Good reading, Rich. Yeah, I have hunted the plains of the Yelow Dog River, way up there above Marquette, and I too, have bought beer at the Tall Pines.
Several years ago, I was hunting a cover out past where you and I ended up on our last hunt of the day last year. I had killed a couple of birds over Betty, when I started to hear alot of shouting. Three guys were looking for a lost orange belton setter. The owner was from Florida. I got their cell phone number just in case. 3 days later, I was back out in the same area when I faintly heard a bell, and then an orange setter came running toward me. It stopped and was shaking like a leaf, and wouldnt come in despite my offering it some dog bisquets. My heart sank as the dog ran back into the woods and out of hearing. Back at the truck, I drove until I could get cell service, called the number, and met the gentleman along the backroad. I tried to tell him how to get to the area, but I knew he wasnt sure where he was going, so i took him back down into the area, and to make a long story short, there was one happy man and dog.
Keep writing Rich. After you retire we will expect monthly installments.

Now there's a heartwarming story with a happy ending. Thanks Harold.

Thanks Rich. It's always a pleasure to read your work.

Catching up on reading the forum. This is an enjoyable thread. Are Henry and Alice known by any other names or must it be Henry and Alice to protect the innocent? Great stories Rich. Cheers, Jack

Henry and Alice are just Henry and Alice no secret identity although Alice does remind me of my wife Audrey in that she (Audrey) is dead set against getting another dog. We are down to two and Willie is 14 and Crazy Daisy is 8. Daisy IS the alpha dog and doesn't play well with others and Audrey is fearful of her and another dog. We keep her and Willie separated at all times. Daisy and Tara had gotten into a couple a scrapes in the past and that scared Audrey to no end.

So would a guy be ok to join Henry on an October day in the UP or would he be better off with the author?

You might want to stick with the author, Henry sure does have more than his share of trauma while Grouse hunting. Heaven forbid he takes up wilderness deer or elk hunting:eek:

Sounds to me, that Henry is living life to the fullest, and in time , he himself will be the old Yopper, Gary

Maybe I'll have him buy a small place up there....hmm food for thought.

I hear Channing is wonderful that time of the year.:)

Channing is a wonderful place any time of the year.:)

Although it's late August October is right around the corner and Henry is very busy. It's been a year of ups and downs for Henry. Just after Christmas Rudy got very sick, he wouldn't eat and could barley walk. On a trip outside to do his "business" he collapsed in mid stream literally. Henry knew it was time to give Rudy that last loving thing he could do for his friend and called the vet. It took all Henry could do not to break down at the vets as he watched the life ebb from his friend. Even though it was the right thing to do it was the hardest thing Henry had ever done in his life. He had brought Rudy's blanket with him so Rudy would have a familiar smell for his last journey and when it was over he wrapped his friend in it and took him home one last time.

In the spring Henry was doing some trout fishing using the flies he tied from the Grouse feathers from the pervious fall. He found he was going north every chance he could and on one of his fishing trips he noticed a worn reality sign for a cabin. He called the relator but that wasn't the place he was looking for but it got the ball rolling.

Initially Henry was looking for something out of the way on a gravel road with maybe a few acres to call his own. He looked at a lot of places but they were either to expensive or to run down. Sometimes things happen for a reason and quite by accident while passing through a small town on his way to fish he saw a for sale sign and investigated. It was a small two bedroom on three city lots with woods on two sides. It wasn't the woodsey atmosphere he desired but it had potential enough. It was well built but needed some work but certainly affordable. After some negotiations the deal was struck. It amazed Henry that everyone knew his name. There was a gun club nearby which he joined as he had become fond of doing some clay target shooting and became known as the guy who bought "Vicki's house". Now Henry has a camp and though it's a ways from his prior Grouse coverts it's not insurmountable distance wise.

The "camp" purchase led to other necessities such as a new GPS with a map feature as new hunting venues need to be located and stored. Gus got a new collar as well with a beeper feature as well as corrective. Gus is a lot more hard headed than Rudy ever was. The best is a new to Henry GH Damascus 20 gauge that he padded the loan for. It's got 26 inch open choked barrels and a straight stock,a Grouse getter for sure with some RST 2 1/2 #8's.

It will be a bittersweet fall this year without Rudy to enjoy the new camp and explore new coverts and Gus is still a young upstart but he's coming along fast and in the end Rudy will always be with them.

Funny that story sounds really close to home to someone that I know.....