Forest Grouse In Washington
Mick Cope, Upland Bird Section Manager

Grouse hunting in Washington can take you from the lowland riparian areas of western Washington to the sub-alpine areas of the Cascade Range. Ruffed grouse are usually found in the lower elevations and reside in both eastern and western Washington. Blue grouse can also be found in both western and eastern Washington and are birds of varied habitats. In western Washington, blue grouse are almost strictly a forest dwelling bird while in eastern Washington; they are usually found in or near forest openings and edges. Interestingly, blue grouse can also be found in areas usually associated with prairie grouse in the springtime. The third species of forest grouse found in Washington, the spruce grouse, is usually found at higher altitudes associated with spruce forest and sub-alpine terrain.

Forest grouse populations rely heavily on yearly production of chicks to sustain their populations. This annual production is often tied to the weather, as cold, wet springs have a devastating effect on chicks that cannot keep warm once they are wet. Even though grouse have a high mortality rate, researchers have documented individuals living 9 to 14 years in the wild. While this is certainly not the norm, it does show that these birds can live a long time.

Pursuing grouse can be one of the most challenging types of hunting around. Despite the nickname of “fools hen” many place on grouse, they can be a challenging hunt, especially if shot on the wing. Blue and spruce grouse often require substantial hikes into forested areas and hunting ruffed grouse in a heavily wooded creek bottom can be tricky. No matter which species you decide to pursue, one thing is certain – finding one is often much easier than actually getting a shot at one.

In their Book Birds of Oregon Dr. Ira Gabrielson and Stanley Jewett wrote the following about ruffed grouse; “…it soon develops an almost uncanny knack of bursting into full flight at the most inopportune moments; that is, from the hunters point of view. It seems always to launch into the air behind a tree or to dodge quickly behind one, or else to choose the moment when the hunter is entangled in a fence. These tricks make wing shooting of ruffed grouse the highest test of a hunter’s skill and give the bird its reputation as one of the sportiest of game birds.”