Blue Grouse Hunting in Colorado

[montana_griz]

Looking for a good spot to go grouse hunting. If anyone knows of a good spot, especially around the front range, I'd be very grateful. Thanks.

[cleek]

Hey, I too struggle with finding good blue grouse hunting on the front range. I've been told that the area known as Rollins Pass has grouse. Also, the areas near Nederland and up toward Lefthand Res. and Brainard Lake have been reported as having blues. I've struck out in both areas. I do know that Routte National Forest is phenomenal blue grouse hunting. Mt. Zirkel, Hahns Peak, Elk Head Mountains (west of Steamboat Lake), and the Flat Tops Wilderness. I have taken grouse up in those areas and have had many chances to do so. They are harder than most people think they are to hunt. If they get spooked by you, and you don't have an immediate shot...you can almost forget finding them. They will fly up into a tree and blend in with the wood work. Only the very trained eye will be able to find them after that. I hope this helps, but let me know if you find any good front range areas. I'm tired of driving all the way to Steamboat.

[DinkKiller]

Believe it or not, there are a ton of blues up around Indian Hills west of town on 285 and the general vicinity just to the west a bit. Just north of Pine towars Conifer is a little bit of nat'l forest area that is open to hunting. Have taken a few birds in there as well.
From Empire north to Frasier, there are a lot of areas to chase after blues. The Williams Peak area just north of Silverthorne and east of Green Mtn is decent as well. Sage grouse in the lower areas and blues higher up.


Dink

[Kellyelk]

There are tons of birds around Deadman mountain NW of Fort Collins. They were every where during muzzleloader.

[cleek]

When you speak of Indian Hills, are you referring to a specific area that is open to hunting? I've looked at the map and it doesn't seem like there is any public land around. However, once you get up to Kenosha Pass, things start to open up a bit. There are also some SWA's near Bailey and Jefferson. I would love to find a place that close to hunt and have a reasonable chance at finding birds.

[DinkKiller]

Kenosha Pass (just east of the summit) and Jefferson are decent areas for blues. You might want to consider a small easement just outside of Shaeffer's Crossing. Can't recall the name of it or if it is still there, but the general vicinity holds a fair amount of birds. Just past Empire and Berthoud Falls as you head towards the mine (east of Jones Pass) are alot of blues and ptarmigan.

There is some great hunting for blues up around the Guanella Pass area as well.

[kstitz]

Anyone hunting them this year in CO. I am going up around Steamboat Sept. 1. After that I will try to find birds closer to the front range. I have a few leads that I am going to check out. I will post when I do. Anyone interested in joining me?

Kelly

[montana_griz]

Went out opening day up at Ripple Creek Pass in the Flattop Wilderness. Hunted for 2 days in the best looking grouse habitat I've seen since I left Montana, and nothing. No signs of them. Then I stopped off at Vaughn Lake and caught something like 30 fish in 90 minutes. So it wasn't a total waste of time. While I was at the lake I talked to a guy who said he saw 6 on the road the day before. I was hunting around 9,500 feet. Maybe I was too high up.

If anyone gets into them around the front range...I'd be up to go out and try it. Kenosha Pass sounds like a close enough spot to try next weekend. I'll let everyone know how I do.

[cleek]

Recently, I was told by an avid hunting friend that he sees blue grouse up Lefhand Canyon all the time. If you are not familiar with this area, you get there by heading toward Lyons from Boulder on Hwy 36. Before you get to Lyons, you will see a sign for Lefthand Canyon to your left. Take this road up toward Ward and/or Jamestown (the road splits). I believe there is quite a bit of public land up that way at around 8500 - 9000 ft. So, give it a try and let me know if you see any sign. I haven't had the chance to get up there yet.

[R9Hunter]

Howdy,

Also looking for some good places for blues close to Denver. I don't want to travel too far. I will be hunting with airguns, so if anyone has any good places that are holding good counts of birds this year please let me know. Guanella pass looked good when we were up there a few weeks ago, as with Kenosha. Also thinking of trying some places around Mt. Evans, any ideas? Thanks.

