In Russia, grouse dishes have long been considered table decoration. They were served mainly to kings. Also, game was prepared for important guests during important receptions. Many gourmets still appreciate the unique, refined taste of their delicate white meat.
In tsarist times, hunting for this bird was predominantly commercial in nature. Today the situation has changed dramatically. Now they are doing it mainly for the sake of sports interest. Since it is time to hunt for hazel grouse in the fall, this season of the year, many lovers of delicious meat are looking forward to it. However, getting a bird is not easy. The article provides information on how hunting for hazel grouse should take place in the fall.
Getting to know the bird
Hazel grouse is the smallest member of the chicken family. Among black grouse, capercaillie and partridge, he is considered the smallest chicken. This species weighs no more than 500 grams. Its habitat is the entire territory of Eurasia. Grouse leads a sedentary lifestyle. His summer diet consists of insects.
From the other forest inhabitants, the hazel grouse is distinguished by its colorful plumage, due to which it got its name. Thanks to this color, hunting for hazel grouse in the fall is significantly complicated. At a distance, the bird is able to completely merge with the environment and becomes completely invisible to the human eye. Therefore, you have to hunt for hazel grouse in the fall with semolina or with a dog.
About the timing of the hunt
Officially, you can get upland fowl from the beginning of September until the end of winter. The best time for hunting hazel grouse is autumn. The peak of the season falls on Indian summer. Given the ethical side, the autumn hunt is logical and justified. In winter, it is not practical to carry it out: the hazel grouse fights hunger and cold. By September, the bird will have time to grow its offspring. In addition, she will be well-fed and well-fed. This is the most successful time for hunting grouse with semolina.
In autumn, there is a high concentration of pine forest near their nests. They feed on a whole family in an open area. Hearing the sound of the luring device, the old individuals, or starks, as hunters also call them, mostly do not respond. This is done for them by young people who by this time have not yet managed to acquire their plots and those who should be protected. At the sound of decoy, the young growth looks at how the old people will react. If they are calm, then young individuals do not predominantly voice. But often they do not hold back and begin to sing, which reveals themselves and the whole rash. Hunting for hazel grouse and in late autumn. By this time, the starks are already living separately from the young, which now gives voice to the sound of decoy even more often.
On permission for the extraction of pine forest
In 2015, changes were made regarding the procedure for issuing licenses. They consist in the development of two special permits. One of them can be obtained by amateur hunters, as well as those who regard the extraction of upland game as a sports entertainment. The second permission is for the rest of the hunters. Licenses are issued by executive authorities. Now the official start date for hunting for hazel grouse in the fall is September 15th. The season lasts until February. For violations of the rules for hunting grouse in the fall, administrative liability and fines are provided.
Where does the bird live?
According to hunters, birch forests, dense alder, willow and aspen thickets became the place for grouse villages. The bird can sit on dense, big-leafed spruce branches, on trees arched in the form of an arc, hide in grass, a ravine or behind a deadwood tree.
About the behavior
Judging by the reviews of hunters, it is absolutely impossible to see this bird calmly walking in the forest.
Hunting for hazel grouse in the fall will be productive if you know how he behaves in the forest. The following characteristic signs will indicate that the bird is somewhere nearby:
- Loud flaring. Grouse breaks away from his place whenever he feels danger.
- The bird whistles.
On the methods of hunting grouse in the fall
Judging by numerous reviews, the most common option is hunting with a dog. This method is considered classic. Less commonly used are options from approach and surge. Hunting in the fall for hazel grouse with semolina is also very productive. In this case, a person using a special device reproduces sounds that in their timbre are very reminiscent of grouse singing. Anyone who has chosen this method of hunting should, in addition to great patience, also have the skills to handle mank.
When should you start?
According to experienced shooters who have studied the habits and instincts of the bird, it is best to start when dawn is enough. The most effective time of day for hunting hazel grouse in the fall is after 10 a.m.
What to consider?
Before hunting, it is advisable to thoroughly prepare theoretically: you should be aware of the habits of a boar bird, be able to imitate the sounds of females and males. In addition, you need to know how to choose the right place for hunting and how to disguise yourself. It is also necessary to purchase a good decoy.
Since the singing of females and males is different, it is desirable that there are several luring devices. In addition to theoretical knowledge, the hunter must choose the right weapon and have good shooting skills.
About decoys
These luring devices are special products with which a person can recreate the voices of birds. A wide assortment of decoys is represented in almost any specialized hunting store. Products can be plastic or tin.
Decoy is also easy to make with your own hands. Experienced craftsmen for the retail industry produce very high-quality devices from rabbit and goose bones. Such a decoy is equipped with two saw cuts. On one side of the product, he saw straight, and on the reverse, made at an angle. In the middle of the decoy is equipped with a special 5 mm cut, into which a wax jumper is inserted. It is pierced with a pin by the owner himself.
