Fall is just around the corner
 

With fall just around the corner comes hunting seasons. With that in mind I took out some of my doubles to wipe down and generally "fondle" over:rotf:

From top to bottom:


Parker Steel Shot Special, 28" ic/mod with double triggers 12 gauge

Fox A Grade 20 Gauge with 30" Mod/Full barrels, may have to buy some bismuth

Parker VHE 20 Ga with 28' Ic/Mod barrels and a parker single trigger

Ithaca 16 Ga flues with 26" factory Cyl/Full barrels weighs 5 3/4 lbs.

Very high condition Parker Trojan 20 Ga with 28" Mod/full barrels

Need to find hunting situations for all this fall:rolleyes:

Steve, in case you hadn’t noticed, fall is HERE NOW.
Foliage is at peak in northern Maine where I’m moose hunting this week and pa’tridge season opens tomorrow. I’ve learned from my new moose hunting friends that only “flatlanders” shoot grouse on the wing.

…Guess I’m a flatlander, and proud to be one.:bigbye:

Nice guns by the way Steve!!





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Dean good luck moose hunting!!! I’m sure you will get ☝️ Have fun my friend ��

Today was our last day of moose hunting and the last day of the season. Legal shooting time was about 6:04 AM. At 6:08 AM we came upon a pod of three moose. The first one I could make out in the poor light seemed to have about a 34” spread but he quickly evaporated into the spruces, then the cow went down and across to the right but a spike appeared and at fifty yards when he turned left and went up into the slash and poplar shoots Dorothy’s son Roger planted a nice heart shot and followed up with two shoulder shots with his .30-06 Ruger M77. Down he went 2.7 miles from camp and 70 yards from the road.


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Nice shotguns! Nice moose! Never thought I’d write that in the same post. :bowdown:

Dean what a great hunt!!!! An a perfect eating Moose:) No need to buy beef for at least a year. What did you use to get that critter to the trailer?

Ropes and a snatch block 80 yards from the moose and on the other side of the road and used the trailer hitch to haul it to the road. A young guy and his wife and 7 little kids aged 11 down to 9mos. old stopped by. That young guy was so helpful and the wife and kids were great company for Dorothy. Roger then drove the 3 miles back to camp to get the trailer and the helpers stayed around to help loading the moose onto the trailer.
It’s amazing how many hunters stopped by to offer help. That doesn’t happen often in the “flatlands” where I live.





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We saw 16 moose and 4 were bulls. This was the smallest but on the last morning we can’t be choosy.
Two of the bulls were big with 34”ish to 40”ish but they slipped into the black spruce before we could get the crosshairs on them.






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Other than a small cow, you killed one of the best eating size. You can not eat horns:rolleyes:

Mr. Hodges, those are a great group of guns. When you get tired of the trojan 20, please let me know.

Left SC last weekend and arrived at hunting camp yesterday in northern NH. 2 Parkers, a 16 and a 20, a 28 ga Repro and my handy little Benelli 28 ga Ultra lite shell-shucker (rain gun) made the trip. After an expected overnight frost tonight, opening day temps should reach mid fifties with a NW 5-10 by afternoon. Normally that's perfect but locals are very worried about bird numbers due to a wet and cold spring affecting nesting conditions and a drought that will have woodcock looking for wet and wormy areas.
No matter- here with 4 other old guys that I've been hunting with for many many years.

So glad to read these reports! The optimism of opening the season is infectious.

Good hunting to all. Keep those reports coming.

Yes, I do not expect a very good grouse season this year and as you said, woodcock will be spotty. You will need to find the wet areas, which will be few and far between. Our spring was very wet in the entire state. I think it will affect most of Northern New England. Good luck, stay safe and most of all have fun.

And just a reminder...dogs are NOT allowed on the furniture at hunting camp!

It’s a dog’s life.:whistle:

And Gracie would always be welcome on the furniture, especially if I was there too. :whistle:


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We hunted 3 of the regular covers around Dummer today Chris. Dogs ran beautifully but Only moved 2 grouse and 1 woodcock. Hope you’re opener was more productive.

Dan, where is Dummer?… is it in Maine?





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Northern New Hampshire Dean. North of Berlin. Maine is about 10 miles as the crow flies. It's a beautiful place. Hunting the skid roads and moose trails up the mountains is getting to be too much for this old man. Dear friends, wonderful dogs and stunning views keep me coming back.

Thanks Dan - I know the area well, just not by that name.

The age thing… I get it!

I’ll be in the St. Johnsbury Vt. area for this weekend, west of Dummer.





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Report from northern NH: Yes the forest roads are some dusty. We old guys had 15 flushes yesterday, I think 9 were woodcock, 5 were grouse and my young pup bumped a snipe that was in a puddle than normally is a beaver slough. Great fun though. 2 birds taken. Visibility in the alders is still very tight.
Back at camp, fresh lobsters kicking like crazy the first night and filet mignon last night. We are lucky.

You guys are livin’ the Dream!!!





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We hunted at Markover today. Sophie, my setter did very well. Many fine points. She's asleep on the couch. Her favorite perch after a good hunt.