[montana_griz]

Went up outside of Kenosha Pass area this last weekend. Nothing. I saw one ptarmigan and that was it. We hiked all over Grouse Mountain and saw nothing. Obviously the mountain was named a long time ago. Yet I may go back to that area, but try a different ridge/hill. I think the grouse must still be in lower elevations. Anybody else go out this past weekend? With this cold front, the grouse might start going up to higher elevations.

[chris73]

Has anyone been through the deckers area, towards pine, for blues or seen any turkeys up the 285 area

[willis12]

I went up to the Allenspark area this past weekend and then went down through Lefthand Canyon. No birds. I did practically walk into a bull elk in the Allenspark area.

I'll probably head up towards Steamboat this weekend, around the Spicer area. See if I can't find anything.

Anybody had any luck so far?

[montana_griz]

I will be going outside of Kenosha pass again this Sat. I'll let everyone know how I do. Hopefully I'll get into some birds...if not goruse, at least some ptarmigan.

[DinkKiller]

Rampart range southwest of the growing metropolis is an OK area. Problem here is that this area is ectremely popular with the dirt bikers and campers on the weekends. The traffic pretty much subsides once you get past mile marker 12 or so. I'd continue to head out to the mile marker 18 area or vicinity.

[R9Hunter]

I'll be going down through Kenosha this coming weekend and on into South Park, and we'll be camping near Lake George or Tomahawk SWA, we're not sure. Hopefully giving the birds another week or so should maybe get them a little more active, as another cold front is set for this week. I will check back in here when I get home. I'll be using airguns, so I'm not sure of my chances of success, but we'll see.

[willis12]

I went up to the Routt National forest this past weekend, up county road 53, I think forest road 103. Hunted Saturday evening and all Sunday morning. Saw everything but blue grouse. Very frustrating, as my buddy had been there the year before and run into a ton of them. There is some great habitat up there. Quite a few elk hunters, talked to them and some said they had seen some blue grouse.

In hindsight, I think we should have tried a little bit lower elevation. I don't think they've come as high as we were yet. Definitely will be heading up that way later on in the season.

Anyone else have any luck?

[montana_griz]

Sorry this is so late...went to Grouse Mountain outside of Kenosha Pass and lo and behold...Blue Grouse everywhere! It's a **** of a road though. Serious 4wd to get there. They were all at lower elevations along the creek. I'd expect them to move higher as it gets cloder.

[kstitz]

Montana_Griz, are you talking about Kenosha pass off of the 285? I can not find grouse mountain on the map I have, I did find a Grouse Mountain in the White River NF.

Kelly

[R9Hunter]

Yes, Kenosha is off of 285, Grouse mountain is NW of Bailey

[kstitz]

I may try it this weekend. Would you like to join me. I have a 14 mo. old German Shorthair.

Kelly

[jdickerson72]

montana_griz, Are you getting in there by heading up 43 and heading into Slaughterhouse? I used to live up that way years ago, but heard that they shut down access to that area.

[R9Hunter]

Montana_griz, could you please email me? I have some questions regarding access to Grouse mtn. We were just up there today and yesterday but couldn't find the way in that was not posted. Ended up camping up on Guanella, no birds there. We are going to try again this weekend maybe. Just have some questions, thanks. Email is checkyourfly1114@msn.com

[montana_griz]

Sorry I haven't checked the message board in a while....I just got married this weekend. But yes, I am talking about the area NW of Baily....Crow Gulch. Grouse Mt is on one side and I believe the mountains on the other side are called Crooked Tops. Yeah, the way to get back in there is to take that Slaughterhouse Loop 4WD trail. That is a tough road! I'm lucky my buddy doesn't mind beating up his truck, because there's no way I would take mine on that road. And watch out if it rains or snows....you will end up walking out of there because I don't see even the best 4wd outfits getting out of there if it is slick. But there was a ton of blue grouse. We're hoping the weather stays decent this weekend, as we are heading out on Sun. before the Broncos game.

[montana_griz]

Montana_griz, could you please email me? I have some questions regarding access to Grouse mtn. We were just up there today and yesterday but couldn't find the way in that was not posted. Ended up camping up on Guanella, no birds there. We are going to try again this weekend maybe. Just have some questions, thanks. Email is checkyourfly1114@msn.com


R9Hunter....I am at work right now, so i can't email you, but if you want to email me on my personal email....it's emilsson_2000@yahoo.com I posted a message above, so that might answer your questions. happy hunting.

