NH Grouse Hunting Update: 11/6
Yes, the first snowfall of the season was actually today, which is late this year. Traditionally, we usually have our first snow around October 20, so we have been pretty lucky in the weather department this season. Lots of rain, but it has been well timed (at night, or on my "off" days), but the temperatures have mostly been mild. It was cold today however with the gusty wind, but the dogs still did a good job of finding birds and pointing them.
Monty was up to his old tricks today ...
Monty was first out of the truck, and teamed up with Matt's pointer Brutus, they combed the hillside in search of grouse and woodcock. Both dogs had their moments, but the only bird of the day to be taken was a grouse that Monty pointed and retrieved. It was Monty's first action in two weeks since his shoulder injury, but he looked healed up and hunted hard this morning. Unfortunately for the birds, he'll get another chance tomorrow ...
Bode and Sadie ran next and Bode did a good job, pointing several woodcock and a grouse in his time out there, but none of the birds fell to the guns. The conditions were challenging to say the least - lots of wind and the snow was coming down sideways at times. After lunch, we worked a road edge and managed to have four grouse flushes, but the birds still eluded my hunters.
Finally, Rosie got a couple of hours in at the end of the day, and she ran in to four grouse in a couple of different coverts, pointing all of them. Chris got shots at three of them, and while only one bird offered a truly good opportunity, all of them managed to escape unscathed. Rosie has been bringing a lot of energy every outing and she has been a joy to hunt behind and handle this season.
Finally, Rosie got a couple of hours in at the end of the day, and she ran in to four grouse in a couple of different coverts, pointing all of them. Chris got shots at three of them, and while only one bird offered a truly good opportunity, all of them managed to escape unscathed. Rosie has been bringing a lot of energy every outing and she has been a joy to hunt behind and handle this season.
Yesterday was a good day as well, surprisingly with nearly the same amount of woodcock moved as grouse. I say surprisingly because most years, our timberdoodles have migrated already, but that doesn't seem to be the case in all of our coverts. Rosie found eight of them, in a short amount of time at the end of the day yesterday - two woodcock fell to Chris and Jon over Rosie's staunch points. The highlight of the day however, was Chris's pointer Sadie's point, track and retrieve of a grouse that Matt had shot in an area of roadside spruce. It was excellent work, and wonderful to witness.
Tomorrow is the final guide trip of the season, and it looks like we'll be doing it in the snow (3 - 6" possibly). We'll see what effect that has on the birds and hopefully we can have a good day to close out the 2019 schedule.
Rosie was a machine yesterday in her time out there, contacting 2 grouse and 8 woodcock in an hour or so. All the woodcock were pointed.
Brutus had some good moments in the grouse woods on Tuesday.
Chris moves in on Milo's point on Tuesday. He worked the woods thoroughly that day.
Rosie with yet another grouse point on Wednesday. She's had a great season.
