Bowsnbucks
5 year old buck +
While at camp yesterday, I was loading split firewood into my F-150 at a woodpile at the far end of our fields. The pile is right next to a group of Washington hawthorns I planted about 22 years ago. I wasn't being quiet and I slammed the tailgate closed. I covered the top of the remaining wood pile with a plastic tarp & tossed some rocks on top to hold it in place. As I turned around, I noticed movement behind my truck. A big, plump grouse was walking slowly across the trail I drove in on. It walked under a hemlock and right into the hawthorn grove. It was only about 15 ft. from me and showed no sign of fear.
I decided to lean on the tailgate and see how this played out. I made quiet bird-whistles at it as it fed on fallen hawthorn fruit. The grouse showed no signs of giving up on it's easy pickings despite the big ugly thing watching it. After 20 minutes of watching this bird stuff itself, I tired of standing there and got into my truck. I started the engine, pulled away slowly, expecting to see it rocket away in panic. No dice !! It sat there under a hawthorn and watched me drive away, never stopping it's feasting on the red fruit. Proof enough of the lure of hawthorn fruit for grouse.
This is only one of many grouse sightings in this hawthorn grove, but by far the closest (15 ft. ) and longest lasting.
I decided to lean on the tailgate and see how this played out. I made quiet bird-whistles at it as it fed on fallen hawthorn fruit. The grouse showed no signs of giving up on it's easy pickings despite the big ugly thing watching it. After 20 minutes of watching this bird stuff itself, I tired of standing there and got into my truck. I started the engine, pulled away slowly, expecting to see it rocket away in panic. No dice !! It sat there under a hawthorn and watched me drive away, never stopping it's feasting on the red fruit. Proof enough of the lure of hawthorn fruit for grouse.
This is only one of many grouse sightings in this hawthorn grove, but by far the closest (15 ft. ) and longest lasting.