[R9Hunter]

Thanks, I will email you in a bit. When my dad and I were up there this past weekend, we made a right onto Crow Gulch Rd from 285, then followed the road around. We ended up with 2 driveways at the top of a big curve. One marked Private, no Ntl Forest Access, the other just marked Private. Google Earth shows to take the road marked Private, but then again that doesn't account for the "Private Property" sign. You reach Slaughterhouse off of 43 correct? At least that is what my map is showing. Is FR 101 marked? We drove all up and down 43 repeatedly and couldn't find 101, we eventually found it when we got home with a better map. I will email you about the rest, and copy this into the email as well. Thanks for the help.

[montana_griz]

Thanks, I will email you in a bit. When my dad and I were up there this past weekend, we made a right onto Crow Gulch Rd from 285, then followed the road around. We ended up with 2 driveways at the top of a big curve. One marked Private, no Ntl Forest Access, the other just marked Private. Google Earth shows to take the road marked Private, but then again that doesn't account for the "Private Property" sign. You reach Slaughterhouse off of 43 correct? At least that is what my map is showing. Is FR 101 marked? We drove all up and down 43 repeatedly and couldn't find 101, we eventually found it when we got home with a better map. I will email you about the rest, and copy this into the email as well. Thanks for the help.

the road we take to get to FR101 is called Deer Creek. From 101 you'll get to slaughterhouse loop

[R9Hunter]

Thanks. Which area would you say holds the highest numbers of birds? And what do you hunt with, shotgun? Sorry for all the questions, had we been able to find 101 last week there would be no need for all them. Think a friend and I are heading up next weekend with airguns, and that's why I would like to know where the birds tend to hang out. Also, do you know if there is a way of getting to 101 from I guess you would call it the back way, which is just swinging into Crow Gulch, following the road around until you get to a driveway area, which the map shows is 101 also, but not marked. Is 101 off Deer Creek marked? Thanks, also, congrats on the wedding.

[montana_griz]

Went out last weekend to the same spot and saw zero grouse. I'm thinking they have moved up to the ridges. Trying one last time up there on Sat. I'll let everyone know how I did.

[montana_griz]

I was out elk hunting outside of Grand Lake last weekend. I must have seen 30 grouse. They are all over out there in Arapaho NF. I shot the heads off of three of them with my 7mm mauser. Cooked them up for dinner last night. Delicious!

[llewellynman]

Looks like everyone lost interest in Blues sometime in October. I've been chasing these birds around Colorado for 15 years and never run into more than a bird or two, unless I'm elk hunting and really don't want to shoot.

It seems to me they are always where I was last week, or if they were there yesterday, they're not today. I've talked to early season elk hunters who've said, oh yeah, they were walking around the roads like chickens! I go there...nothing.

Last year I took my 12 year old retriever and 2 year old setter on a forced march up on road 53 outside Hayden and bumped 4 birds. Got one. The others flushed wild and I never saw them again. I intend to put in as many days as I can possibly make it around the Steamboat area. According to the DOW, the highest concentration of birds is in that Routt National Forest area and I will find them!

Good luck everyone.

[ColoradoHunter5280]

I also find the blue grouse to be quite the elusive bird. I take a single shot 20 gauge with me when I am doing pre-season scouting for elk. I have yet to see a bird, but it makes a preseason hike a little more interesting. The only time I have actually seen a blue grouse was when I was mountain biking.

