Alex D.
Last weekend, Troy and I were scouting for deer and hunting Spruce Grouse. We had an amazing day walking the cut lines, driving the gravel roads, and spotting grouse. It was Troy's first hunt and my first time solo without my Brother, and mentor Tim (@CRAFTYWOODSMAN). There are several reasons why grouse is a great first hunt for novice hunters. Also, these prairie chickens are so delicious that it brings seasoned hunters back to harvest them each year.
Grouse are a great animal to hunt and harvest. For people who are nervous about owning and handling a gun, starting out with a .22 caliber rifle is an excellent way to gain experience and confidence safely handling a firearm. It has minimal recoil and a quieter discharge than higher calibers. A .22 is all that is needed for hunting grouse, so for less experiences or new PAL holders, this is a great way to start.
Also, grouse are a forgiving animal to hunt. Many times, they are sitting there on the edge of a gravel road or cut line and are easy to spot. They also don't scare easily, so you can make a reasonable amount of noise and movement. Then, even after getting a first shot off, they may freeze there and give you an opportunity to try again. However, they may flutter off to a nearby tree and wait there, relying on their camouflage to protect them. Sometimes, they are impossible to see and other times they are comically visible. So, there is yet another chance to get the grouse. Their habit of flying off to a nearby tree can offer a chance to challenge and improve your skills of spotting, stalking, and shooting, if you choose.
Additionally, butchering a grouse is not an intimidating task for novice hunters. They can easily manage the transformation of animal to meat. There are two methods that I know about to accomplish this. One, is stepping on the outstretched wings of the grouse and pulling their feet. A quick youtube search will likely show you this method. It is fast and easy to do when the animal is still warm. It also keeps the wings attached for transport. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu8NbbznWXM The second method is to push back the soft skin to expose the breast meat and slice them away. I prefer this method, because it doesn't damage the wings, which I also harvest for crafts. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV8ePgisoXw to see this method. Although the video is using waterfowl, it works the same way for grouse.
In my opinion, grouse more than any other animal make excellent sport for hunters. That only makes the fact that they are a delicious bird, even more incredible for newer hunters. Being able to take a new hunter on a successful first hunt, help them gain confidence and experience, as well as provide them with a delicious meal is rewarding for a mentor too. For me, introducing a person to hunting without showing them how to butcher and cook the meat is negligent. The hunt is about the providing a meal from a source that promotes conservation of our wildlife in Alberta. For me, it isn't about the sport of the hunt, despite my enjoyment of it.
Come back Thursday to see the meal that was prepared with our Spruce Grouse.