grouse with a RT?

[troutriverhawk]

Has anyone ever tried taking ruffed grouse with a RT?
we've got tons of them up here, and I cant imagine it would be that hard because whenever they see you they freeze.

Just think how easy it would be to lure train though, you wouldnt even have to move it!

[Jay]

I know of one falconer who has taken one with her Redtail up in Maine. They are not somthing that can easly be hawked with any bird. The one killed by the redtail was a lucky flight they came up and went twords the bird and she blindsided it out of the air.

I also know of a falconer that took one with a Gos. They are a very hard bird to hunt with any raptor. They freeze but your bird will not pay any attention to a frozen grouse. And when they do move they blast off and are extreamly manuverable. I have hunted them with a shotgun and that is still a challenge. I think the most effect way to hunt them would be to try and find them in a more open wooded area with a very good pointing dog and a Gos or Coops.

[Master Yarak]

Not a good prey selection for a RT. Even if really abundant, too many misses will teach all the wrong lessons. They are much harder to catch than you might realize. I hope you can find lots of alternate critters. Like rabbits.
Yarak

[chris]

you need to know that the reason that ruffed grouse don't move is because most of the raptors are sight stimulated if the grouse don't move the hawks usually won't see them. when they they do move the bolt of with amazing speed most are taken by suprise without the grouse knowing the hawk is there, not easy to set up. Can it be done yes is it worth the effort and misses not really, you would be better to go after something that likes the open ruffed grouse are a pain in the ............

[raptrlvr]

I have been on a couple of falcon/grouse hunts. There were some amazing long tail chases across the field. The gyr peregrine female did take one grouse on the 2nd day out in Wyoming.

[hawkstir]

My first tercel tried real hard to catch grouse when I flushed them out of the bunny brush. Came dang close once, great flight. One time I saw one setting on a log about 10' in front of me. Mischiff was perched about 20' behind and 20' up. I tried to set up a flush by circling the grouse and kicking out into the open. Didn't work. the grouse flew just inside the wood line with my in pursuit, he just couldn't match the maneuvers of the grouse around the trees and branches. I think if you can spot the grouse on the ground and if you can get them to take a few steps within sight of your bird and if you've got a real fast bird, your hawk might have a chance. A-lot of iffs. It's a challenge worth taking on given the opportunity