Humm, I guess if you have not hunted grouse you have not hunted at all. Swells.

Amen brother Rich.:bowdown: That Iver Johnson is nothing more than a single barrel hammer gun. Who other than you can afford to hunt with a H&H Royal 20? You dog guys know the feeling when you make a nice shot on a bird, be it a woodcock, grouse, pheasant,dove, duck,goose, or any gamebird. Your dog dives into the heavy cover and emerges with the bird in his mouth. That moment is all about the dog and you realize that it would'nt be as much fun without him. You break open your favorite double gun then bend down to accept the bird from him. That's what I'm talking about. At that moment life is good.

I have trudged through the fields hunting Pheasants as a much younger person when there were Pheasants to trudge after and I have busted through the Alder thickets for Grouse all with out the benefit of a dog, but no more. I enjoy a fine shotgun ALMOST as much as good dog work. If you companion is well trained you both will spend more time hunting birds instead of each other. Then there is the issue of finding birds as the worst dog has a better nose than we do (Dean may be an exception:rotf:) and what about the cripples that the dog can find far better than us. I can recall on more than one occasion where the dog has returned with a bird that I though was missed. Last but not least is the pride in hunting with a companion you have trained and cared for possibly for years, given and received unconditional love and respect for each other abilities and faults.

At the end of the day an "Armed walk in the woods" is better than no walk in the woods but a walk in the woods with a fine shotgun and your best friend scouring the cover for scent...priceless.

Well said Richard, Hate to here about Gunner. Last season I was hunting some tall thick stuff lot of birds in it couldn't see out. Shot at a couple we move on hunt some more spots around the tall stuff. Get done, me and Sam head back to the pickup Sam points I walk up nothing flushes something moves Sam grabs it it's a phesant I didn't even know I got. Broke wing broke leg still alive moving on one leg. A fine moment in hunting. I have hunted a lot without dog. But the man dog team is very enjoyable.

My little buddy Gunner. I have shared a hunt with no finer companion and been privaledged to do so for 14 seasons now.

Rich looks me as if you are bothering Gunner from his nap taking his picture and in that last picture he is saying "Get Lost"

Robin, "Lake states" you hunt Michigan or Wisconsin? If you do why the hell haven't you let us know......Maybe we could have gotten together for a hunt.

Grouse chicks have hatched and most of the best New England coverts are being pounded with torrential downpours...

One of the biggest causes of grouse chick mortality is pnuemonia from these long soaking rains.

sadly too true

as one biologist said

"a wet chick is a dead chick"

nice thread! brings back lots of memories...