Bird arrow on the elk quiver

[Lefty]

Who carries a bird arrow when archery hunting?

My suggestion for those that wont have many or only one opportunity to hunt elk in the Rockies I suggest a bird arrow of sorts for blue grouse.

As table fare I don't place blue grouse much above ringneck- pheasant; it is one of those things you wont regret shooting. Be patient you will get a shot of a bird on the ground

[WapitiTalk1]

I used to carry one judo tipped arrow in my quiver. It served a dual purpose. Yep, it was a bird arrow and also was used for some mid day, stump shooting practice to keep the bow muscles loose (make sure the stump is rotten before you start hurling arrows at it ).

[baddaddy]

I always carry one with me. Grouse is great table fare. Usually carry a rage for the fall Turkeys as well.

[ishy]

Always

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

I have an old Ruger Standard .22 pistol that I carry for grouse most of the time.

[Elkhunttoo]

Always after birds!

[Heartwood]

For sure, always carry a grouse, rabbit type arrow with a bludgeon tip (screw on plastic blunt tip) When bivy hunting, it is always a nice treat to eat fresh grouse.

[adamds22]

Why not just carry a field tip on an arrow?

[scubohuntr]

Why not just carry a field tip on an arrow?

A bludgeon or Judo point doesn't get stuck in trees and stumps, or slide forty feet under leaf litter.

I've missed many grouse with field points that would have been solid kills with a Judo or bludgeon.

They also deliver more shock to small game for quicker and cleaner kills.

[adamds22]

Interesting, might have to pick one up for this season!

[WapitiTalk1]

On the same train of thought, if you're gonna carry a bird arrow and actually plan to use it on something besides mid day stump shooting practice (again, make sure its a soft/rotten stump or you won't get your arrow out), don't forget to have a gallon zip lock in your pack to transport a stinky/messy grouse .

[CampCreek]

We didn't last year and I regretted it. We bumped several grouse and after several days of Mountain House that meat would have tasted wonderful. There will be a bird arrow with me this year for sure. And good point on having a zip lock too.

[six]

How do you guys like to cook em up? I'm picturing a skinned grouse on a stick over the campfire. Anyone pack a little salt and butter?

[scubohuntr]

Depends on the grouse. It's hard to do a ruffed grouse and not have it turn out delicious. I've had them skinned on a stick over a fire, dredged in seasoned flour and fried in a little bacon grease, baked in a casserole with wild rice when I could have sworn I had #8 shot in my shotgun and not #4, and breaded and fried on a hoagie roll. A little garlic pepper, salt, and seasoned flour are well worth packing in. I have some tiny little ziplock bags that hold about a teaspoon, that work perfectly for things like that. Or hoard the little salt and pepper packets at KFC.

For spruce grouse, chop up some onions and garlic, sauté in bacon grease, add some chopped carrots, celery and a splash of white wine, gently cook the grouse until done, throw out the grouse and eat the pan.

[Brendan]

I bone out the grouse on the spot, keep the breasts, put them in a ziploc baggie. I carry a couple small single serve packets of olive oil, and small plastic baggies of a homemade spice mix. Throw it on the camp stove when I'm cooking dinner. Then I just boil a little extra water to clean the pot...

[WapitiTalk1]

For those who haven't done it, here's a quick VID on how to breast out a grouse in the field (using the feet on wings, pull the legs method). Works like a charm