NH Grouse & Woodcock Hunting Update: 10/8/2018
So we're a full week in to the New Hampshire grouse and woodcock hunting season and those of you that follow our statistical tote board of flushes, contacts and kills have probably noticed that we while we have been harassing a good number of birds throughout this first week, we have very little to show for our efforts in the "grouse and woodcock taken" category.
The usual excuses are there of course, as they always will be when it involves grouse hunting, but the primary culprit in our lack of shooting success has been the abundant leaf cover that still exists in the covers that we're hunting. That is to be expected early on in every grouse season, and last year I really thought it was worse than this, but it has been no picnic getting through our covers this year either. Perhaps we are better off with machetes rather than shotguns?
The usual excuses are there of course, as they always will be when it involves grouse hunting, but the primary culprit in our lack of shooting success has been the abundant leaf cover that still exists in the covers that we're hunting. That is to be expected early on in every grouse season, and last year I really thought it was worse than this, but it has been no picnic getting through our covers this year either. Perhaps we are better off with machetes rather than shotguns?
Don't get me wrong ... the foliage has been spectacular this year, but there's just been too much of it for us to get decent chances to throw volleys at the birds. In speaking with other guides and guests at Tall Timber, the story is much the same: the birds are present, but the chances to take them rarely are. The numbers have been steady - 18 grouse and 10 woodcock moved on Friday, 9 grouse and 16 woodcock moved on Saturday, and 10 grouse and 2 woodcock moved yesterday morning. Better than average to this point in the season. Let's hope some stormy and windy weather comes along at some point soon ...
The good news is that we have not heard many shots of other hunters in adjacent covers either, and there were plenty of hunters in the woods over the holiday weekend. Confirmation of my theories? Let's hope so. It was my pleasure this weekend to hunt with Matt Brewster and his son Parker. At the tender age of nine, Parker has accompanied Matt and I for two years now, often lending pertinent analysis and observations during our treks through the woods. He's not carrying a gun yet, but I think we have a grouse hunter in the making with the young "Birdman". We had a great time together and I look forward to next year already ...
The work of the dogs has been consistently good due to some good scenting conditions - moist and cool is always a good combination for the dogs to do their work. Bode, Rosie and Monty all had good moments on grouse and woodcock on Friday and Saturday. Yesterday morning, I was able to follow my client Brian Fradette and his excellent Brittanies through the grouse woods - Kiya and Pink (left, on one of her many grouse points yesterday morning) put on a great exhibition, pointing the vast majority of the ten grouse and two woodcock that they encountered. They work close, with good patterning, and handled their grouse delicately, but no birds fell to Brian's gun. Even with the great dog work, only two of the birds offered the hint of a shot - that's what it's been like lately.
