Toxophilite Index| Toxophilite Index | Last Story |
by Lon Scott
One day in mid-March, I packed a lunch, grabbed my bow and some blunts, and headed off to the forest for a hike and some stump shooting near Mud Mountain just outside Enumclaw. As I was strolling down an abandoned logging road, I heard a large bird fly into the road behind me about 15 yards away.
I saw it was a male Blue Grouse and I paused to observe the bird, thinking I wish it were open season.
The bird immediately made purring sounds and began moving cautiously toward me. Having my camera packed away, 
I laid down my bow and began searching my pack. By the time I had my camera ready, the grouse was circling me within arms reach continuing to purr (or "growl").
As I knelt to snap a close-up of the bird, he flew right into my face and I knocked it away with my arm. I stood up quickly and it continued to circle me and attack my legs and chest several times in the next 3-4 minutes.
Once I even kicked it like a football sending it tumbling head over tail 10 feet away. But it kept coming and coming and coming. It probably made 8-10 attacks. Eventually, it got enough of me and took flight into a nearby tree.
I concluded it was acting this way since breeding season is coming on and he must have thought I was his competition. Dang! I was sure thankful this little amorous bird wasn't a bear or moose.
If that silly fool keeps playing around like this, he will likely end up as dinner for some critter.
