Grouse

This is part two in Pat Durkin’s series looking at differing cultural perceptions of fair chase. In part one, he discussed shooting turkeys in flight. Unlike those who fuss or waffle about ground-swatting ruffed grouse, Randy Newberg knows where moral uncertainty ends and sober practicality begins...

The image of a hunter swinging an old side-by-side shotgun towards a ruffed grouse flushing over a bird dog is synonymous with American hunting history. Ruffed grouse were once a very popular, plentiful upland game bird throughout much of the country. Not too long ago, in a lot of places, you were...

On this hunt, Steve meets up with his longtime friend and upland bird hunter extraordinaire, Ronny Boehme, to search for an icon of the American West, the sage grouse. But before they start hunting, they’ll discuss the conservation issues surrounding this embattled species with the governor of...

Sharp-tailed grouse are best known for their “leks,” or traditional breeding sites, whereas many 15 males will congregate on the wide open prairie to compete for female attention by strutting, cackling, and stomping their feet in a strangely synchronized dance. The spring breeding season isn’t the...