle the situation. So being mentally prepared for something to happen, and also medically prepared for something to happen and knowing how I will react is what really gives me peace of mind when thinking about all the stuff that could happen.

[@NelsonsRetreat]

Did you train your dogs or someone else, I know it’s bred into them to point but they seem so well trained

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Thank you, I really appreciate that. I train our own dogs, everything you see is on us.

[@mikeschlup5279]

I like how they move...don't like boot polishers.

[@UplanderLifestyle]

@@mikeschlup5279thanks for following along! 👍🏻 no boot lickers allowed here, they love to run and I love to watch em run…

[@sawyerplume3321]

Way more productive than me. I put on some miles in new territory and didn’t move a bird. Was great to be back out though.

[@brittlanders351]

I’ve seen two all year

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Ahh man, you'll definitely have that this time of year. Things change quickly day by day with the weather. Good luck the rest of this month!

[@oscarbauer1322]

I’m wondering if the deer ticks are as bad there as they are here in central Wi? For us it’s normal to pick 40-50 of the dog after every hunt and I always miss one that I find three days later. My dog has had anaplasmosis 4 times and I’ve had both Lymes and Urlychiosis from ticks. Over the years.

[@solidrib]

From what I saw.. very tough shots!

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Most were just taking a shot at a glimpse of a bird, part of it! Thanks for following along.

[@steveillingworth5120]

How far are your typical shots on ruffed grouse and what chokes do you normally use?

[@UplanderLifestyle]

15-30 yards. SKT/IC early in the year, IC/MOD later in the year.

[@NelsonsRetreat]

Is your GoPro on a chest mount or a head mount? Thanks

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Head Mount

[@dylanritter3660]

No gimmie shots in grouse hunting? I've shot 2 this year with my compound bow, 1 while walking my dog lol. Farther north you can almost catch them by hand.

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Good shootin! Thanks for following along.

[@johnandrosemarywyatt977]

What shotgun are using?

[@UplanderLifestyle]

Weatherby Orion 20 gauge

[@WASHINGTONSTATEDOGTRAINER]

LOL......