Hello Again
It's been a while since I last checked in, and a lot has happened since the last time. Made it through another winter, and without getting Covid too - thankfully, both vaccinations have come and gone, though it was a little touch and go with the second Moderna shot. The lodge chugs along toward another autumn, and the pack and I will start preparations for yet another grouse and woodcock season.
"How will this season compare to last year?" is the question I seem to get the most these days, and while I cannot give too much information yet (we will start scouting new coverts in August), I can make a prediction or two as to where we might be headed. The grouse in the picture above was strutting its stuff this week, undoubtedly in anticipation of the upcoming season - many thanks to TTL guest Lucia Hackett on taking her wonderful image.
As those of you that hunted in northern New England last autumn can probably attest, it was generally considered a very good grouse season in 2020. We had moderate weather that winter, spring and early summer, which proved to be advantageous for the broods of young grouse that hatched. These conditions bore the fruit of a plentiful crop last fall, and visions of flushing ruffed grouse and woodcock danced in our heads ...
The good news to report is that it has been much the same in 2021, and even drier here in the north country than last year. Half the normal snowfall last winter, plus a very mild April and May helped grouse survival and we had another mostly dry June to help the new crop of chicks along. There was plenty of drumming activity this spring, and early reports from some reputable sources have been favorable - broods of grouse seen here and there.
Nevertheless, I can truly be a "doubting Thomas" at times, so I'll just need to see for myself when we start our forays in to the grouse woods in a couple of weeks. As usual, we hope to find a couple new coverts to call home this fall, but we have plenty of our old standbys to fall back on if the need arises.
The dogs are all looking good - Rosie and Bode are positively chomping at the bit to hit the woods, and we will attempt to nurse 11-year old Monty through another guiding season. He looks great, and his nose is still serviceable, but he will see time with my older clients as we look to conserve his energy (and theirs).
More updates will be on the way as we start to tune up for another season.
"How will this season compare to last year?" is the question I seem to get the most these days, and while I cannot give too much information yet (we will start scouting new coverts in August), I can make a prediction or two as to where we might be headed. The grouse in the picture above was strutting its stuff this week, undoubtedly in anticipation of the upcoming season - many thanks to TTL guest Lucia Hackett on taking her wonderful image.
As those of you that hunted in northern New England last autumn can probably attest, it was generally considered a very good grouse season in 2020. We had moderate weather that winter, spring and early summer, which proved to be advantageous for the broods of young grouse that hatched. These conditions bore the fruit of a plentiful crop last fall, and visions of flushing ruffed grouse and woodcock danced in our heads ...
The good news to report is that it has been much the same in 2021, and even drier here in the north country than last year. Half the normal snowfall last winter, plus a very mild April and May helped grouse survival and we had another mostly dry June to help the new crop of chicks along. There was plenty of drumming activity this spring, and early reports from some reputable sources have been favorable - broods of grouse seen here and there.
Nevertheless, I can truly be a "doubting Thomas" at times, so I'll just need to see for myself when we start our forays in to the grouse woods in a couple of weeks. As usual, we hope to find a couple new coverts to call home this fall, but we have plenty of our old standbys to fall back on if the need arises.
The dogs are all looking good - Rosie and Bode are positively chomping at the bit to hit the woods, and we will attempt to nurse 11-year old Monty through another guiding season. He looks great, and his nose is still serviceable, but he will see time with my older clients as we look to conserve his energy (and theirs).
More updates will be on the way as we start to tune up for another season.
