I enjoy a good grouse hunt once in a while, especially with a good grouse dog telling me where the bird is before suddenly flushing when I least expect it. After all, that’s what hunters are used to seeing when roaming the grouse woods — birds that spook easily and make a sudden flushing bolt for parts unknown. Oddly enough, however, there are times when grouse exhibit a totally different behavior that is the opposite of what we normally expect.

A couple of years ago, my son Brian told me of a grouse that began following him around on his four-wheeler when he was working in the woods near his treestand. The grouse showed no fear of him, or even the machine, and it would even land on the four-wheeler while it was moving. Apparently, this unusual behavior went on for some time and even to the point where they finally gave the bird a name — Buddy. I guess over time the grouse eventually resumed normal grouse behavior and went on his merry way.

Now to the present. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving up a backwoods road, well away from any homes, when I saw a grouse walk out in front of my vehicle. Not wanting to hit the bird, I stopped the truck and got out only to find the grouse walking around by the back driver side tire all the while making those subtle “purring” sounds like a chicken.

The grouse walked right up to me and we chatted back and forth for a time neither of us knowing what the other was saying. Every now and then the grouse would peck my hand as I gently tried to usher it off to the side of the dirt roadway.

When I turned to go back to the truck, the grouse quickly followed me like a little puppy. I repeated the nudging process, but each time moving the grouse further from the truck. Finally, after a 20-yard nudge I ran back to the truck, jumped in and took off only to see the grouse running behind me; I eventually left him behind — strange behavior indeed.

After going to the internet, I found a number of similar accounts like mine and my son Brian’s, and I’m sure there are some reading this that have had somewhat similar encounters with grouse. I’ve tried to come up with some reason why this behavior occurs, but I really don’t have much to offer. Some have suggested that it may be due to the birds breeding behavior, but my encounter was well after the breeding season. Some have suggested that the grouse may be exhibiting its territorial rights and that may have some validity since some have actually become more aggressive over time.

Another interesting theory that I heard was that the grouse may have eaten some fermented wild grapes; you guessed it — the grouse was “drunk.” It never occurred to me that I should try administering a sobriety test; you know, have the grouse stand with one claw raised while balancing on the other, or draw a line and have the bird try to walk a straight line.

In the meantime, I plan to concentrate my grouse hunting this fall in wooded areas with a good amount of fermented wild grapes. If there is any truth to the “drunk theory,” I may have a chance of dropping at least one intoxicated bird!