This morning, Sunny, Dusty and I hunted sage grouse in one of the most gorgeous settings in eastern Idaho (and that is all that I’m going to say about the location). My good friend Matt Lucia and I discovered this spot by what I have coined as a “Roadside Revelation,” which is unexpectedly locating a prime bird hunting area by sighting birds next to the road. In years past, I have found some of my favorite hunting places in just this fashion. Last year, Matt and I observed dozens of sage grouse right along the road as we traveled for an overnight trip to hunt forest grouse. Needless to say, we had a slight change of plans for the morning hunt, which coincidentally, happened to be Idaho’s sage grouse opener. Despite some good opportunities, I did not harvest a thunder chicken (as they are sometimes fondly called) that day. In fact, for numerous reasons, I have not bagged a sage grouse since 2002 . . . six long years.
Today is exactly one year since that memorable hunt, except this time it was just me and my dogs. Also, this year the Idaho Fish & Game Department extended the season from one week to twenty-three days and increased the daily bag from one to two birds, so there was much to be excited about.
Upon arrival, I grabbed for my Goretex jacket as it was tad bit chilly. As I put it on, the brilliant sunrise was like a heavenly vision, a good omen (or so I thought). On our first hunt, we pushed up a sagebrush bench to the right. We did not find any sage grouse, but stumbled upon a herd of about ten cow elk just a stone’s throw away. At first, I thought they were going to run right over the top of me.
In a word, “idyllic” (even in the rain).
By the time I circled back to the car, I had warmed up enough to take off the jacket. Big mistake! Not ten minutes into the next hunt, the rain started to pour and before long, I was soaked to the bone. I forgot about the rain, however, when a big grouse flapped up just out of shooting range. Sunny and I scoured the area from where the first bird rose and, as I suspected, a straggler flushed in range left to right and I made good on the shot. It was a beautiful male bird of the year. With a grouse in the bag and the six-year monkey off my back, my spirits soared even in the pouring rain.
For our last hunt, I pointed the dogs toward a strip of sage brush about 50 yards wide and 150 yards long overlooking a small spring creek. To my delight, the strip was packed with birds and Bustin’ Dusty took note. For a minute there, I thought my Elhew Pointer was a Springer Spaniel as he flushed buckoo birds into the lowering horizon. In my zeal, I missed a few long shots. I lost track of Dusty during the chaos but soon located him to my right twisting on point with a sickle-like tail. I walked over to honor, but the quarry must have been running and Dusty recommenced hunting. Twenty yards ahead, a big flock of grouse evacuated. I missed the first one, but picked a closer bird and winged it on the second shot. As Sunny and I went to retrieve the fallen grouse, more bombers blew out of the end of the strip, but I could not shoot as I had a bird in the bag and one on the ground.
At first, I did not see the downed bird, but Sunny, my French Brittany, soon nailed it with an intense point. As she went in for the retrieve, the bird flushed again, but this time I made a solid shot. This grouse was a big old bomber! As I walked back to the car with one of the most hefty game bags I can remember, I flinched from the cold rain pelting my face.
As outdoorsmen, sometimes we have to take advantage of the precious few days allotted to us- no matter the weather. If I would have let a little rain get in the way, I would have missed out on one of my best hunts ever. Before today, I had never harvested a limit of sage grouse or even seen as many birds for that matter. For me, this stormy hunt brings new meaning to the nick name, “Thunder Chickens.” Idaho truly is a State of Grouse, or should I say “State of Grace?” Either way, the Lord’s bounteous creations are available here and for that I am truly greatful. Man, I love this place!
Roadside Revelation: Double click on this picture to see a field of sage grouse right off the road.
Big soggy sage grouse. In Western Skies, John Barsness calls them: “a sort of Pliestocene megagrouse, too large for the now.”
Two birds in hand is better than a dozen in the sage brush (Isn’t that how the saying goes?)
100 miles later and I’m still soaked!
Two birds in hand is better than a dozen in the sage brush (Isn’t that how the saying goes?) 
Upland Ways 
Andy…Great post!Wish I would have been there with you today! Sounds like a wonderful day of grousing around!Shawn
I wish I was there too. Love the pix of all the birds. Dale
Andy:Boy, I need an invitation up there for sage grouse. Your brother, the forced march, high altitude, birddogdoc durn near killed me in them thar’ mountains! Looks like you found ’em in the flatlands where normal human beings can breathe normally!(Now, tonight he tells me he’s going ptarmigan hunting–about 13000 ft.)Help, Andy, I am in the clutches of a grouse feind who gets his kicks dragging poor old dried up carcasses like mine over the high Rockies!(All in good fun. I sure wish we all could have been there with you to witness your good fortune. Congratulations.)Walter
Shawn, Dale, and Walter, I wish you all could have been there. It was a great day afield!Walter, Thanks for the recipe. My family enjoyed eating the filet mignot (sage grouse). It was seriously like eating a juicy steak. Even my family liked it (except Emma chomped down on a piece of shot. Oops, I thought I got all of that out). My daughter Jenness ate the legs like they were hot wings. I don’t understand why people do not like to eat these birds. I would be happy to pass on the recipe if any would to try it. To all, Happy Hunting and Good Eats!Andy
Wish i was there too! Great writing and pictures! I can’t believe I found my cousins while surfing the web for my addiction, bird hunting. Lets go!
Eric, Get your butt up here! We can go anytime. I would love to take you after some birds. It is good to hear from you. Andy