How ironic this thread. Although our grouse season is closed, today was just too beautiful to pass up; 15 degrees, light wind, sun shining, and just the right amount of recent snow for good track looking. So, off I went with the dogs to some grouse cover to get us all some exercise and enjoy the day.
Near the end of the first real good cover I saw four sets of fresh grouse tracks. The dogs were working out further so I waited for them to get everything covered. Yep, they found them. When I walked in both dogs were locked up looking skyward. And away they go from about 15 feet up the tree. I am absolutely, positively sure I would not have connected with any of the four birds. It seems they are going mach 1 as soon as their feet leave the branch.
A bit later they nailed one on the ground. Now that is a different story. That bird is lucky I did not have my Parker repro. Oh well, maybe next year we'll meet again. At least the dogs had fun.
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