NH Grouse Hunting Update: 10/17
The 'upland double": Peter, with his first grouse and woodcock ever taken, with the assistance of Rosie.
Rocky relishes his first Vermont ruffed grouse.
That's Rosie ... on point again. She had quite a few of them this morning and afternoon, as she located a good number of woodcock and a couple of grouse as well. She hunted hard and under control today in the New Hampshire uplands and my client Peter managed to scratch down his first grouse and woodcock ever with her help.
Edges with spruce proved to be pretty good for us today, as we have had some intermittent moisture lately. The thought here is that the birds are enjoying a respite from the rain under that spruce cover, and that seemed to be the case today. Both of my hunters had several good chances to take birds, but only two fell to the guns.
In the end, we moved 6 grouse and 17 woodcock for the day, and we'll be back at it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that ... You get it - this is the sweet spot of the grouse and woodcock season, and we're going to be out there as often as possible. Most of the leaves are off the trees now, the visibility is the best it's been, and the temps are perfect for hunting for man and dog alike. We'll enjoy these conditions as long as we can because they probably will be fleeting.
Millie also ran today, and while she had a great session last Saturday, pointing four woodcock for my clients in a short time out there, she did not build on that effort today. She managed to point several woodcock, none of which offered good chances for my clients, but there were a few bumps as well, and truth be told, there was a tremendous amount of chalk in the area we were hunting. There was old chalk and recent chalk, as well as the woodcock themselves - a lot going on, in other words, and maybe it was too much for Millie to handle.
Edges with spruce proved to be pretty good for us today, as we have had some intermittent moisture lately. The thought here is that the birds are enjoying a respite from the rain under that spruce cover, and that seemed to be the case today. Both of my hunters had several good chances to take birds, but only two fell to the guns.
In the end, we moved 6 grouse and 17 woodcock for the day, and we'll be back at it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that ... You get it - this is the sweet spot of the grouse and woodcock season, and we're going to be out there as often as possible. Most of the leaves are off the trees now, the visibility is the best it's been, and the temps are perfect for hunting for man and dog alike. We'll enjoy these conditions as long as we can because they probably will be fleeting.
Millie also ran today, and while she had a great session last Saturday, pointing four woodcock for my clients in a short time out there, she did not build on that effort today. She managed to point several woodcock, none of which offered good chances for my clients, but there were a few bumps as well, and truth be told, there was a tremendous amount of chalk in the area we were hunting. There was old chalk and recent chalk, as well as the woodcock themselves - a lot going on, in other words, and maybe it was too much for Millie to handle.
Another "first" this week, but this time for Rocky, Bella's brother from Rosie's litter. We managed to take his first ruffed grouse in Vermont yesterday, as he got extremely "birdy", finally flushing a grouse that flew in to my shot pattern. He retrieved it and ran around proudly with his bird afterward. Though there was no point, he should be in fine form next year when my clients and I are chasing him through the grouse woods.
In addition to this, Bella pointed two more woodcock yesterday, one of which made it in to the game pouch. She did the same thing as the other day: point, relocate, point, relocate, flush. She seemed to hold her points a little longer than she did last week and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that there was a bird nearby.
Both pups are doing well for such a young age and it seems like they will be mainstays of the guiding operation as soon as next year.
In addition to this, Bella pointed two more woodcock yesterday, one of which made it in to the game pouch. She did the same thing as the other day: point, relocate, point, relocate, flush. She seemed to hold her points a little longer than she did last week and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that there was a bird nearby.
Both pups are doing well for such a young age and it seems like they will be mainstays of the guiding operation as soon as next year.