[duckhunt747]

My goodness sounds like some of you are having a very hard time finding mountain chickens, I have rarely gone looking for them and not come home with my limit ( not braging at all ) I think you may be looking in the wrong areas or have not trained your eye to spot them. You cant really hunt them like you would any other upland bird. They wont flush unless they have to and they blend in very well. Look for elevations of about 9000 feet in september that is usually where you will find them. Look for snow berries and kanikanik they are usually near that and water. Drive the back roads or walk old logging roads early in the morning but go slow and watch the dead fall there is usually one bird in the covey that just cant resist jumping up on a log to get a look at what is going on. If you are walking ( and this sounds cheesy and you will feel stupid doing it but it works) stop every hundred yards or so and click your tougne off the roof of your mouth several times and watch for them walking. It kind of sounds like them and if they are hidding it often getts them to come out and look around. I would tell you some of my "money" spots but unfortunatly too many people have found them and there is nothing better to me than a blue grouse with mashed taters, unfortunatly it doesnt take very many hunters to kind of wipe out a blue grouse population. so regretably I am going to have to keep my spots secret. Any way good luck I hope this helps

[llewellynman]

Duckhunt,

Thanks for the info. I've wandered around from 7-10,000 feet, looked for wortleberries, snow berries, grasshoppers, edges, fields, aspen groves, you name it. Thanks for the tips, I will try them this fall. I'm actually going out to scout a new area this weekend. I hunt with dogs, so I really don't worry about walking past them. My setter has a nose that never misses a bird. Of course that assumes the wind is right and it isn't as dry as a popcorn fart which makes scenting conditions really difficutl for the dog.

Anyway, good luck this year.

[ColoradoHunter5280]

Hey Duckhunt, do you recommend hunting with with a dog? As I mentioned in my previous post, I usually look for them while I'm scouting right before elk season. The elevation is close to 90000 feet and the terrain is failty dense (Eagles Nest Wilderness, just north of Vail). I would love more tips if you have any!

Thanks,

Chris

[kologik]

I've been out a few times and have jumped a couple of coveys, they are just like hunting ruffed grouse back in WI. except its a little harder walking here ;) Of course when you have no gun they fly up into a tree and cluck at you. If you do have a gun.... long gone.

[llewellynman]

So, I went up last weekend to check out a campground on Gore Pass. I generally hit an area by Wolcott for blues the first weekend and there are no decent campgrounds in that area. The beetle kill from Silverthorne and Winter Park heading northwest is unbelievable. Mile after mile of dying tress as far as you can see. This is a natural catastrophe like nothing I've ever seen. If you haven't read about it, the forestry service estimates that 95% of our lodgepole forest will be destroyed before it is over. Incredible!

Anyway, I'm talking to the campground host and he tells me he's been seeing these big birds, not sure what they are. After a discussion I realize he's talking about blue grouse. He tells me he's seen 30 or more in his walks and drives around the area. Naturally I get a little giddy thinking I've found this hidden gem of an area. I head out and walk for hours in the areas he described.

Nothing...not one bird. No droppings, no tracks, no sign...nothing.

Back to the drawing board.

Good luck eveyone, and good hunting!!

[kologik]

Yeah, it is very unbelievable how bad it looks up in that direction. I was fishing at Green Mtn. Res. a couple weekends ago and the tree kill is unbelievable. I bet that raises the fire danger quite a bit too.

I wonder if that mysterious bird he was seeing was what most of us call crows?

[llewellynman]

I guess they could have been crows...who knows?? I went out Monday for the opener. Drove up with a buddy. We left at 330 AM and arrived just before sunup. I bet I heard 25-30 shots all around me that morning. I flushed one covey, took one bird. Better than most, I guess. Blue grouse and last year's pheasant for dinner tomorrow.

[kologik]

Congrats on the bird... and busting a covey. Most of the battle is just finding them. I chased elk around this weekend, I haven't found a spot I really want to go yet... plus the woods were pretty full this wknd.

[Vitamin Di]

Boys and Girls, found a covey yesterday in the hills near Frisco and dropped a few birds. I think I was around 9K', but could been a little lower - I think they were in transit between aspen groves and happened across the stretch of road that I was on. It was a thrill, but I feel like that will never happen again - too good to be true more than once. In retrospect, it seems like they might have been yearling birds, cuz they flushed but didn't get too far and I was able to track them down. More experienced birds would have been long gone I feel. Weird how you don't feel or hear the fire and brimstone of the 12 ga in the heat of the moment. Ah, how sweet it is. Here's to a great start to the season!

[kologik]

I unexpectedly busted 5 yesterday along a creek bottom (not coveyed up either) while bow hunting. Scared the crap outta me, I wish I woulda brought some field tips with at least I wouldn't have gotten skunked!

