Generally speaking grouse hunting dates for Maine?

[Andy]

It looks like I have a 5 day "weekend" third week in October and thinking of heading to Maine. How is that for timing for grouse? Either that or very first week in October I have some time. Have not picked a place/location yet and am not soliciting for spots but just wanted to know if it's a good time to head up. Planning on drive, hunt three days, drive back. No Sunday hunting I believe..

[Dean Romig]

Where are you driving from Andy?

Any time when it's grouse season in Maine is a good time to be there but there should be less foliage to interfere with actually seeing them later in mid-October... but then they'll flush farther out and be wiser to hunting and dogs the later you get there.

It opens Sept. 26 and goes until the end of December.





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[Andy]

Hi Dean, coming from the Binghamton, NY area. 9 hours to Millinocket to give some sense of distance.

[Dean Romig]

Wow - Binghamton... I guess you will be at Hausmann's!

Have you ever shot at Hausmann's before?

I would venture to say Binghamton to Millinocket is more than 9 hours. I'm 20 miles north of Boston and it takes a good 6 hours to drive to Ernie's from my house. From here to Bangor is almost 4 hours and certainly another good hour to Millinocket...





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[Dean Romig]

Unless you have friends or reservations in the Millinocket area you might think about driving up through Greenville and Kokadjo... or up Jackman way. Good grouse hunting and guides in any of those areas.





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[Andy]

I went by Google Maps, but we were married in Camden, ME and I can get there in 7 1/2 hours with my radar detector : ) Yes, I'm very close to Hausmann's. Here's what you need to know about me: I am a long time grouse hunter, only in the past two years shooting clays to improve that. And even more recently smitten with Parkers... So I'm a poor shot and only now really finding shooting clays an absolute blast as I try to undo 40 years of awful habits. I have NOT shot at Ernie's place. If my two buddies don't come with me I will head down alone and shoot/make nice at Hausmann's. And THANK YOU Dean for the tip. I was just looking centrally to give you an idea of how far.

[Dean Romig]

And there's Mike and Sammy Koneski's Rock Mountain Sporting Clays less that 20 miles SSE from Hausmann's. Both are fantastic places to hone your shooting skills and have a BLAST doing so. - Pun intended.





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[bob lyons]

Andy
I think the 3 rd week in October is the best as you will most likely be able to get some woodcock as well as grouse, but Dean is correct that the birds will be very educated by then.
Good luck.

[Andy]

Thank you everyone. I know Rock Mountain pretty well, I always seem to show up when the wind chill is 20 below and I can't feel my appendages. He's gonna be busy shoveling out tomorrow.

[Art Wheaton]

Andy, your choice of 3rd week of Oct a good choice. Leaves mostly down and if hunting with a dog you need some visibility. Always my choice as early Oct tends to have foliage still on. Good luck, Art