Forest Grouse

Wild Pursuits Guiding

This is a must do trip for any grouse enthusiasts. Hunting the wild Forests of northern Sweden is a world class experience. Five species of grouse live in this area and each one can give hunters its own unique challenges and achievements. This fully guided hunting adventure, provides both rifle and shotgun sporting opportunities that are as good as it gets.

The Capercaillie, the king of the Forest, is the largest of the grouse species. This iconic bird reigns supreme at the top of most grouse hunters lists. The area that we guide have high numbers of Capercaillie including some huge trophy males. The sound of these gigantic grouses wing beats fill the silent forests of Lapland as they explode from cover, it’s a sound you won’t soon forget.

Black grouse are also numerous in all the forest areas we hunt, as beautiful as they are elusive these birds really make you work for your prize. At certain times of year large numbers of black grouse will come together. Seeing groups of over fifty black grouse sitting together is a sight that really gets the heart pumping. Using a mixture of walked up, stalking and driving techniques your guides will give you the best opportunity to bag yourself some of these fantastic birds.

Other species that can be found in almost all of the areas that we hunt is the Willow grouse, ptarmigan and hazel hen. The willow grouse can turn up anywhere during these excursions. Willow grouse covey’s always cause excitement when they start burst through the trees, and have one lifted there might be more still pressing. In the more mountainous areas we hunt, Ptarmigan can be numerous and because of the topography it will challenge even the most experienced of walked up hunters. The little hazle hen are incredible little grouse and it is alway wise to keep an eye up in the trees whilst walking. Often birds will buzz past out of nowhere giving hunters a fleeting chance as they break cover. Other times they can be heard calling, or you might walk into an area that is recognised as a likely hazel hen territory, and your guide will be able to use a flute to try and call them close into shooting range.

Our hunting areas are a mixture of private grounds and hunting club lands that are vast. This allows us to rotate our hunting so that areas are always well rested. Its also practical to have these different options, as the weather is somewhat unpredictable here at certain times of the season, and this gives us the opportunity to choose the most suitable place for each day as the weather dictates.

What to expect

Depending on the time of year greatly affects the way in which we will hunt.

During the months of late August and early September we tend to target the birds with traditional walked up shooting, with the option of using a pointing dog or spaniel to find and flush the birds. The young birds will often sit tight and allow hunters to get close and shoot them as they break from cover.

As the season moves toward autumn and the forests changes its colour, the deciduous trees drops their leaves, and the birds tend to start gradually moving into the trees. At this time of year we can experience finding the birds both on the ground and up high. This gives us the opportunity to do a mixed hunt, both walked up with shotgun and also stalked with a rifle when birds are spotted in the trees. This season last through autumn and early winter, even when the first snow has arrived.

As the snow covers more of the ground and winter gets its hold, the birds are generally found high up in the pine trees they feed on, or on the edges of the open snow covered marshes, making it a pure rifle hunt. For this we will have to use snow shoes, or more traditionally skis, to traverse the beautiful white terrain as we stalk these amazing birds now in their full winter plumage and at their finest. Stalking them like this is an old tradition in Scandinavia, and its an experience itself to be out in the winter wilderness. When a big male capercaillie is spotted up high in a pine tree, or a big covey of birds on the edge of a snow covered marsh, it is a sight that gets all hunters hearts racing.

Hospitality

During your hunting days we will stop for breaks of coffee or tea, soft drinks, chocolates and pastries. At lunch we make a fire in the forest and grill meats with sides, followed up with something sweet.

It is a very special thing to sit in the wild forests of lapland with some food and a drink by a fire and experience the sounds and sights of pure wilderness.

What to Bring

You are more than welcome to bring your own rifle and shotguns for our trips and we can help you organise this. We can also make sure that we can get the correct calibre ammo for you in the local hunting store. If you would prefer to hire guns from us for your trip that can also be organised with plenty of prior notice. Due to the different months that we guide and the subsequent changes in weather means that the cloths you will need, change greatly depending on when you come. One thing that is important throughout though is that you dress in natural colours and try to blend into the surrounding of the forrest for that time of year. The grouse species that live in this terrain are incredibly wild and have fantastic eyesight so hats and face vails are also very important.

We provide full gear lists and Itineraries with booking confirmation, but for more details please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Accommodation

The hotel is situated in the little Town of Vilhelmina, a short drive from our hunting areas. There is a sauna, fitness centre, spa and a pool. The restaurant specialises in local Swedish cuisine, and also has an outdoors terrace with a beautiful view over the large Lake.

Free wifi, TV in the rooms, and self served breakfast included. It’s a short walk to the town centre, 5 minutes walk to the Vilhelmina Museum and 8 minutes to a Sami handcraft Gallery and Museum.