VT Upland Bird Hunting Update: 11/4
I'm not sure there are any explanations for how our last few days of upland bird hunting have been in New Hampshire and Vermont. Temps have been fluctuating, but the weather has mostly been pleasant for us to roam the hillsides in pursuit of grouse and woodcock. Yet, we have struggled at times to find birds and it has been frustrating to say the least.
Last Friday started off warm and humid, and we struggled to find any birds in those conditions, but a cold front started making its way in to the area in the afternoon. The cool conditions seemed to help Rocky's scenting abilities, as he found several grouse and a couple of woodcock for my client. There were a few staunch points, but only one woodcock offered a shot, which was missed.
Last Friday started off warm and humid, and we struggled to find any birds in those conditions, but a cold front started making its way in to the area in the afternoon. The cool conditions seemed to help Rocky's scenting abilities, as he found several grouse and a couple of woodcock for my client. There were a few staunch points, but only one woodcock offered a shot, which was missed.
Rocky had a good run last Friday in New Hampshire, running hard and locking down a few birds for my client. This point was on a woodcock - missed.
Saturday was a cold, blustery day in the Vermont highlands, and we found several groups of grouse in incredibly thick cover, just the kind of stuff that grouse love. Spruce was a common component of the cover, as well as ironwood - the shrubs that are impenetrable at times and really hard to get through. If you've been in it, you know what I mean.
It was a strange day, as both Bella and Rocky had some good moments, but they also had some bumps too. Perhaps the swirling wind had something to do with it, but it was a frustrating experience overall as my client only really had one decent chance on a grouse - missed. Still, we contacted somewhere around 15 grouse throughout our travels, but they seemed to come in bunches and we spent extended periods of time searching ... fruitlessly it seemed.
It was a strange day, as both Bella and Rocky had some good moments, but they also had some bumps too. Perhaps the swirling wind had something to do with it, but it was a frustrating experience overall as my client only really had one decent chance on a grouse - missed. Still, we contacted somewhere around 15 grouse throughout our travels, but they seemed to come in bunches and we spent extended periods of time searching ... fruitlessly it seemed.
Yesterday was the strangest day of all. Millie was first out of the truck, and within ten minutes we had two points on woodcock, two birds down, and two retrieves to start our day. Yes, there's still a few around in places as the conclusion of the migration is upon us, but we were surprised to find seven woodcock over the course of our day. Millie pointed the vast majority of them, and Art was able to take his limit of timberdoodles yesterday morning, which might be the latest limit in the season we've had.
The grouse? They were another thing entirely, as we only found five of them yesterday. Both Millie and Rocky worked hard, but only he was able to establish a staunch point on our last bird of the day late in the afternoon. As you might suspect, it simply walked on the other side of a clump of thick spruce, flushing away from the shooter, as they so often do.
We're in the home stretch of our guide dates, and hopefully the birds are a little more cooperative as we close it out. More updates to come ...
The grouse? They were another thing entirely, as we only found five of them yesterday. Both Millie and Rocky worked hard, but only he was able to establish a staunch point on our last bird of the day late in the afternoon. As you might suspect, it simply walked on the other side of a clump of thick spruce, flushing away from the shooter, as they so often do.
We're in the home stretch of our guide dates, and hopefully the birds are a little more cooperative as we close it out. More updates to come ...
