My Dad was a bird hunting addict and was pretty good at it so, as kids, we grew up eating various game birds, including grouse...and it was a bit of a shock for us to later learn that other kids had never eaten them.

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What kind of bird is this.....

The real question you should be asking is; recipes for grouse?

I'm gobsmacked that someone in Lake County doesn't know what a Ruffed Grouse is! You've got one with no pellets or bloodshot meat; I'd have it in my skillet.

(Sorry, I just noticed you're in Lake Country, not Lake County. But still!)

The all-important question is: how did you cook it, and how did it turn out?

There is a trail a short distance from me that leads up a hill called Mt. Matthews. I was climbing the trail and noticed a Grouse sitting on the ground near the path and I expected it to launch Grouse style at any second. It did not move and as I passed it, it fell in behind me and we both walked up the hill. He stayed around me for quite a while I enjoyed the view. I thought this was very weird and guessed the bird was raised by someone and then released into the woods. But when I researched it, Grouse are known to do this and even become aggressive occasionally. Very strange experience!

^^^^^
Although I've never observed this behavior in grouse, Ruffed Grouse build their nests on the ground and, depending on the time of year, it wouldn't surprise me if you strayed near the nest and that grouse was pulling sentry duty on you, trying to drive you away.

Killdeers build their nests on the ground and I once watched one play wounded bird, and as I approached the eggs in its nest, it started loudly chirping, hopping rapidly away from the nest while dragging a wing on the ground to simulate a broken one. I knew what the bird was doing and humored it by following it as it led me away from its nest... then, once it thought we had reached a safe distance from the nest and it had fooled my 'predator response' it suddenly regained the use of its wing and flew off.

I've been wading while fly fishing and a few times I've had the trout I was fishing for follow me upstream, staying about 8 or 10 feet behind me, but keeping pace with me. But, in this case, I knew exactly what they were doing, as my wading boots were stirring up the gravel and plants, and releasing the aquatic bugs they eat. Eventually I decided to have a little fun, casted upstream, but let my fly drift downstream behind me, and caught one of them.

Critters are fun to watch, when we're not hunting, fishing, or eating them.

Look at the grouse!

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Originally posted by kkina:
It's an ex-parrot.

I see what you there. Nice when you can casually work in some Python!

I agree with the Ruffed Grouse identifications. Good eating. My son and I hunt them in the Adirondacks.

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Originally posted by apf383:

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
It's an ex-parrot.

I see what you there. Nice when you can casually work in some Python!

In all honesty it could just be pining for the fjords.

I don't think we have those in Louisiana