UP Trip

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Leaving tomorrow for 17 days in the UP after grouse and woodcock. No internet at the cabin, but hopefully can post some reports and pictures on the phone, although pictures always seem to come out upside down. The little VHE 20 comes along as the #1 gun . Just finished playing the "song for hunting widows" for my wife, the old standard " Autumn Leaves", on my little classical guitar(it's coming also)--google Eva Cassiday's version, just beautiful.

[Brett Hoop]

Harold

Have a safe trip. It looks like I may have to take the Grey Phase 4Runner. Today 8 days after putting on a new serpentine belt just as a maintenance item it shredded. All the pulleys are loose and no sound, tension idler seems fine, new Gates belt, just have to see what I think after sleeping on it.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Holy crap Brett, you got to get those black clouds out from over you, man I hope all works out. I'll call you from the road

[Kenny Graft]

Brett....time for a new 4RUNNER....(-: Call it a emergency buss and write her off! Mine is about ready for the U.P. We head out Friday and plan to stay along the way one night. Arrive in Felch Saturday for a week of Grouse hunt-in. Will use the new to me Purdey 16, My CSMC Fox XE-16 and That real sweet Fox A-grade-16 with the killer English stock you like. See pics...
4Runner ready for this trip the U.P.
2019 hunting in the rain, U.P.
Purdey top gun in the picture, Bottom Ugartechea 257 Spl-grade 16 28"
Little Philly Fox A-16 5lbs-14oz 28" tubes....sweet!

[Brett Hoop]

Kenny

There is a new, well 2900 miles on it now, 4 Runner TRD Off Road as back up. Not a Rooster Runner, but a Grey Phase Chaser I guess. I like the FJ better it's all set up for me and the dogs with about every thing I think we need. Including a chain saw, chains, shovels, ease out boards, come alongs, straps, Cell booster, shell box, gun locker and as much dog vet stuff as makes any sense. Yes it's a little sweaty and just the way I like it at 208K it's just at half life in my view. The new one has more bells and whistles and talks to you which I don't like, but with the upgrade KDSS suspension and locking 4 WD it will have to do.

That Fox is no good for you, a hair too low for you. Hell, pheasants give you time to make a sandwich, so when you miss a grouse with it you'll think of me and how you could have had my money and been rid of the burden to cover the bird. Just not needed with a Purdey as the backup, because I know you'll be hunting Ruby's CSM Fox.

My go to cut barrel 20ga will get most of the chances, and the 28ga will see some Aspen bottoms. The go everywhere 0 frame 16ga always along for council when I start talking to my self and looking at the barrels. It's better than Dr. Phil.

[Garry L Gordon]

Hmmm...these exchanges are getting as good as those between Edgar and Dean. I hope you all have safe and wondrous trips. We'll be across Lake Superior in Minnesota just in case the woodcock decide to fly North (or is it West?). Hey, it's 2020 and you never know.

Looking forward to posts with appropriate lies and other tall tales.

[Shawn Wayment]

Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

[Mills Morrison]

One of these days. . . .

[Harold Lee Pickens]

First day, 22 grouse flushes, most all pointed, but few shots. I got 2 over Doodle, and Terry got 1. Wite out conditions last night, and heavy snow this morning. Will be better weather after today.
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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Heavy wet snow again last night,still at cabin.Two birds over Fancy yesterday with Uggie 28

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Two with the VHE 20 the day before.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Willie looking good

[Brett Hoop]

5” hanging on everything currently. Calling for 3”-5” tomorrow. 100% chance of snow down your back. Grouse are precious!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Life can be cruel. My good friend Bill, suffered a small stroke up here Sat night. He ended up in Green Bay for 3 days, was released and being driven back home by his son. He was in good spirits this morning, but dissapointed.Bill shoots the AHE 20 and a BHE repro.
Another friend in the cabin with Bill, fell yesterday, and broke his collar bone, leaving now also. My hunting pard Terry leaving tomorrow with his lab for Nebraska pheasants(youth hunt. I'll be here by myself for another 10+ days. Old friend Mike will be in the cabin next door. We will have to keep an eye on each other. It was 2 years ago that my mitral valve ruptured up here while grouse hunting. Requiring open heart surgery. IS hell getting old, but enjoying every minute of it.

[Shawn Wayment]

Life can be cruel. My good friend Bill, suffered a small stroke up here Sat night. He ended up in Green Bay for 3 days, was released and being driven back home by his son. He was in good spirits this morning, but dissapointed.Bill shoots the AHE 20 and a BHE repro.
Another friend in the cabin with Bill, fell yesterday, and broke his collar bone, leaving now also. My hunting pard Terry leaving tomorrow with his lab for Nebraska pheasants(youth hunt. I'll be here by myself for another 10+ days. Old friend Mike will be in the cabin next door. We will have to keep an eye on each other. It was 2 years ago that my mitral valve ruptured up here while grouse hunting. Requiring open heart surgery. IS hell getting old, but enjoying every minute of it.

Shoot! Be safe and I wish the best for them all!