Anyone who decides to hunt hazel grouse with the help of decoy must acquire only a high-quality device and to perfectly learn to imitate the sounds of females and males. According to experienced hunters, hazel grouse have very good hearing. If the hunter makes a fake sound, then the bird will immediately notice it.
Where to begin?
The hunt begins with the correct choice of position for the shooter. Such a place should be invisible to the bird. Mostly it is a dense shrub. It is important that probable shelters of birds are clearly visible from it. They should also be within range of the shot. The position hunter can sit or stand. Judging by the reviews, most prefer to be in a standing position. This makes it possible to view in a radius of 360 degrees. Sitting is difficult to do.
How to use the device?
Long whistles and an iridescent trill at the end are characteristic of the song of the male calling the female. Experienced hunters recommend starting this particular melody in decoys. When it appears, it is not recommended to immediately shoot, since the female, having seen that the male is not nearby, also begins to sing. In this case, the hunter is best to wait for the male. Several individuals can arrive at the call of the female at once. There are frequent cases when a male can appear on the sound of decoy, jealously guarding his site from the encroachments of competitors.
According to the hunters, it is not easy to issue the necessary signals. Therefore, it is often necessary to experiment with semolina. But as soon as the correct tonality is achieved, it is not worth changing it. The hunter learns that the sound of decoy was heard by the response of the hazel grouse. This means that the bird believed the “song” and should not be changed. Nevertheless, one should not expect that the hazel grouse will respond at the first sound of the decoy. If the bird did not respond, you need to wait a while. Continuous trills are unnatural and only alert pine forest. Therefore, after each series, it is recommended to make small pauses. There are frequent cases when the hazel grouse may not fly to the sound, but approach silently, the hunter should simultaneously observe the terrain.
When playing sounds in decoy, you need to control the volume. In a very dense forest area, grouse song is heard at a distance of one hundred meters. In open space, the range can be increased up to 200 meters. Boron bird is able, using the power of sound, to determine the exact distance to its source. Wanting to fool a hazel grouse, many hunters are cunning, and blow in decoy in the opposite direction. Among hazel grouse, individuals may come across that non-standardly respond to the sound of decoy. Such a bird echoes a man, but does not come closer. A real competition begins between the hunter and the bird, which can drag on for a very long time.
Recommendations
When hunting for hazel grouse, you must adhere to the following rules:
- After the bird has been spotted, it is not recommended to give out its presence, since, seeing the man, the hazel grouse will immediately run away. In this case, the hunter will have no choice but to leave this place. It will be possible to return here after a few hours. Therefore, as soon as the game appears, it is necessary, without moving, to continue to lure it.
- If after the decoy is heard a very quiet thud or rustling of the wings is heard, the hunter should look especially carefully at the ground. Grouse, trying not to betray himself, scouts the situation. A man can only let him closer, and then use the weapon.
- If a response was given to the sound of the decoy, and then there was silence, then the bird felt danger. Now, while she calms down, it may take several hours. In such situations, experienced hunters are advised not to waste time and change their place.
About weapons and equipment
The effectiveness of hunting, according to experts, largely depends on the correct equipment. For the production of boar birds, it is advisable to acquire a light, waterproof suit and rubber boots. As a headdress, a cap or panama will do. It's better to walk light in the forest. You can hunt hazel grouse with a smooth-bore gun. Since this bird has a small mass, even a minor wound can immobilize it.
Mostly grouse guns take the 20th caliber. They weigh a little and are quite economical with regard to cartridges. Also, the 16th and 12th calibers are suitable for the upland bird. They have a faint sound that does not scare away birds. Those do not fall off immediately after the first volley. Having made a choice in favor of small-caliber rifles, a hunter in the same place can “take off” several individuals.
When choosing a bandoleer, it is better to purchase a product for which a cover is provided. It will protect the ammunition from getting wet. The best option would be a belt bandolier, designed for 10 rounds. The remaining ammunition can be packed in a special shoulder bag or in a duffel bag. Also, the hunter should worry about the supply of food and drink. The garment bag is equipped with spare linen, socks, matches, a cooking pot and a light tent. Also, do not forget about such things necessary in field conditions as a mug, a flashlight, a tourist hatchet, a hunting knife, binoculars and a compass.
Among the wide assortment of various field bags among hunters, “crumbs” are very much in demand. These products are very light and roomy.
Finally
Harvesting of a poultry is predominantly gambling. Following the recommendations of experienced hunters, you can secure a magnificent trophy.
You can cook meat in 20 minutes. Anyone who wishes to extend its preservation can fill it with coniferous branches.