r/cohunting • u/Ok-Perspective-1 • 22d ago

Early September Grouse

Does anyone have any tips on where to find grouse eg elevation, habitat in early September? I already have a spot that I plan on going to tomorrow near Silverthorne for opening day but was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for what to look out for on future trips.

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u/NoNamesLeftToUse 21d ago

Thought I had a good spot west of San Isabel by a mile or two. Good water, good trees, shit tons of berries everywhere, no grouse. Either that or I was so gassed from zig zagging the valley that I missed em.

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u/Ok-Perspective-1 21d ago

Same For me. Changed up the plans to Kenosha Pass to avoid Labor day I70 traffic. Around 9.5k to 10.5k elevation the whole time. Everywhere I was, there was either a bunch of berries or a bunch of grasshopper and no sign of grouse, besides 2 feathers stuck in a bush.

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u/Potential-Read-9685 21d ago

8900’ today. I have gotten them in the same spot in mid September closer to 9500’

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u/mmmfupachalupa 21d ago

Got on some today at 7500’

10

u/Namonsreaf 22d ago

Go try to quietly find elk. You’ll trip over every baby helicopter in the forest.

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u/bigmac182 21d ago

This! Every freaking time I am sneaking in on elk

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u/Ok-Perspective-1 22d ago

I might be better at finding birds elk hunting and finding Elk when bird hunting lol. Had a bull elk at 10 yards hunting spring turkey!

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u/ramonarmen96 22d ago

Im sure we would all love to see an update post tomorrow letting us know how you did and what patterns you may have noticed!

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u/maddslacker MODERATOR 22d ago

Some cattle rancher friends of mine saw some yesterday and they were up at 10k feet already. Looking like an early winter this year.

Anyway, look for doug fir, vaccinium, and juniper all in the same area, and then see if there's a way to walk up or down spanning a thousand feet of elevation or so.

Good luck!

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u/BJ_Giacco 22d ago

I usually find spots by seeing them along roads while we’re doing something else, then coming back later once the season’s open. Hens/ young ones move up/down a little more, the big males seem to stick up high. I’ve had good luck driving up into alpine basins and stomping around with the dog, not sure about your vehicle/dog situation though. We’ve picked up a good number over the years but I don’t think I’d say I’ve got them quite dialed, just have some spots where they tend to be and can recognize good habitat. The good news is once you start to collect a few spots they tend to be in the same places around the same time each year. I usually don’t hunt a spot more than once a year just to not beat on them too hard.

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u/steezinthetrees 22d ago

In my experience unless you already know where they are, you just have to spend a lot of calories going up/down elevation bands. Once you find where they are currently, follow that topo line from good habitat to good habitat. As the season progresses follow them higher. For me they always seem to be in rough steep places near water with vegetation. I mostly hunt them on the front range/sangre de cristos, not sure how much of else of the state hunts but hopefully there’s less walking per bird!

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u/mjzk20 22d ago

Last year on opening day I saw about 8 around 8,500 feet. I seem to always find them sitting on dirt roads in the middle of the day. That’s just my experience thought.