NE New Hampshire grouse/woodcock
 

We plan to go this October..6th till 11th, it will be motor home camping in the north east corner close to Maine. Anyone live up there or hunt there? thanks SXS ohio

There are a few people on this forum that are very familiar with northern NH and have more sage advice than I. Personally, I have hunted near Pittsburg for many years with good success. It is my opinion that where you will find the birds is dependent on leaf cover. Once the leaves are mostly down the birds are much tighter to the spruce/fir. When you are going I would suspect that there will be quite a few leaves still on. In those conditions expect a bunch of running birds. It will test your dog's grouse handling abilities.

Additionally, I have found that most of the locals walk the roads. Get off the road and you will be hunting birds that seldom see a hunter. Make sure you have a compass or gps just in case you get tangled in a spruce/fir swamp. I assure you that once will be enough.

Hello. I plan to do a similar hunt in Main in Oct with a "new to me" 1925 Parker 20 gauge SxS. What shells would be recommended?

7 1/2 shot size will take care of both grouse and woodcock. RST has some great 20 gay grouse loads... I use them exclusively for my 20 ga Parkers.

I would use a 7.5 spreader for my right barrel and a 1oz 7.5 field load in my left barrel......(-: Make sure you use all the tic preventatives you can buy! Don't forget the dog either. SXS ohio I will use a 16 VH-16 1921 26" .007/.026 If the leaves are heavy I will use a spreader 7.5 and a 1oz field 7.5 or two of the spreaders? My back-up gun is my Parker repro 16ga. 28" Q1/Q2 same loads. I will also bring a repro 28Ga 26" Q1/Q2 for fun too...same type loads in 28ga. , spreader 7.5 and a winchester field load 1oz of 7.5 and some 3/4oz field loads too.

Kenny, I have a camp in Pittsburg and have hunted there since 1985. Just where are you camping? And Kenny, there are no Ticks in Pittsburg except Moose Ticks that will not bother anything except Moose.

We are staying at a camp ground in Pittsburg....we will arrive late sunday eve oct-5th I hope. I do not know the name of the camp ground but I will find out. We can meet for breakfast if you are at camp (-: That's great new about the stinking ticks...

Thanks for the advice on shells. Confirms my thinking.

Follow up question regarding shells: any advantage or disadvantage to paper shells?

Older Paper shells do not have a wad, this will loosen the choke a little and the pattern opens faster, lead fouling may happen so have a good bore brush...SXS ohio

I was referring more to the paper shells sold by RST. Any advantage or disadvantage to using them?

Any advantage / disadvantage with the RST paper shells? Velocity seems to be a little faster.

It gets wet up north, paper might swell up if it gets damp, Bill Janelle and I are planning to go north for the 1st of oct, good luck! scott

Thank you Scott. Very helpful. As this is my first (not last) Parker, I want to make sure I take care of it. Thanks again for the help.

One distinct advantage is they smell good after you shoot them.

What is a "gay grouse" load?

More to the point... what is a "gay grouse"?

In the spirit of political correctness I will refrain from comment.

Those would be the birds that don't fly straight :rotf:

This is a wonderful thread!

Back on point - RST paper shells aren't really very likely to swell from dampness, only from prolonged contact with water. The paper is impregnated with some kind of moisture resistant compound. I've used them for years upland hunting in all kinds of weather - I'm not one to stay in camp because of a shower or wet snow. They are excellent shells and they have loads specialized for almost every kind of hunting.