NH Grouse Hunting Update: 10/2
Two days in the books for the 2019 upland bird season, and it has been the typical early season story. We're encountering a good number of grouse and woodcock, but they are not giving us many chances at makable shots - especially the grouse. They have certainly lived up to their "gray ghost" moniker, as they seem to have an amazing knack of disappearing, even when they go up very close to us. The foliage is thick, so chances on all of the birds have been fleeting - there are lots of escape routes right now.
My victims these first two days of the season were Derek and Ian Bennett, neophytes to upland bird hunting in general and grouse and woodcock in particular. They found out over our two days together just how strenuous grouse hunting can be, but fortunately for them, they are firefighters in NYC, so they were in good shape to venture over hill and dale following bird dogs in search of their quarry. We had quite a morning yesterday behind Rosie, as she pointed quite a few of the 17 woodcock we moved. The guys hooked up on a woodcock each, even with the thick screen of foliage they had in their favor. Rosie made a couple nice retrieves, and our season was off to a good start. Bode got out there yesterday afternoon, and he had a couple nice grouse points as well as woodcock points. Derek took another woodcock and Ian bagged a grouse. We moved 7 grouse and 19 woodcock total yesterday, bagging four birds, and had more than a few chances on others.
Today brought slightly chillier conditions and moist too - it rained a lot last night, and that, coupled with the colder temperatures made for good scenting conditions. Monty got the call early and had a nice point on an escaping grouse, but managed to make a solid point on a woodcock that Derek got a chance on. He didn't think he hit it, but Monty came back with the timberdoodle in his mouth - yet another example of the conservation tools that bird dogs are. There were a few more chances this morning, but none as good as a grouse that rocketed out behind the guys. No shots fired and that grouse doesn't know how lucky it was. Bode ran in the afternoon and did very well on several woodcock, one of which fell to Derek's gun. We also moved some grouse too, but none of them gave the guys a realistic chance for a shot. We saw, heard, disturbed 11 grouse and 13 woodcock today, but as has already been stated, very few offered chances for shots.
All in all, the dogs have performed well over the first couple days of the season and it looks like we have colder weather moving in for the next few days. Perhaps the weather will help drop some more of the foliage, improving our chances at actually seeing grouse and woodcock ...
All in all, the dogs have performed well over the first couple days of the season and it looks like we have colder weather moving in for the next few days. Perhaps the weather will help drop some more of the foliage, improving our chances at actually seeing grouse and woodcock ...