[charlie cleveland]

fellow never knows when tradegy s will hit....hope your hunting pards heal up quick and get back out there soon....charlie

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Rain turned to white out snow at noon today. Moved 8 before conditions went South and had to quit.Roads got real slick. Sweet Willie from the day before

[Garry L Gordon]

Gosh, Harold, be careful! I hope you and your buddy in the next cabin let each other know where (at least generally -- no secret spots revealed) you'll be hunting. I also hope you don't get all of the snow that we have in Northern Minnesota.

Good luck and good shooting!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Yeah, we got the snow here. 4th snow event since I got here. Went thru 3 pairs of gloves today, with rain turning to wet snow again. Moved a dozen grouse in spruce cover.,but only one shot. Hope things get better, l still have another week here
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[Dean Romig]

Life can be cruel. IS hell getting old, but enjoying every minute of it.


That’s the spirit Harold!

I know just what you mean - it gets more painful every year. Heck, after just a two or three hour hunt I hurt like hell!
I anticipate day’s end when I can self-medicate.

But I won’t stop til I drop.



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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Finally , a day wo snow and rain. Didn't lose any snow at 30 degrees. Birds under spruce and in trees give few shots. 21 different birds today. Took this one over Doodle, with a nice delivery. G. Forrester Scottish 20 hammer gun with 30 in cyl/cyl

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Tough seeing an all white setter in the snow---dont use the beeper.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Wet, heavy snow again this afternoon. Got wet and cold, but Willie and I had a good day.

[Rick Losey]

Tough seeing an all white setter in the snow---dont use the beeper.



Harold - I remember GBE writing about that

he once had a brace of very white dogs - when he hunted them in the snow he added a couple streamers of surveyors tape to the collars to be able to see them as they moved through the covers

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Well, snowed most all night again, every Bush and limb hanging heavy with snow. Record snowfall and low Temps for the UP for this time of year. This is my 36th year to hunt the UP, and seen nothing like it. Going to stay thru Saturday. Hoping things moderate. Did move 1 woodcock yesterday , didn't have the heart to shoot at it, but did take the 3 grouse. Hoping snow comes up the brush for at least a late afternoon hunt

[tom leshinsky]

That Darn global warming!!!!! in colorado snow since sat, 0 degrees, hi of 11 degrees today!!!!

[Daryl Corona]

With the snow and orientation of the landscape looks like you are at the south pole.:)

[Daryl Corona]

With the snow and orientation of the landscape looks like you are at the south pole.:)

[Harold Lee Pickens]

More snow and cold, but moved 12 gr
ouse this afternoon, and 1 Woodcock. Fancy did a great job

[Dean Romig]

I just bought the same bell that you have on Fancy.

I don’t envy you the conditions you have there but it doesn’t look deep enough to impede your travel.

I will say though, when a grouse explodes from within a snow laden spruce right next to you it can really shake you up... I love it!

That Fancy girl is awful pretty!



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[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks Dean, conditions are tough. You are going to get wet and cold guaranteed. Going thru 2-3 pairs of gloves each day. I only have 1 pair of waterproof pants, and have worn them every day so far. That bell works pretty well in the snow, the heavy clapper helps, usually use a lighter bell.. Lots of multiple flushes, but hard to see thru all those snow laden boughs. Supposed to have sunshine today, but only 14 now---this is not typical UP weather for this time of year.

[Garry L Gordon]

Harold, at least you're finding birds. I wish you'd send some across Lake Superior. Be safe there hunting alone.

[Rick Losey]

I just bought the same bell that you have on Fancy.

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funny - looks like the same bell i got for Tweed as well

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I got my bell from Lion Country Supply, always got good experience with them. Sunshine today and up to 30. Thought it would be a good day to find birds, but only moved 12, only one shot but made it on a big gray cockbird.

[Brett Hoop]

Best thing about the weather in the north woods was that people once again were talking about the weather like old times instead of the China virus or the election.

Locals weren’t saying this is like it used to be, but like they had never seen and way to early.
Four hours northwest of the “Banana Belt” of the UP, it was winter. 3” - 5” everyday didn’t change no matter which of the 3 radio stations we changed to. We made the best of it and only lost 2 days to your basic whiteout conditions. We found a few birds each day, made the most of our opportunities and thanked God for each bird in hand and just to be there. I’ve wrote before I don’t let grouse season end, it’s not that hard to do living with bird dogs and Parkers.
It’s always bittersweet to leave grouse camp.

Harold
I don’t know anybody that works for their birds or for the King harder than you do! 30 plus years as a chapter chairman is amazing commitment.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

A nice brace over Fancy today

[Harold Lee Pickens]

A dandy duece over little Miss Doodle

[Dean Romig]

I thought you were buried in snow...?





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[Kenny Graft]

Good job Harold!!!!!!!!

[Shawn Wayment]

Helluva day!!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Sunny and 30 yesterday. Up to 40 today finished in the rain. Snow melting, birds on the move today. Shot a 5 bird limit. Was pushing hard in the rain for the 5th bird, Doodle pointed 5 bird covey, and rolled one with the left barrel

[Harold Lee Pickens]

yes, Shawn, was a helluva great day!!!

