Vermont Grouse Hunting Update: 11/4
Though the overall numbers of grouse that we've seen and heard this season seem to be a bit down from what it was like last year, we've had some beautiful fall days to chase them around, that's for sure. My client Brian bagged this beautiful male bird last Saturday in Vermont, as we gave our New Hampshire coverts a rest with the beginning of the muzzleloader season for deer.
Brian's brittanies Kiya, Floyd and Pink all combed the woods in pursuit of grouse and woodcock that day, and while the overall number of birds moved was one of our lower totals for this season (8 grouse and 3 woodcock), it was still a magnificent day to be out there. Crisp and cold, but plenty of sun to warm us up when needed, especially when we sat at the lunch table that day. The dogs all worked hard, but Kiya probably had the most contacts of the three dogs (4 grouse and 2 woodcock, several of which were pointed) as we worked a lot of spruce cover after the Halloween storm passed through a couple days before. Pink also had a couple of memorable points, one of which was a sticking point on a grouse (the woods were simply too tight for a shot to be taken) and another was on a woodcock that waited a bit too long before heading south. That one ended up in the back of Brian's bird hunting vest ...
Brian's brittanies Kiya, Floyd and Pink all combed the woods in pursuit of grouse and woodcock that day, and while the overall number of birds moved was one of our lower totals for this season (8 grouse and 3 woodcock), it was still a magnificent day to be out there. Crisp and cold, but plenty of sun to warm us up when needed, especially when we sat at the lunch table that day. The dogs all worked hard, but Kiya probably had the most contacts of the three dogs (4 grouse and 2 woodcock, several of which were pointed) as we worked a lot of spruce cover after the Halloween storm passed through a couple days before. Pink also had a couple of memorable points, one of which was a sticking point on a grouse (the woods were simply too tight for a shot to be taken) and another was on a woodcock that waited a bit too long before heading south. That one ended up in the back of Brian's bird hunting vest ...
Sunday brought another first for me: the chance to watch my client Chris's weimaraner Monty work the grouse woods. Monty is only two years old, and his time chasing grouse has been limited so far in his young life, but he's making progress. He started out a bit timid with the thickness of his surroundings, but he eventually started to find his way out there. To encourage his search, we went through the grouse woods right along with him and brought him promptly over to spots where grouse had flushed from. We moved 5 - 6 grouse that morning, and Monty got his fill of grouse scent we hope. He certainly acted as though he liked it.
Something else that Monty liked were the moose sheds that I kept finding while going through the woods. Three in total that morning, all from the last year or two, and I kept having to put them up in trees to discourage Monty from running around the woods with them. We'll get him out there again next year, so I'll be anxious to see what progress he has made.
Something else that Monty liked were the moose sheds that I kept finding while going through the woods. Three in total that morning, all from the last year or two, and I kept having to put them up in trees to discourage Monty from running around the woods with them. We'll get him out there again next year, so I'll be anxious to see what progress he has made.
Monty found moose antlers fascinating that day.
Learn where the areas of horizontal cover are in your coverts, and you'll probably be rewarded with a grouse or two ...
The other aspect of grouse hunting and habitat that I've been noticing is the "horizontal cover" where we have been finding some of the birds lately, as they transition to more sheltered areas to spend time. Horizontal cover includes pockets of small spruces, blowdowns, and other areas of impenetrable thickness. As the weather gets colder (our coldest weather of the season is coming this weekend), the grouse seek out more shelter from the weather. The best areas to find this is where horizontal cover is present. The vertical cover (foliage) is all gone now, so the grouse are looking elsewhere for protection - these are the areas that I would focus on for the remainder of this season.
The final guide trips of the season are coming up in the next three days, with clients that have slogged it out with me before. Let's hope we go out with a bang this year.
The final guide trips of the season are coming up in the next three days, with clients that have slogged it out with me before. Let's hope we go out with a bang this year.
