Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix) is a metallic-glossy game bird from the pheasant family (Phasianidae). Black grouse is larger than a pheasant and half the size of a capercaille/ wood grouse.
The male measures around 60 cm and weighs around 1.5 kg. The black grouse’s tail is about 20 cm in size. Its coloring is metallic-glossy. On the dorsal part it is bluish, underneath rather blackish. A characteristic feature is the red wattle above the eyes.
The black grouse’s tail reaches 1/3 of its body size and is colored black with a white center that looks like a white flag.
Dimorphism in black grouse is significant. The female is one-third smaller than the male and is straw-brown to gray in color with black striping, which makes her almost invisible in her natural environment. Especially when sitting on a clutch of eggs.
Black grouse inhabits the northern hemisphere. More precisely, mainly mountainous areas with heathlands with scattered deciduous trees, conifers and shrubs. It also inhabits open mountain meadows with a mosaic arrangement of heathlands.
Black grouse in earlier times (first half of the twentieth century) occurred in almost most of the Czech Republic, but with the increasing intensity of agriculture and mainly the drainage of wetlands through land reclamation, there was a rapid decline of this very sensitive game to the environment in the seventies.
Its homeland today has thus become the mountains (Šumava, Krkonoše, Krušné hory, etc.), where the last viable populations of black grouse remain.
On the other hand, for example in Austria, or in Scandinavia, or Russia, black grouse is abundant game and is commonly hunted without threatening its existence. It simply has ideal conditions for its hidden life there.
Black grouse is a game bird that feeds on various berries, grass and tree seeds, and insects. Especially young black grouse chicks need plenty of insects for their survival.
The most interesting period of black grouse in terms of behavior is its spring lek, which lasts mainly from March to May. During this period it is also hunted.
Black grouse engage in fierce battles with their rivals during the spring lek, which earned them the nickname “black knights”.
Before dawn, black grouse begin to gather at the lek, where at dawn they begin to display their typical vocal behavior, which resembles various bubbling.
Black grouse fight among themselves. They jump up, have spread tails and drooping wings. It is a demonstration of strength. Winner takes all. Or rather most of the hens, which gather at the lek somewhat later than the males. He mates with the hens he has defended.
Black grouse are polygamous. One black grouse can handle multiple hens, as most species of game birds are set up.
After successful fertilization, the hen lays a clutch of 6 – 10 yellow-brown eggs in a nest on the ground. After about 25 days, chicks hatch, which are capable of flight as early as the 10th day after hatching. They feed mainly on insects, which are vital for them in the first weeks of life.
The male does not participate in raising the young. He serves only to fertilize the hens. The hen is with the chicks until about August to September, when the families break up and divide into flocks by sex.
Black grouse is hunted only abroad. In the Czech Republic it is strictly protected. The nearest possible country where it is hunted is Austria.
It is hunted during the spring lek. Best in May.
Hunters hunt black grouse in the early morning hours when black grouse are lekking.
Hunting black grouse depends on the country where it can be hunted.
For example, in Russia, dogs are used for hunting, which flush the black grouse and the black grouse perches on a tree. At that moment, the hunter must get within shooting distance to be able to harvest the black grouse from the tree.
In Austria, hunters hunt in mountainous areas with clear terrain, so they can carefully stalk the black grouse during its lek.
For hunting black grouse you need suitable clothing that will best cover you in blending with the terrain.
For a gun you can use a shotgun or small-bore rifle calibers.
Shot sizes can be 3.5 to 4.0 mm. For rifle caliber it can be 22LR, or other low-power calibers – 243 Win., 5.6×57, 5.6×50 Mag., 223 Rem., 222 Rem., 22 Hornet, etc. The most important thing, however, is the choice of ammo. Given that most hunters want black grouse for taxidermy, full metal jacket bullets are suitable, which do not damage the trophy.
The black grouse trophy is the black grouse itself as such. Most hunters have it stuffed to commemorate the beautiful hunts of this imposing small game.
We can prepare whole black grouse in a very similar way to pheasant. Black grouse should be made on root vegetables and larded with bacon. Old cookbooks have precisely described recipes that you can use if you get to hunt this bird.
We hope you found this article useful!
Your Huntastic Team
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