Season Prediction
That's Bode yesterday morning, deep in some thick cover, on point. Thankfully, it was a woodcock that he was on, one that let me walk right past it, the way woodcock sometimes do. When I released him from his point, he sprinted right to where the bird would take off from, and hopefully that bird will be around for us to chase in a month or so.
It was the first run of the summer for Bode, and he did well after a less than stellar start. The first bird he encountered was a woodcock that he seemed to run right over, but then he started getting in to grouse, pointing a pair staunchly and then following up with another pair close by. He then encountered a brood of five grouse or so, and he stopped to flush when they started popping off. Then he redeemed himself with a couple of nice woodcock points before bumping one more on our way out of the cover.
I thought it was over as we headed down the road toward the truck, but Bode went on a staunch point just off the road. I climbed in to the cover and saw a male ruff, only 15 feet away, with his ruff flared out. I took a couple of steps and he sailed out to be pursued another day.
It was the first run of the summer for Bode, and he did well after a less than stellar start. The first bird he encountered was a woodcock that he seemed to run right over, but then he started getting in to grouse, pointing a pair staunchly and then following up with another pair close by. He then encountered a brood of five grouse or so, and he stopped to flush when they started popping off. Then he redeemed himself with a couple of nice woodcock points before bumping one more on our way out of the cover.
I thought it was over as we headed down the road toward the truck, but Bode went on a staunch point just off the road. I climbed in to the cover and saw a male ruff, only 15 feet away, with his ruff flared out. I took a couple of steps and he sailed out to be pursued another day.
It was simply perfect conditions for being in the woods and running dogs the last two mornings. Crisp fall days are just ahead, and it seems like we may have more grouse to chase around in 2024.
Yesterday morning was a great day of scouting for the "older" dogs in my pack - Bode, Rosie and Millie combined to find around 25 grouse and 7 woodcock in about four hours. They each found at least one brood of grouse, and did a good job of hunting close and holding point for the most part. It wasn't perfect as they showed some rust at times, but it was an enjoyable morning in the woods with the dogs. The weather for working our four--legged friends the last two mornings was perfect too - cool enough to keep us all refreshed and obviously good scenting conditions for the canines.
This morning was a tougher go for Rocky and Bella, but they ran hard in what looked to be perfect cover - sometimes you're just in the wrong part of it, as our north country logging cuts can be massive. I'm sure there were birds somewhere there, so we may go back to try a different part of it. Bella managed to find one brood of six grouse or so (we were headed uphill, and so was the breeze behind us), and then sniffed out and broke on another grouse way up a hillside cut. She's learning, and grouse can be notoriously difficult even for seasoned dogs, so she gets a little slack.
This morning was a tougher go for Rocky and Bella, but they ran hard in what looked to be perfect cover - sometimes you're just in the wrong part of it, as our north country logging cuts can be massive. I'm sure there were birds somewhere there, so we may go back to try a different part of it. Bella managed to find one brood of six grouse or so (we were headed uphill, and so was the breeze behind us), and then sniffed out and broke on another grouse way up a hillside cut. She's learning, and grouse can be notoriously difficult even for seasoned dogs, so she gets a little slack.
As for how the hunting season might play out, my suspicion is that we should have a better season on grouse than we did last year, which was one of the toughest we've had in a while. Last year's torrential early summer rains combined with cold temperatures led to a lot of chick mortality, but we did not have those problems this year. The population seems to have rebounded somewhat, as the brood sizes have been larger this summer (4+ seems to be what we're seeing) than last year.
In a few weeks, most of the broods will break up as the dispersal takes place - the young males looking to establish kingdoms of their own, and the females trying to survive and eventually looking for good brood rearing habitat. However, it's feast or famine for us right now when we're out there - you can walk a long way without seeing anything and then suddenly come in to a pile of them. That aspect should change once October hits - birds will be spread out here and there, and hopefully our dogs point most of them.
In a few weeks, most of the broods will break up as the dispersal takes place - the young males looking to establish kingdoms of their own, and the females trying to survive and eventually looking for good brood rearing habitat. However, it's feast or famine for us right now when we're out there - you can walk a long way without seeing anything and then suddenly come in to a pile of them. That aspect should change once October hits - birds will be spread out here and there, and hopefully our dogs point most of them.
Rosie points a grouse in New Hampshire yesterday morning. Displaying a little rust, it won't take long for her to be in peak form this fall.