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Harold, Get that guitar out and play "don't let the old man in" Even with the weather I am sure you love every minute of it, Stay safe Gary

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Gary, that is a great song--- I could play that, have to look it up. Toby Keith always one of my favorites.
THANKS

[Harold Lee Pickens]

After a day off , Willie put on a performance.

[Russell E. Cleary]

Willy

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Thanks Russ, don't know why everything is inverted when posting from my phone, thought it would be different with new phone. No internet here, so can't download onto laptop to post.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

actually, when posting on FB, or other venues it does not happen. Just here

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The last hour of the last day. Doodle just doesnt want to quit, and refuses to come to the truck. I put her out for the final hunt taking 2 birds with 2 left barrels and missing 2 more. i tried a shortcut over to a new part of the cut and ended up slipping into thigh deep water rimmed with ice--wow, that will wake you up. Lucky the sun had come out for the first time in 2 weeks, so dumped the water out of my boots, rung the socks out and kept going. Killed a very, very small young hen earlier in the day over Fancy. A great final hunt.

[Stephen Hodges]

I love that song, Don't Let the Old Man In...........................

[Harold Lee Pickens]

We are all opinionated as to what load works best for our favorite bird. Walking thru a cut the other day, i found 3 Win Super 1 oz of fours, unfired shells that someone had recently lost. Wow, that would certainly kill a grouse , but doubt many of us would never shoot that in our 20's. The next day , I spied an unfired yellow shell and it was marked Spred-R 6, well I'll shoot that I thought, must be a Polywad. As I started to drop it in the gun, I thought it looked a little long, and sure enough was a 3" shell. Some how a 3" spreader just doesnt seem right.
I will give those shells to my son who wants to go pheasant hunting this year, and has taken Tues off so he can go with me. I recently gifted him a little 20 ga ou Zoli Gray Eagle with double triggers and 3" chambers..

[Brett Hoop]

Harold

Challenging hunt for sure, but you found a way to get amongst them each day and that’s something for this year! Well Done!

[Garry L Gordon]

Harold, I enjoyed reading of your success. It helped soothe the angst of few birds for us here in Northern Minnesota. Don't you wish the Ohio birds were still there?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Every day Garry, every day.
We had a little better weather than you in the UP. When we got 2 in snow, you got 4. We both hunted SE Ohio for years, you Minnesota for 33 yrs, and me the UP for 35. I just got a little luckier this time. Can't wait for next year

[Garry L Gordon]

Postscript: Our last day -- Sunday -- started windy with gusts in excess of 50 mph. We spent the morning packing the truck, thinking the weather might take another hunting day from us, but when the winds finally calmed in the early afternoon, we hit the woods. The day turned memorably beautiful -- sunny and still. The grouse must have been waiting for this break in the weather, because we were into them right out of the truck. In a little over 2 hours we moved 12 birds for 15 flushes with two nice points by Aspen and two birds downed from the four shots I had. I got to blood the little 20 gauge CHE (yes, Reggie, it has a straight/splinter stock), a real treat for me. It was a great ending to this trip, and was all the sweeter because of the poor conditions that preceded it.

We'll be home on Wednesday. I'll spend some days in tree stands at the farm with the bow, and some days in home covers chasing Bobs. Our firearms deer season begins on the 14th. Is there a richer time of year for the hunter?

I hope everyone has a safe and successful season.

[Dean Romig]

Indeed, there is NO richer time of the year.





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[Garry L Gordon]

Harold, I accidentally posted in your thread. Please forgive me. In my defense, all I can say is that I kept looking at your thread and the great photos and accounts of hunts, and probably subconsciously wanted to be there. Again, my apologies.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

What a way to go out! Glad the weather gave you a break. I was going to hunt Sat and leave Sun, but ended up leaving Sat. High winds and more snow hit on Sun.
Garry, did you know that the Ohio grouse season which used to run thru Feb 28, now ends Nov 29 on public land--not that I would shoot one, I still know where some pockets of birds are, but wont touch them

[Garry L Gordon]

What a way to go out! Glad the weather gave you a break. I was going to hunt Sat and leave Sun, but ended up leaving Sat. High winds and more snow hit on Sun.
Garry, did you know that the Ohio grouse season which used to run thru Feb 28, now ends Nov 29 on public land--not that I would shoot one, I still know where some pockets of birds are, but wont touch them

Harold, I keep up with the Ohio grouse situation, and I have watched the tragedy develop over time. I spent many a late February chasing Ohio grouse. It was a magic time of year. I fear Kentucky and West Virginia are headed for the same fate, and my home state of Virginia is in the same situation. I don't understand why folks who claim to care about the environment can't see that managing it is a good thing, not bad. It's often the same folks who want us to follow the science for action against climate change, but deny the science that says forests are healthy when there's diversity within them. The older I get, the more weary I get with "people."

[Shawn Wayment]

Sure sound like a wonderful trip! Be safe getting home