Final Week
I don't think I've ever seen such changes in weather, literally in a matter of a few days, for hunting grouse here in northern New Hampshire and Vermont. My last post detailed how we had just begun dealing with 4-5" of snow in the New Hampshire uplands, slogging it out through some pretty challenging spruce cover, but conditions would quickly change yet again. It took a few days to melt entirely, but the heat wave that hit us this past weekend started last Thursday, helping us get back to good conditions for pursuing grouse.
The hunting was still pretty tough however over the last few days of last week. Again, heavy spruce cover, birds flushing at times out of trees high above us with little warning, and then much warmer temperatures by the afternoon. Thankfully last week, a few of my hunts were morning excursions only, so we didn't have to deal with the afternoon heat too much.
The hunting was still pretty tough however over the last few days of last week. Again, heavy spruce cover, birds flushing at times out of trees high above us with little warning, and then much warmer temperatures by the afternoon. Thankfully last week, a few of my hunts were morning excursions only, so we didn't have to deal with the afternoon heat too much.
Another convert - Dan was understandably elated with his first ruffed grouse last week. He'll be trying it again next year.
Slowly over the matter of a few days all of the snow melted however, and we found a few grouse here and there. All of the woodcock were gone by that point and the grouse that were left have been playing "the game" for five weeks. They are no doubt well acquainted with hunters and dogs and were well versed in getting away to safety from us.
Needless to say, bird contacts were a little harder to come by, but we were still getting some good work from mine and my clients' dogs, at least in the mornings. Usually at some point in the late morning (10 - 11 AM?) the temperature had risen to uncomfortable levels for dog and hunter alike. Both of my last days of guiding on Sunday and Monday, the temperature was at or near 70 degrees ... too hot in other words.
There is nothing I would rather not be doing when the temperatures are this high, like grouse hunting. Not only is it uncomfortable for us, it's very tough on the dogs, but fortunately we hunted in areas with plenty of flowing water for the dogs to cool off in.
Needless to say, bird contacts were a little harder to come by, but we were still getting some good work from mine and my clients' dogs, at least in the mornings. Usually at some point in the late morning (10 - 11 AM?) the temperature had risen to uncomfortable levels for dog and hunter alike. Both of my last days of guiding on Sunday and Monday, the temperature was at or near 70 degrees ... too hot in other words.
There is nothing I would rather not be doing when the temperatures are this high, like grouse hunting. Not only is it uncomfortable for us, it's very tough on the dogs, but fortunately we hunted in areas with plenty of flowing water for the dogs to cool off in.
To give you an idea of the numbers of birds contacted on Wednesday (10 grouse), Sunday (9 grouse) and Monday (12 grouse), it was tougher than most of the days that we had this season. Nearly all of the birds were found in or very near spruce cover of varying sizes and densities, as the grouse were probably seeking some thermal refuge from the rising temperatures. While a couple of grouse fell to the guns, most flew on to safety to hopefully be the seed crop for next year's flock.
We will take the next couple of weeks off, as the deer hunters get their time to enjoy the New Hampshire and Vermont woods. Weather permitting, we will continue hunting and guiding if there's not too much snow later on this month and in December. We will likely hunt areas that are more easily accessible than some of our coverts way out in the logging country we typically hunt. We shall see what Mother Nature brings us for conditions.
In the meantime, I have posted on my Trips page the available dates for next year, all of which are in Vermont. The first week of the Vermont season (September 26 - 30) is available, as well as the second week in November (9 - 12). Sorry for those looking for dates in October in New Hampshire, but you can still join my cancellation list, if interested.
We will take the next couple of weeks off, as the deer hunters get their time to enjoy the New Hampshire and Vermont woods. Weather permitting, we will continue hunting and guiding if there's not too much snow later on this month and in December. We will likely hunt areas that are more easily accessible than some of our coverts way out in the logging country we typically hunt. We shall see what Mother Nature brings us for conditions.
In the meantime, I have posted on my Trips page the available dates for next year, all of which are in Vermont. The first week of the Vermont season (September 26 - 30) is available, as well as the second week in November (9 - 12). Sorry for those looking for dates in October in New Hampshire, but you can still join my cancellation list, if interested.
My client's Spinone, Trebbio, with a hard earned Vermont ruffed grouse on our last trip of the year.
