Gary Cripps
11-17-2013, 06:49 PM
A long awaited trip north to Glen Flora, Wi. last weekend provided a day and a half of Grouse hunting at Toms (at a friend of my son Steve) camp. The camp has 500 acres with mixed terrain. Mostly high ground but two creeks provide some edges and one good Beaver swamp. I wanted to give Ginger, my poodle hunting partner, and my 20 ga. G grade Parker with the Damascus barrels refinished by Bachelder a chance to do their thing. Tom was there to set up his blinds for the upcoming deer season. He said they had not hunted Grouse for at least three years so we had high hopes of lots of flushes. He took us a mile and half in on UTVs and turned us loose next to a creek. We walked about a hundred yards with Steve near the creek and I and Ginger thirty yards off working the edge of the slashing when Steve flushed a bird. It circled from behind me and around on my right. The Parker seemed to come up on its own and with the shot the bird was down in the slashing. Ginger was on it in a flash and pinned it for me. We were all excited. Steve and I for the quick flush. Ginger for the nose full of feathers. And the Parker for it's one flush one shot start. 100%. The rest of the day and half gave up only five more flushes and so many deer they got in the way.