"long" weekend in Oscoda County
 

I returned last night from three nights in the Oscoda County bush kinda tired and dirty but pleased with the experience. The weather wasn't the best; off on and on misty, blustery drizzle; but, improved yesterday as I was leaving of course. The birds were there, both woodcock and grouse; and, we did ok. Some pics below. First is Tom, the youngest and newest to the game and appointed "chef" naturally; next is Jeff, all prideful with his fan; last is the only Parker in the group with three of the little ones. Jeff, in his second year at it did very well with his 1100 and has a very good dog (a GSP, ok Rich?). We had one frosty night. The ferns are browned out but still up and hardly any leaves have fallen from the hardwoods yet; called for fast shooting. I'll be going back in a week, probably not roughing it.

Hey Fred. We get a lot of rain up here, too. I shouldn't gripe. Every year, just before the small game opener, it starts to rain. I hit the woods when it isn't raining and have had good luck so far. My RBL is a joy to carry. My 2 Lifters weigh 9 pounds and 10 pounds. Our forefathers must've been real 'he-men' to carry those around all day! I hit the brush at sunrise and usually walk for 7 to 8 hours. I'll take a short lunch break, but that's it. The brush is still quite thick. I try to get in as many days as possible when it is tolerable out. When the temperature stays below 30 dgrees, my hands cannot take it, and my season is over. It is a drag, because that is when the leaves are all down. Oh well, I am retired, so I get to hunt when most people are at work. Good Luck! Cheers!

Fred it's a big ok on the GSP:). I did a preserve Quail hunt last weekend and Gunner my 13yr old GSP who is about as deaf as a dog can be got out for a day. He can barly hear the wistle but when i got his attention and waved my hat he would come. :) I'm scratching his ear as I type this post. His heart is all there, it's just hard to watch them get old :(

I get my CHE 20 back this weekend and am lookin forward to hunting some birds with it. it's been gone for over a year getting restocked.

Mark: My hands sound like yours. Thinsulate gloves help for me. Unfortunately, I don't realize if they have gotten too cold, so I try to be very careful once the snow is flying. But....... ain't retirement great. I seldom see another hunter when I'm chasing birds on Mondays to Fridays. I usually let them have Saturday.

Fred and Richard: I really enjoyed my GSP TAZ for 8 seasons but cancer took him at a relatively young 9 years old. Often think of that boy but having CHARLIE become a good bird dog has helped.

TAZ
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1..._IMG_9467s.JPG

CHARLIE
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/cpg1...MG_5444sgw.jpg

Yesterday was a beautiful day for grouse. I brought 3 home, but had to dispose of 2 due to worms! Yuck! I consulted the Minnesota DNR website for info and was appalled when the article stated that it was okay to eat these birds. I don't think so, not me!

I have never seen or heard of Grouse getting worms:eek: I suppose there no different than any other animal and as long as they wern't in the meat it would be ok to eat.

I usually just pop the legs off and filet out the breast so I don't get into the guts to check for worms so I wouldn't know if I was eating a wormy bird or not.

These worms look like fine spaghetti and are situated between the skin and breast. I did not find any in the internal organs. The only part that gives me the willies is that there were quite a few in each bird. That fact tells me that they reproduce in the bird. It takes but a few seconds to field dress the birds, but there were so many worms that they caught my attention almost immediately.

:shock:

Uggghhhhh.....!!!!

JD

Jack, I have Thinsulate gloves that help to about 30 F. They are about as bulky as I can wear and still be able to safely operate my gun. Below 30 F, I have a small Jon-E handwarmer that burns for 8+ hours. Otherwise, I end up missing out on quite afew days/weeks of grouse hunting.

I feel bad for you guys. My fingers are very sensitive to being cold too and the best thing I have found is a thin pair of soft pigskin gloves about $10 - $14 at places like Home Depot of Lowes. They keep my hands comfortable down to just a tad under 20 degrees.

I have had some great weekend hikes in the mountains while carrying a shotgun. I would call it grouse hunting but the game bag says thats a lie. My poor dog is wondering why I keep taking where there so few birds. It been hot and windy and yesterday a thunder storm blew through but we still had a great weekend on the mountain. The weather babe says Fall weather is coming mid week.

Here are a few snap shots from this weekend.

heading out for some blue/dusky grouse
http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill/image/129108425.jpg

A couple of years ago we shoot our limit in just a few minutes on the ridge in the background...this year not a bird.

http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill/image/129108430.jpg

Me admiring the GH

http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill/image/129108428.jpg

me and Timber on saturday morning taking a break ... forgive me but thats my little H&H/Webley & Scott.

http://www.pbase.com/slowpokebill/image/129053257.jpg

Worms in Ruffed grouse and pheasants
 

Mark:

I was corresponding with the senior biologist for The Ruffed Grouse Society yesterday and mentioned your thread on finding worms in the grouse. He stated that he had seen worms in both ruffed grouse and pheasant and they were not in the meat, but between the skin and the meat. Further, he said he may have eaten one or two from cooked grouse, they were not harmful, but that most folks just couldn't get past the thought of eating the bird that had them. I'll be in Wisconsin grouse hunting next week near the UP border and I hope we don't find them in any of the grouse we take. If you need further information contact Mark Banker, Senior Biologist for RGS.

John

Thank you, John. Our DNR website had an article stating that the worms were harmless if the meat was prepared properly. They definitely were under the skin, not in the meat or digestive tract. The large ones were about 2" long and the little ones were about an inch. I am afraid that I am one of those that can't bring myself to eat the bird after finding a bunch of worms! Good luck with your hunt. Cheers!

Maybe a good brine bath first- then marinate
 

I love to cook wild game birds and also venison. If I have some upland birds with lead pellets and purple flesh from clotted blood, I soak for 48 hours in a covered ceramic pot like you might use to make sauerkraut)-- I dissolve about half a cup of Morton's Kosher salt in warm water, then stir that into about 3-4 quarts of cold tap water, and put the gutted birds, whether skinned or not, into that and let stand for two days in a cool place.

Then I disjoint the birds, and cut away any visible damaged flesh, then marinate for 24 hours in Vernor's ginger ale- pat dry, pepper, wrap in bacon and sweet onion slices (heavy with the bacon) place in a Corning ware glass cooking dish, seal tightly with Reynold's wrap, and place in a 350 degree preheated oven- about 75 minutes- remove, let stand with the foil on for 10 minutes, serve with wild rice and mushrooms and a fine chilled Mosel, Piesporter or Liebfraumilch--wild greens salad and Parker house rolls of course

Good Lord, I got hungry just reading that......

John

I brought home two male Ruffies today. When I picked up the second one, I thought he had to be the biggest bird I ever shot! I know, just like the old story when the biggest fish got away! But, I weighed this bird before dressing it out and it weighed 1-1/2 pounds. I will do a 'Google' and see what the averages are. Any of you ever get curious and weigh your birds? Cheers!

USDA/MN DNR says 1 to 1-3/4 pounds.