December Birds
Late season grouse hunting. It can be feast or, far more often, famine, for us late season grouse hunters. There are fewer birds at this time of the season, and those that we find seem to be well versed in the art of concealment and escape, but every now and then one goes up a little too close and becomes a much desired dinner guest. Bode admired this bird after first tracking it, and then retrieving it after it flushed beside me. A "reflex shot" later, it became another victim of the 28 gauge.
However, when the weather is uncharacteristically autumn-like at a time of the season when we should be getting used to winter in the north country, it forces one to get out there another time or two. Less than three weeks left in the New Hampshire and Vermont grouse hunting seasons (both close on 12/31), so we're in the stretch drive. There's only so long that this weather will hold out though ... eventually Old Man Winter and Mother Nature are going to conspire against us.
However, when the weather is uncharacteristically autumn-like at a time of the season when we should be getting used to winter in the north country, it forces one to get out there another time or two. Less than three weeks left in the New Hampshire and Vermont grouse hunting seasons (both close on 12/31), so we're in the stretch drive. There's only so long that this weather will hold out though ... eventually Old Man Winter and Mother Nature are going to conspire against us.
So, we go to the woods these days in the hopes of seeing some birds, working with the dogs again, and hopefully seeing some points before the end of the season. In other words, when there's no snow on the ground in December, it's almost exactly like hunting in early November. The woodcock are now long gone, so it's down to the most basic and rewarding upland bird hunting, for me: wild (and wily) grouse.
The number of birds moved at this time of the season is usually modest: six in three hours today, three in two hours of hunting yesterday, and six grouse in a session a couple of weeks ago. Mileage will be comparable to an early season excursion, so expect to walk plenty in your search for late season birds.
While it may not look like winter out there at the moment, it certainly feels like it. With temps in the mid-20's, and a biting wind at times, it's been plenty cold in our excursions, and certainly a reminder that winter could come in full force any moment. To combat the effects of the cold, multiple base layers, winter hat, heavy socks, and hand warmers in the shooting gloves make the hunting tolerable, and you can always go uphill in case none of that is working.
The number of birds moved at this time of the season is usually modest: six in three hours today, three in two hours of hunting yesterday, and six grouse in a session a couple of weeks ago. Mileage will be comparable to an early season excursion, so expect to walk plenty in your search for late season birds.
While it may not look like winter out there at the moment, it certainly feels like it. With temps in the mid-20's, and a biting wind at times, it's been plenty cold in our excursions, and certainly a reminder that winter could come in full force any moment. To combat the effects of the cold, multiple base layers, winter hat, heavy socks, and hand warmers in the shooting gloves make the hunting tolerable, and you can always go uphill in case none of that is working.
Millie was well camouflaged on this pheasant point a couple weeks ago. It was a "bonus" bird for us, and she was rewarded for her staunch point on it.
Millie had a good session during her time in the woods this day. She pointed the pheasant, and flushed the grouse back at me for a makable shot. She's still a work in progress.
For the dogs, winter hunting can be tough on them too, as there's plenty of ice out there for them to slip and slide on. There is also the danger of frozen water bodies, and dogs need to respond quickly to commands to avoid such pitfalls. It's also easy for dogs to get dehydrated during these late season hunts, so handlers need to be diligent in giving the dogs water as usual.
One of the more remarkable aspects of late season grouse hunting is just how quiet it is out there. As most bird hunters have vacated the woods for the year, there are literally no shots heard from other hunters. It's just you, the dogs maneuvering through the cover, and maybe a bell ringing or beeper going off. Now is a good time to scout out new areas or to finally pull over and check that covert that you've been driving by all season and never stopped to look at. Late season is a great time to get a head start on next year.
One common denominator with grouse cover at this time of year is that it's usually thick, and dominated by "horizontal cover". Blowdowns, areas of spruce and thickets are all a hallmark of winter time grouse cover. If you know the food sources in these covers, all the better, but as in the case of the bird I shot today (whose crop was loaded with catkins), a predominance of bud and catkin-bearing hardwoods might be all the food sources you need.
There might be a couple more days to get out in the woods this week, and then it looks like winter arrives in earnest this Friday and Saturday. That could be the end of the grouse season for us ...
One of the more remarkable aspects of late season grouse hunting is just how quiet it is out there. As most bird hunters have vacated the woods for the year, there are literally no shots heard from other hunters. It's just you, the dogs maneuvering through the cover, and maybe a bell ringing or beeper going off. Now is a good time to scout out new areas or to finally pull over and check that covert that you've been driving by all season and never stopped to look at. Late season is a great time to get a head start on next year.
One common denominator with grouse cover at this time of year is that it's usually thick, and dominated by "horizontal cover". Blowdowns, areas of spruce and thickets are all a hallmark of winter time grouse cover. If you know the food sources in these covers, all the better, but as in the case of the bird I shot today (whose crop was loaded with catkins), a predominance of bud and catkin-bearing hardwoods might be all the food sources you need.
There might be a couple more days to get out in the woods this week, and then it looks like winter arrives in earnest this Friday and Saturday. That could be the end of the grouse season for us ...