[llewellynman]

Took my dog and went for three days up by Gore Pass. Took a limit on Saturday about 10 am at 8000 feet. They were out in the sage next to a small aspen grove. I estimate I walked 5 miles before finding them. This area gets hunted hard and I decided not to go back. The birds I took were obviously a hen and two young of the year. Hate to hunt it out.

I then went and hunted three new areas. I know I put on 10-12 miles of hard walking over the next two days. Prime looking habitat. And I'd actually seen a covey down by the highway next to one area I hunted by Toponas. Nothing. Not a single blue grouse. Very disappointing.

Walking one field my dog came up hard on point and I eased in. This bird busts out. Not a blue, but a sharptail!! I wasn't sure if the season was open or what the limit was, so I watched a covey of 10 birds fly away. Good thing because it is a limited season open only in a few gmu's and that wasn't one of them. Beautiful point, though.

Anyway, three days of hard hunting and hard walking in high heat, and just those three birds. But, better than coming home empty handed.

[lemonlakefishteam]

Hey, Have any of you guys been hunting up near the Durango Area? i have been looking for a few years to find a good spot but so far not so good for blue grouse. thnx

[duckhunt747]

Lemonlake fishteam,
I grew up in bayfield, so I know the area well. I assume by your name you fish lemon res alot, doing any good? I mostly fished viallsetio. But my gramps always loved lemon, Anyway there are tons of places to find grouse down there try middle mountain, hesprus pass, beaver meadows, even around lemon, missonary ridge, up around henderson lake, city res, molas pass. Try anyone of those areas walk the logging roads or go almost anywhere around pagosa. On a side note took a buddy out last week got him his first sage grouse and blue grouse. Pretty cool didnt see many blues but saw alot of sage hens. I would much rather eat blues though. Any way good luck everybody.

[lemonlakefishteam]

duckhunt
ya, i fish lemon alot. especialy this time of year near the inlet with a dry fly or a salmon egg. you cant miss! but the rest of the year its kinda slow. i would mutch rather go to vallecito for some of their pike in mid April. did you fish these lakes? but anyway thanks for that i whent up behind DMR (purg) and found 1 blue but other than that it was kinda slow. then again i was only up there for a few hours. Missionary is a good spot iv heard. but do they like the burn area? and about lemon i live 5 minutes away from lemon and would you go up near Transfer A or would you go up that road that is on the right of the florida? Thnx.

[duckhunt747]

duckhunt
ya, i fish lemon alot. especialy this time of year near the inlet with a dry fly or a salmon egg. you cant miss! but the rest of the year its kinda slow. i would mutch rather go to vallecito for some of their pike in mid April. did you fish these lakes? but anyway thanks for that i whent up behind DMR (purg) and found 1 blue but other than that it was kinda slow. then again i was only up there for a few hours. Missionary is a good spot iv heard. but do they like the burn area? and about lemon i live 5 minutes away from lemon and would you go up near Transfer A or would you go up that road that is on the right of the florida? Thnx.

I used to fish both lakes alot but since I moved up north I dont get to fish them much anymore usually when I come down it is just to see the fam.Now if and when I fish down there it is usually navajo.I also havent hunted missonary since the fire so I couldnt tell you if that is the place to find grouse but in other burn areas I have had good luck. upper transfer is a good bet havent hunted anywhere off the florida road.

[lemonlakefishteam]

thanks man. i appreciate it. Navajo is good stuff i like the smallmouth and kokanee there. have you fished vallecito since they put smallmouth in it?

[Reggebrecht]

This is first season in years that I have been skunked!! Went to the Aspen area opening weekend, typically a mecca for the fat chicken..no luck. Tried the Flattop wilderness area, not even a sign of a bird, even though some elk hunters had seen a few. I got lucky that same weekend and shot my first sage grouse north of Craig. fat bird, but good god it smells like sage!! hit up summit county last weekend, hunted west ridge between keystone and Breckenridge. I mountain bike this area all summer, and noticed there were a lot less grouse this summer. anyway, nothing which was a huge surprise. Also hunted up around the gore trail, nothing.

