Capercaillie and Black Grouse Combo Hunt in Austrian Alps

The capercaillie and black grouse are very special to the Austrian Mountains. The rarity and uniqueness of this hunt mean it is on every hunter’s list. The two birds are part of the grouse family and are hunted in the month of May during which time they are doing their calls and dances. The hunts begin in the early morning and the stalk begins a few hundred meters from where thorough pre-scouting has located a potential bird. In the case of the capercaillie, they are one of the most alert birds to hunt, the exception being the few seconds they sound their mating call. Hunters progress slowly and quietly into an appropriate range. However, one false step will lead to a failed hunt. It is for this reason as well as the few permits available each year that the Capercaillie is one of Austria’s Most Elusive Birds.

The hunt for black grouse progresses in a similar way. The male black grouse gather on some of the last remaining patches of snow above the treeline and do a mating dance. The spectacle is something that the hunter most slowly stalks his way to, or the hunter waits in a perfectly-placed blind before the sun even thinks about rising. The accommodations are world-class. Stay in either a 16th-century manor house or one of the beautiful guesthouses that scatter the mountains and valleys. Roe Deer can be added to this hunt for a very reason reasonable price as well starting May 15th. The season for the capercaillie and black grouse runs from the beginning to the end of May. Due to the difficulty of the hunt, 5 days is to be recommended.