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Hunting grouse could be compared to mixing the perfect martini; for some it becomes an all encompassing endeavor though some would see it as much ado about nothing, and to others it is simply something to be slapped together and done with.

I have seen hard hunted populations of grouse behave as if they were demolitions experts caught far behind enemy lines with dawn fast breaking, and I have also seen them in certain times of the year stand there and coo and make eyes at me, to the point where you could walk up and touch them.

Some are seen budding in trees in hunting season, and others not used to hard hunting are often fast to fly from ground to perch thinking they have eluded the 4 legged or 2 legged predator on the ground by doing so, having no concept ...yet... that the danger is not past...they are fast learners though.

A man that would ground sluice or limb a grouse would as soon as pick a pocket as not, and if over the age of 12, he is the sort that thinks nothing of cheating at a friendly game of cribbage and likely has never picked up a check in his life.

I once stumbled on two men 'bagging snipe' as they called it, one with a scoped air rifle and the other with a 44 magnum handgun loaded with snake shot loads, they were stalking the shorelines and any birds too far for the revolver the 'sniper' shot, often only taking a leg off, and any they could get close enough to or that came into range on their own the handgunner emptied the cylinder into while on the ground.

To them the snipe was simple to kill in number and hardly a worthy game bird, I recall wishing with all my might that those lacking any sporting blood in them be banned from hunting anything other than turtles.

Sadly these are the types that knock grouse out of the trees with 30-06 rifles at 10 paces and continue blowing up these most gallant of game birds until finally, after destroying dozens of the finest game to be had in tangle or at table, they succeed in taking one by shooting the head off.

a feat which at 25 feet we are expected to smack his back over and proclaim him one helluva hunter, fleet of foot and sure of eye, if not the finest figure of a man to ever stroke a trigger, and keep his bourbon topped off all night while he tells and re-tells the daring feat that made him the envy of all far and wide.

that said, when you are as bad a wingshot as I am ANY bird shot flying is one helluva difficult shot and they are ALL highly sporting game.

And therein lies the key, if it is done sportingly then it is done well, regardless of outcome.