Some of the best areas for blue grouse hunting in Colorado are between aspen and crested butte. the areas are accessible by 4-wheel drive, but some of the driving is dicey. Lead King Basin out of Marble and Washington Gulch outside of Crested Butte are both great areas. The one day we had slotted to hit up lead king basin this year we got snow.

long late winters, short springs like we had this year do not bode well for the blue grouse and their reproduction. I'll try hunting them low this coming weekend in the Rampart range area, this is as low as I have seen them.

[winchesterwon]

I was up on the lead king and got my limit above the switchbacks above the geneva lake trailhead. Found males at higher elevations when I was bear hunting. I found the grouse spotty this year as well. Good luck to you.

[sean_shotgun]

Hey I thought I would bump this thread since I am excited about Grouse season opening Sept 1st.

Anybody found any good spots.?

In particular any success around Rampart Range road in the Pike National Forest?

What about the Red feather Lakes area?

Any help appreciated. Not looking for the bird's addresses - zip code is close enough.

Sean

[llewellynman]

I've tried around RR, but never bumped a bird. Worked my poor dogs butt off, up and down, sage country and into the aspens....nada.

I was rafting on the Colorado this past weekend and saw a road that worked its way south from the Rancho Del Rio area. Bumped a lone male and a hen with a few chicks on the road. Drove for 15 miles, so not exactly over populated.

I am also wondering what all this beetle kill is going to do to grouse numbers. I can't remember which tree they feed on in the winter, but I know it is some needle tree. Hope it doesn't hurt them.

After my dog died in February I went out and got another a few months later. He's just 5 months but has a great nose, works well out front and is learning to retrieve. He's not solid on point yet, but that will come. I am pretty excited about the upcoming season, too.

Good luck,

[DinkKiller]

Rampart is virtually my backyard. Haven't seen a blue up there for a few years, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're not there. Might try on the other side of Guanella.....

[Kellyelk]

In years I've elk hunted up this way, I've always seen a ton of them along the Laramie River Valley. Its a trek from Denver, but...........................

[sean_shotgun]

Saw a couple of em up above evergreen towards the Mount Evans State Wildlife area. Saw a lot of berries growing and grasshoppers also. Hopefully I can find some after the season starts too.

[sean_shotgun]

Saw a few scatterred around Golden Gate State Park. Open for hunting the Tuesday after labor day.

[Reggebrecht]

I mountin bike a ton, and have seen a lot more grouse this summer than last. Last fall was pretty slow for blue grouse, think the late snows in spring 2008 pressured the breeding. Anyway, lost my Weimaraner of 13 years this summer, real bummer as she may have been a cause of decreased blue grouse!! :) My viszlas is 12 and ready to get rolling next week for some Blue's. Just got a german shorthair, she is 16 weeks and will be ready to roll next season.

Here are some areas I've seen significant amounts of blue's this summer and in the past.

Rampart Range - Indian creek - Infested with Turkey as well. Park at the indian creek trail head and head uphill. Lot's of mtn. bikers, so be careful. I saw three hens with their kids this summer. As usual, hard to find once hunting season opens up.

West Ridge - Behind Keystone mountain. Dirt road that takes you behind Keystone mountain, go past the North Peak lift on left, keep going up the road and there is a dirt road on right, cross stream and head to top of west ridge. I've seen birds there every year, and eaten some of the residents.

My new secret. Not really, happy to share the wealth. Crested Butte is packed with BG. Head out of town up the hill towards the resort, and then take a left up washington Gulch. Drive 6 or 7 miles to about 10,500. you'll know when you get there, big turn around and camp area. The trail 403 starts here. Head up 403 traill and start hunting. Cool about this, you can also hunt Ptarmagain if you hike the ridges.

Nothing like taking your dog into the rocky mountains and hunting blue grouse during indian summer days. Good luck everyone. Keep an eye out for a tan FJ Cruiser, a guy with an old viszlas and 20 gauge side-by-side bereatta, that will be me on the hunt for those tasty birds!

[wired]

Heading to Crested Butte next week after the holiday for that exact reason. Got skunked in my regular places in Grand County for the opener. Your tip is much appreciate if you see a Wirehair bumping around it's probably mine. Thanks!

