Hooter Hunting

Most Alaska hunters are familiar with the grouse and ptarmigan that inhabit the bulk of Alaska. But hooters? Hooters is a local name for blue grouse, the largest of the Alaska grouse, inhabitants of the Alaska panhandle.

Riley Woodford has written about his blue grouse hunting experiences in the most recent issue of Alaska Wildlife News:

"Blue grouse or hooters are sometimes dismissed as “dumb” birds, but that’s not my experience. My first attempt at spring hooter hunting a few years ago left my buddy and I feeling dumb, while the hooters mocked us from the trees."