2021 Maine Grouse Trip

[Mike of the Mountain]

This past week we made our annual journey to the Maine North Woods for grouse and mudbat (woodcock to the uninitiated ). We had a great three days of hunting. I traveled and hunted with Life Member Dale Wilkie. He brought his 11 year old German Wirehair Pointer and I brought our smallest Setter, four year old Callie. We flushed 83 birds. The numbers were almost one-half of what we flushed last season. Out of those 83, two were spruce grouse and three were nudbat. The ground was very dry and temps wer near 70 in the afternoon so we knew the mudbat would be tough to find.

Day one we flushed 20 19 grouse and 1 mudbat. I took my limit of grouse (4 for 7). Carried the Trojan 28" 16g.

Dat two we flushed 30 birds. 26 ruffs, 2 spruce and 2 mudbat. Limited on grouse (4 for 4) and 1 mudbat (1 for 1). We found them hot and heavy in the alder runs next to young pines and in the young birch and aspen stands. I carried the 12g 26" Lefever H grade.

Day three we flushed 32 birds, 30 ruffs and 2 mudbat. Limited on grouse (4 for 6), 0 for 1 on mudbat. Found some great covers!! I carried the 12g 26" Lefever H grade again.

We had some fine dog work too even with the warm afternoon temps. One day Dale and I both took grouse on the same flush and his Bell retrieved both birds at the same time!! Looking forward to 2022!!

Day 1 photo (top) I added omne more grouse to the bag about 1/2 hour after that photo.
Day 2 photo (middle).
Day 3 photo (bottom)

Dog photos-
Bell with her two bird retreive!
Callie working the alders