[Reggebrecht]

Great weekend. Took my limit outside of CB. Tons of birds this fall it seems. Moist summer equals lots of berries, birds seem nice and fat. Good luck.

[sean_shotgun]

Thanks for the advice. I have been hiking all over rampart range scouting and hunting deer and elk but have yet to see a Blue. Going to elk/deer hunt the Indian Creek area this weekend and will keep my eye out for Blues.

Also looking for a turkey hunting spot down there. I have never seen a turkey in CO and would like to hunt them this spring if I can find them.

[DinkKiller]

Thanks for the advice. I have been hiking all over rampart range scouting and hunting deer and elk but have yet to see a Blue. Going to elk/deer hunt the Indian Creek area this weekend and will keep my eye out for Blues.

Also looking for a turkey hunting spot down there. I have never seen a turkey in CO and would like to hunt them this spring if I can find them.

No doubt that place will be crawling with campers, MX riders and partiers. The turkey hunting really used to be decent, but anymore they're pushed and pressured by anyone and everyone come opening day.
Get back in there from Indian Creek camprground towards Carpernter peak near MM. Too many road hunters along Rampart and the animals get conditioned real quick.

[RFVSkier]

Great weekend. Took my limit outside of CB. Tons of birds this fall it seems. Moist summer equals lots of berries, birds seem nice and fat. Good luck.

Nice. I've seen tons this summer and fall around aspen here, way more than last fall. I saw enough to fill my tag a few times over while we were muzzy hunting the high country here. Most of them up way high, right at treeline in the places we hunt. Of course I didn't bring anything to shoot them with this last week so I'm sure when I go out this week for them they will suddenly be gone.

[llewellynman]

I have not been out yet this year. I am frustrated by family stuff and a fishing trip to Canada. Of course the trip was worth it, but I am really torn about leaving Colorado for 5 days in the middle of September. Anyway, I am heading to Steamboat this weekend, and then again the following weekend for a 5 day hunt with an old friend from Minnesota. I am jonesin' bad!!

[benjicunney]

Hey all, new to the forum here, but came across this thread searching for some stuff about colorado blue grouse hunting. I grew up in Idaho and hunted these things all the time, they were everywhere. This is my first year hunting them in Colorado, and I'm a little hesitant as to where to start without going too far. I went up to Webster pass area and kenosha pass area on Saturday morning looking for them but to no avail. Any of you seen any up that way this year? What elevation do you think they are at now. Do you think they are still down low by the streams, or have moved up to higher areas for wintering? Anyways, any help you might be able to offer would be great. I'll most likely be going out again this weekend walking aimlessly with a gun in the wilderness. When I went last weekend, I walked up on two nice four point bucks... got me excited for deer season.

[DinkKiller]

Buddy of mine was up near Boreas pass this past weekend and saw a few blues.....

[llewellynman]

I was out for a few days last weekend. Went up around Steamboat, but we got hit with about a foot of snow. I'm never sure what the birds do with that much fresh snow on the ground, so we packed up camp and headed south. Hunted the flat tops area around Eagle. We took 7 birds total, most at 10,000 feet on or near roads or trails. We walked the woods for many hours, but only saw the birds along the roadside in the morning and evening. My young dog never got to point a single bird. They all flushed wild. And we left quite a few. I never like hunting a covey down. If I see 4-5 birds, as we did a few times, I only take 2 or 3 and leave the rest for seed.

Made a blue grouse dinner for my buddy from Minnesota. He's only eaten ruffs prior to this trip. Naturally he raved. Best eating bird out there.

My advice--stay high. We found a small covey of young birds around 8,000 feet, but the rest were in the high timber.

[llewellynman]

Went out for what was probably the last Blue Grouse hunt of the year last weekend. Went up by Steamboat. Hunted hard in rain and sleet and wet snow, probably 3-4 inches on the ground. Wet miserable conditions, but my young dog was having a blast. Worked along the Nipple Peak road and after 3 hours of hard walking finally put up 3 birds, took 2. Nice big plump grouse. Gonna have 'em for dinner tomorrow night. Hope everyone else had a good year. Now it's on to pheasant and quail.

[bearhunter]

Hey all, new to the forum here

Welcome benjicunney! Hope you stay for a while.