--- title: Grouse Hunting 101 - Keep Dogs Upslope description: Here’s a great tip for hunting mountain blue grouse… keep your dogs upslope to flush. image: https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/moss-grouse%20hunting%20101%20960%20x%20480.png --- [Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) [![Mossberg](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mossberg-theme/images/logo.svg)](https://www.mossberg.com) [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) [Cart](https://www.mossberg.com/checkout/cart/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) - [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/) [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Home](https://www.mossberg.com) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) - Grouse Hunting 101 - Keep Dogs Upslope [Hunting](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/hunting) # Grouse Hunting 101 - Keep Dogs Upslope 1 Min Read By [Kirstie Pike](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/kirstie-pike) ![Grouse Hunting 101 - Keep Dogs Upslope](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/moss-grouse%20hunting%20101%20960%20x%20480.png) I spend every fall trekking around the mountains for Blue (Dusky) Grouse. They are fun to hunt and they are absolutely delicious. ![moss-kirstie with dogs 1](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/moss-kirstie%20with%20dogs%201.jpg?width=206&name=moss-kirstie%20with%20dogs%201.jpg) I look forward to this season each year and have learned so much about the nuances of grouse hunting. I have become a student of their feeding patterns, flight patterns, and general behaviors. Each year, I learn something new! Here’s a great tip for hunting mountain blue grouse… keep your dogs upslope to flush. I realize this may seem counterintuitive to some, so bear with me here! Blue Grouse are typically located on the ridges of mountains with good coniferous cover. The terrain can be steep and is often riddled with deadfall. Thus, walking isn’t typically easy. Combine this with the fact that grouse will ALWAYS flush downhill and you can see that getting a clear shot can be difficult. ![moss-kirstie dogs 2](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/moss-kirstie%20dogs%202.jpg?width=206&name=moss-kirstie%20dogs%202.jpg) It took me some time, but I found that keeping my dog on the upslope improved my odds! Based solely on the fact that the birds will flush downhill 100% of the time, you have a much better chance of getting a grouse in a good shooting lane as it crosses in front (or behind) you. Should your dog flush a grouse on the downslope, it is nearly impossible to get a shot on a grouse flying downhill and away from you as their flight patterns take them directly into the branches as they fly down. Visibility becomes very limited once they break downhill and you can typically kiss that opportunity goodbye. Next time you have an opportunity to hunt mountain Blue (Dusky) Grouse, try this flushing tip. You will definitely have better success! [![Share on Facebook](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-facebook.png?width=24&name=share-facebook.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fgrouse-hunting-101-keep-dogs-upslope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-linkedin.png?width=24&name=share-linkedin.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fgrouse-hunting-101-keep-dogs-upslope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-twitter.png?width=24&name=share-twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fgrouse-hunting-101-keep-dogs-upslope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fgrouse-hunting-101-keep-dogs-upslope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Grouse%20Hunting%20101%20-%20Keep%20Dogs%20Upslope) [![Share on Email](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocialShare/share-email.png?width=24&name=share-email.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fgrouse-hunting-101-keep-dogs-upslope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fresources.mossberg.com%2Fjournal%2Fgrouse-hunting-101-keep-dogs-upslope%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ### About the Author ![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/kirstie.png) ### Kirstie Pike Kirstie Pike is the founder and CEO of Prois Hunting & Field Apparel for Women, the leading edge for women’s performance hunting gear for nine years and running. [See all articles by this author](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/kirstie-pike) ## Related Posts [![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Goose-Pit-4-2.png?width=352&name=Goose-Pit-4-2.png)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tips-from-the-goose-pit) ### [Tips from the Goose Pit](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tips-from-the-goose-pit) There is nothing like the sound of geese setting their wings as they willow leaf into your spread.... [![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bird-Preparation2-2%20copy.jpeg?width=352&name=Bird-Preparation2-2%20copy.jpeg)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/grouse-hunting-confessions) ### [Grouse Hunting Confessions](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/grouse-hunting-confessions) I confess: I LOVE grouse hunting season here in Colorado. I look forward to it with maniacal... [![](https://resources.mossberg.com/hs-fs/hubfs/moss-dusky%20grouse.png?width=352&name=moss-dusky%20grouse.png)](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/high-mountain-dusky-grouse-hunting) ### [High Mountain Dusky Grouse Hunting](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/high-mountain-dusky-grouse-hunting) Grouse season was a huge success in the Pike household this year. High mountain hunting for Blue... [Sign Up for Mossberg News and Updates](https://resources.mossberg.com/join) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MossbergCorp) [Twitter](https://www.x.com/mossberghunting) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/mossbergofficialsite) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mossberghunting) #### [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Handguns](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/handguns.html) - [Shotguns](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/shotguns.html) - [Rifles](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/rifles.html) - [Other](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/others.html) #### [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Parts](https://www.mossberg.com/parts.html) - [Shop By Schematic](https://www.mossberg.com/schematics/) - [Apparel](https://www.mossberg.com/apparel.html) - [Accessories](https://www.mossberg.com/gear.html) #### [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help) - [FAQ](https://www.mossberg.com/support/faqs) - [Contact us](https://www.mossberg.com/contact-us) - [Firearms Service Request](https://www.mossberg.com/service/request/index) - [Warranty Registration](https://www.mossberg.com/support/warranty-registration) - [Vintage Models](https://www.mossberg.com/support/vintage-models.html) - [Owner's Manuals](https://www.mossberg.com/support/owners-manuals) - [Recalls](https://www.mossberg.com/support/recalls) - [Privacy Center](https://www.mossberg.com/privacy-center) #### [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Product](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/military-le.html) - [Agency T&E](https://www.mossberg.com/law-enforcement/firearm-testing-evaluation) - [Distributors](https://www.mossberg.com/law-enforcement/distributors/) - [Service & Support](https://www.mossberg.com/law-enforcement/le-service-support) - [Armorer Training](https://www.mossberg.com/law-enforcement/armorer-training) #### Corporate - [About](https://www.mossberg.com/corporate/about) - [Careers](https://www.mossberg.com/corporate/careers) - [Safety](https://www.mossberg.com/corporate/safety) - [Press Releases](https://www.mossberg.com/corporate/press-releases) - [Media Kit](https://mossberg.app.box.com/s/gnjcxzwo3tws3dovf7cii4xzu52tbu2i) - [International](https://www.mossberg.com/corporate/international) O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. © Copyright 2026 [Privacy Policy](https://www.mossberg.com/privacy-policy) [Terms of Use](https://www.mossberg.com/terms-of-use) By entering this website, you verify that you accept the Mossberg Website [Terms of Use](https://www.mossberg.com/terms-of-use), including but not limited to the requirement that you are of legal age to purchase firearms in the state which you reside.