Two Days
Charles Dickens couldn't have written it any better: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...". Much like his opening of A Tale Of Two Cities, we just had two days of grouse and woodcock hunting that exemplify that oft quoted line. The weather couldn't have been any more different from Tuesday to Wednesday, and the hunting was the best of the season so far. Nevertheless, each day had its challenges for my clients and I.
The picture above sums up the differences in the two days. The left side of the image is from Tuesday, a blustery, rainy and snowy day that topped out in the upper 30's. It was cold, and we were wet for most of it, but the hunting was excellent. The right side of the image is from yesterday, sunny with light winds and approximately 55 degrees. In other words, the type of day that grouse hunters dream of. The birds? Yeah, they were there too, sometimes flying up ahead of us, but we had quite a few sticking points yesterday too.
The Ramels were my victims again (they've been with me from the start of my guiding experiences), and we've always had a good time enjoying the woods, the work of the dogs, as well as discussing our wonder at the birds that we pursue. Over the course of the two days, we hunted around ten hours, roaming the hillsides in search of birds, and we encountered approximately 50 birds in those two days. The official number was 42 grouse and 8 woodcock moved, but many of them were pointed birds - 27 in the chilly Tuesday conditions and 23 more yesterday on an idyllic autumn day.
The picture above sums up the differences in the two days. The left side of the image is from Tuesday, a blustery, rainy and snowy day that topped out in the upper 30's. It was cold, and we were wet for most of it, but the hunting was excellent. The right side of the image is from yesterday, sunny with light winds and approximately 55 degrees. In other words, the type of day that grouse hunters dream of. The birds? Yeah, they were there too, sometimes flying up ahead of us, but we had quite a few sticking points yesterday too.
The Ramels were my victims again (they've been with me from the start of my guiding experiences), and we've always had a good time enjoying the woods, the work of the dogs, as well as discussing our wonder at the birds that we pursue. Over the course of the two days, we hunted around ten hours, roaming the hillsides in search of birds, and we encountered approximately 50 birds in those two days. The official number was 42 grouse and 8 woodcock moved, but many of them were pointed birds - 27 in the chilly Tuesday conditions and 23 more yesterday on an idyllic autumn day.
Rosie had a lot of points over the last two days, and the wet, cool weather helped the scenting conditions tremendously. Nearing five-years old, she's in her prime.
Rosie was the star of the hunts, and this is becoming a theme this year. Her high energy attack of the grouse woods is mesmerizing, and when she gets a point, it is really something to watch. Within the first hour on Tuesday morning, both Chris and Jim had a grouse in the back of their vests, thanks to Rosie's staunch points.
Late that morning, we ran Bode and Chris's brittany spaniel Chotsie together. The weather had turned very snowy and blustery by that point, and while we had several good points from Bode, far more of the birds flushed wildly, perhaps extra skittish from the blowing winds. Chris and Jim each scratched down another grouse, and then we recovered a cripple with Chotsie's help - likely wounded from another hunter, it couldn't fly to safety and we took it home with us.
By lunchtime, we had five grouse in the bag and we looked forward to getting out of the weather and grabbing a hard earned lunch. Unfortunately, the boys had locked the keys in their truck, and the spare key (always take one with you!) was back at the cabin. Our only option was to load up and drive back to the lodge to get the key and head back. Yes, we had a couple hours of "bonding time" in the cab - 3 men, two dogs (Monty and Bode were riding in the dog box in the back of the truck, thankfully), and a healthy assortment of guns and gear.
Late that morning, we ran Bode and Chris's brittany spaniel Chotsie together. The weather had turned very snowy and blustery by that point, and while we had several good points from Bode, far more of the birds flushed wildly, perhaps extra skittish from the blowing winds. Chris and Jim each scratched down another grouse, and then we recovered a cripple with Chotsie's help - likely wounded from another hunter, it couldn't fly to safety and we took it home with us.
By lunchtime, we had five grouse in the bag and we looked forward to getting out of the weather and grabbing a hard earned lunch. Unfortunately, the boys had locked the keys in their truck, and the spare key (always take one with you!) was back at the cabin. Our only option was to load up and drive back to the lodge to get the key and head back. Yes, we had a couple hours of "bonding time" in the cab - 3 men, two dogs (Monty and Bode were riding in the dog box in the back of the truck, thankfully), and a healthy assortment of guns and gear.
This turned out to be a temporary setback however. When we got back to the area in mid-afternoon, Monty got his chance, and he was amazing. In 1.5 hours, he managed to have great points on seven grouse and one woodcock. The highlights were a pair of grouse that he pointed and a separate group of three grouse - good stuff for the old boy. Chris shot one of a pair of tightly holding grouse as well as the woodcock as a result of Monty's good work, and we decided to call it a day, satisfied with the day's events.
Yesterday dawned much differently. Clouds and low 40's early on gave way to sunny conditions with a light breeze and 50 degrees by late morning, starkly different from the day before. Rosie ran hard and had another good morning, contacting 11 grouse and 2 woodcock, most before 10 o'clock. Some were pointed, a few were wild flushes, but most of the birds did not offer realistic chances for Jim and Chris. There were a couple though ... Jim made a nice shot on a woodcock over one of Rosie's great points, and then Chris made an impressive shot on a low flying grouse that nearly made it to cover. Not to be for that bird, and we had a grouse and a woodcock in the vest.
That's when Chris's hip started acting up, and he was in a considerable amount of pain. Even the rush of a beautiful morning with great dogs and birds flying couldn't lessen Chris's condition. We decided to get him back to the truck and then back to the cabin to relax and stretch out. Jim then went out with me in the afternoon and after a slow start with Bode - not his fault, it appeared that we were hunting areas that had been gone over with a fine toothed comb earlier that day - Rosie provided a great finish.
That's when Chris's hip started acting up, and he was in a considerable amount of pain. Even the rush of a beautiful morning with great dogs and birds flying couldn't lessen Chris's condition. We decided to get him back to the truck and then back to the cabin to relax and stretch out. Jim then went out with me in the afternoon and after a slow start with Bode - not his fault, it appeared that we were hunting areas that had been gone over with a fine toothed comb earlier that day - Rosie provided a great finish.
Typical northern New Hampshire grouse cover. Or, woods that only a grouse hunter could love ...
More amazing points, quite a few birds that held well, and one that flew right - down the trail it went, and Jim had plenty of time to make a good shot on the grouse. There were lots of others that flushed in to deeper cover, and perhaps we'll find them another day. We moved 19 grouse and 4 woodcock total yesterday - a good amount considering there was a large amount of cover we were unable to hunt in the morning.
Hopefully Chris's hip condition gets better and we're able to get out there again next year, and maybe the birds will be flying the right way again ...
Hopefully Chris's hip condition gets better and we're able to get out there again next year, and maybe the birds will be flying the right way again ...
