The Bird Hunting Has Been "Hot"
Okay, so you have fallen victim to a snappy headline that may have piqued your interest, and while this approach has succeeded in getting you to read on, it is, actually, technically the truth.
First off, the grouse and woodcock hunting has been pretty good, let's say better than average, so far in 2018, but the hunting was also literally "hot" the last two days. Our hottest temperatures of the month in fact, and while it took its toll on us hunters and the dogs that actually do all of the work, it didn't seem to affect the bird hunting too much.
We had two good days of hunting, with the best action both days occurring in the morning hours when the woods were slightly cooler. With the temperatures peaking in the low to mid-70's both days, the mornings felt much cooler in the 60's when we began our trips in to the woods. Along for the journey behind bird dogs was Guy Minor, a veteran from last year, and a very dedicated woodcock hunter. Yes, that's right ... a woodcock specialist. Guy will certainly take grouse as well, but he relishes pursuing the little russet fellows.
First off, the grouse and woodcock hunting has been pretty good, let's say better than average, so far in 2018, but the hunting was also literally "hot" the last two days. Our hottest temperatures of the month in fact, and while it took its toll on us hunters and the dogs that actually do all of the work, it didn't seem to affect the bird hunting too much.
We had two good days of hunting, with the best action both days occurring in the morning hours when the woods were slightly cooler. With the temperatures peaking in the low to mid-70's both days, the mornings felt much cooler in the 60's when we began our trips in to the woods. Along for the journey behind bird dogs was Guy Minor, a veteran from last year, and a very dedicated woodcock hunter. Yes, that's right ... a woodcock specialist. Guy will certainly take grouse as well, but he relishes pursuing the little russet fellows.
That first morning, he didn't have to wait too long before he had some timberdoodle action, thanks to the hard work of Monty. Monty was "on" that morning, finding and pointing eight woodcock in a relatively small area, with Guy taking his limit by around 10 AM. We also moved a fair amount of grouse as well - a pair then a group of three. No chance on any of them as they got behind vegetation very fast with no opportunity for a shot. Bode was next up for a couple of hours, and with the rain falling steadily and the temps rising slightly, Guy took a grouse crossing a logging trail just a bit too late. With Bode and I in the woods to its left, and Guy walking the trail, it had waited until the last moment to flush, figuring that the more immediate danger was to its left. It made the wrong choice in flying to the right, once again confirming my belief that most grouse are taken after making bad decisions.
Rosie finally got her shot in the afternoon and had some good moments, pointing a couple of grouse that went on to escape unscathed, but by then the temperatures had risen to mid-70's level and the scenting conditions were not what they were earlier on that morning. The total for Tuesday was 17 grouse and 9 woodcock harassed - not bad for a warm day of bird hunting.
Wednesday started out even warmer, with a heavy stillness to the 65 degree air. Rosie (left) got the call first and had a great two hours, moving five grouse and eight woodcock . The vast majority of the woodcock were pointed, but this was your typical "woodcock cover" - thick, thick, thick. Guy had a couple of chances, hooking up on one of them, but most just flushed away from us to be pursued another day. Rosie exhibited some great restraint, relocating slowly (almost slinking along) on a few of her points. It was great to watch as she continues along in her development as a bird dog. She even made a retrieve on her woodcock, a first for her. Last year she was merely pointing them dead, but she has apparently decided it is much more fun to pick them up and bring them to us.
Bode ran next and did very well, with a sticking point on a grouse in heavy cover that escaped without a visual. He also rooted out a pair of birds, one of which flew across the trail where Guy was waiting - another young grouse in the vest. Bode also had a staunch point on a woodcock that flushed a long way down a tree line before crossing the trail - too long of a shot for Guy to take.
Monty ran anchor yesterday and while the day was at its hottest (75+), he still did pretty well. We moved eight grouse we believe, several of which he pointed. One of these grouse made the mistake of flying down a tree line as Guy was emerging from the woods toward the road following one of Monty's points where a bird had flushed ahead of us. He picked up on it as it sailed through the woods and brought it down with one shot. Monty bounded in to the cover and brought it out a little later - the third dog that day to taste feathers.
Monty ran anchor yesterday and while the day was at its hottest (75+), he still did pretty well. We moved eight grouse we believe, several of which he pointed. One of these grouse made the mistake of flying down a tree line as Guy was emerging from the woods toward the road following one of Monty's points where a bird had flushed ahead of us. He picked up on it as it sailed through the woods and brought it down with one shot. Monty bounded in to the cover and brought it out a little later - the third dog that day to taste feathers.
Our total for yesterday was 16 grouse and 9 woodcock molested, with a few making it in to the game vest. Pretty good for the hottest day of the season so far. In our travels, we also saw quite a few grouse "in transit" - walking or running across roads, and several flying across roads. This is the time of the season where you find young grouse in some unexpected places as they search for their own territories to inhabit. To top off our day yesterday, we also heard drumming close by - probably a young male setting up shop and reminding prospective interlopers to stay out.
Plenty of rain falling as I write this, with a drop in the temperatures and it looks like conditions will remain more seasonal as we go forward. Good news for us hunters and our dogs that are the stars of the show. We should also lose some of our leaf cover with this weather, which should increase our shooting percentages ... right?
Plenty of rain falling as I write this, with a drop in the temperatures and it looks like conditions will remain more seasonal as we go forward. Good news for us hunters and our dogs that are the stars of the show. We should also lose some of our leaf cover with this weather, which should increase our shooting percentages ... right?
