Grouse guns
 

Our season actually opens Saturday with a high temp of 82:eek: Ike and I will skip it. I head to the cabin 9/26 for 5-6 weeks and will take an assortment of guns along from an English light game gun in 12ga (I know a 12:eek: but I use RST 2 inch shells:)) to the 28ga VHE skeet. The make up will be mostly 16's and 20's and mostly Parkers.

What's your opening season grouse gun? The perfect grouse gun is always the next one:whistle:

I'll be using a 12 gauge PH that I bought this spring.. 28" IMPCYL/MOD, 7 lbs 1 ounce. But I'll probably be waiting 1 week until the woodcock opener on the 22nd.

Rich, where in MI is "the cabin"?

FOX CE 20ga 26" IC/MOD. I have been searching for a Parker 20ga DE 26" Damascus for quail and grouse. I have been hunting quail in the southwest more than grouse lately. Hope to get back to northern Maine soon.

It's 94 here today. My English cocker flushed 5 blues for me yesterday but the trees were so thick and the sun was in my eye :shock::whistle:.

Tomorrow I'll be back at it...may try for ptarmigan at 13,000 plus feet in the open and blue grouse again in the trees.

I'm using a grade I Hollenbeck 12 bore with 26.5 inch IC/IC Damascus barrels.

I have a Dickson 28 gauge (box lock) that has been my go-to grouse gun for almost 40 years. Jack Rowe made the stock for it after I broke the (too short) original falling down an icy bluff after Iowa grouse one winter. It fits me to a "T" and brings birds down if I can see them. Mr. Rowe, bless his soul, fussed at me for breaking the original stock ("You shouldn't be allowed to have a nice gun like that!" He said. There were stampings on the gun that he recognized and claimed to know the individual who actually made the gun!).

However, I always take a couple more (don't we all!?) to our cabin for the two-weeks of heaven we experience in Northern Minnesota. Among the guns I know I'll take is one of a very few DH 16s with straight-hand stock and splinter forend and 26 inch barrels ever made (the best configuration for a grouse gun as far as I'm concerned, and the configuration of my Dickson). A Fox XE 16 will also make the trip, along with a Parker GH 10 bore that I hope to walk up a few ducks with during the "down times."

Gosh, just writing about it and reading these posts makes me excited for the last two weeks of October.

Shawn, do you have issues with porcupines where you hunt? I'd sure like to see a picture of that Hollenbeck!

I've seen more porcupines on the prairie in cholla cactus country than where I hunt grouse. Here’s the worst dog vs Porcupine I’ve seen on the Colorado prairie. I posted a photo on my original post.

I will be using the most perfect grouse gun ever designed and built; a c. 1935 16 ga. Savage Fox Skeet & Upland Game Gun, DT, SG, SFE, 26" barrels bored .005 right, .011 left. (Flush, I dare ya!!).

Interesting. I found LOTS of porcupines on my trip to the plains of NorthCentral Montana, but none in the mountains (all of which surprised me). And the largest one I ever encountered (had to weigh 70 lbs) was in extreme western Oklahoma. I hate the darned things, and so do my dogs (unfortunately).

Good hunting, and I hope you have cooler weather.

A sweet gun...in a sweet configuration!

16 ga parker

I'm not that good at hitting flying things so I'll be hitting the woods this year with my new to me Ithaca Mag 10 with 24" barrels with no plug throwing an 1 5/8oz. 9's. I hope Rich's new dog can retrieve pieces of birds. My back up gun will be a VH 28 in case the Ithaca does'nt work out as a bird gun.:rolleyes::eek:

Can't wait.

I have yet to go grouse hunting but want to very much, based on the fun you guys have. One day and hopefully soon. I do plan to do some Lowcountry woodcock hunting

Mills,
I hope you get to chase grouse -- it's quite a challenge. Will you be hunting woodcock anywhere near where Archibald Rutledge lived/hunted? We have 'cock come though Northern Missouri on their way to Louisiana, and there are days when conditions are right that we get 25-35 flushes an hour...but only in great years.

BTW, I really enjoyed your article on "Beater" guns!

Another wanna be grouse hunter here in the South. I have a nice little CHE 20 with 26” barrels that would do the trick. I will settle for the cornfield in the AM for some dove shooting.

Reggie,

Back "in the day" I hunted woodcock at Reelfoot Lake in the 2nd (late) season. We had good hunts and when the birds were in, things were excellent. I also hunted grouse in Tennessee and had decent luck at Catoosa and in the mountains near Unicoi. I'm sure things are not as good now as tree cutting has become a thing of the past in the Cherokee NF. You should consider taking that little 26" CHE to Minnesota. It would be a great "poke-and-shoot" grouse gun. Even in a down year, there are lots of birds and LOTS of cover. They still cut trees in the North Woods!

Good luck with your dove hunt. We still have dove in North Missouri, so I'll send some down to you when the wether cools.

In 2016 saw 17 porcupine in the Lewistown, MT area hunting in early October, 2017 while Pheasant Hunting in Coffee Creek, MT young pup had first up close and personal encounter with porcupine.
Hunting sage grouse with 30 inch barreled GH 12 gauge last week of September and Sharptail and huns with 28 inch barreled pre-1913 16 gauge Fox first week in October in central Montana.

A good friend of mine hunted grouse in the southern Appalachians around Brevard. One day, and hopefully soon

No thought required, nor backups either. My repro 20, pg, splinter, dt, and choked .004 &.008. It has been my go to gun for grouse ever since I bought it many years ago. I'll get it to the clays range shortly to limber it up. The clock is ticking!

George,

I was astounded at how many porcupines there were in the grasslands of Montana, and my encounters were similar to yours.

Good luck on your upcoming Montana hunts!

Garry back when I spent all my time chasing quail I heard some talk of grouse hunting in the Tellico region of the Cherokee NF and in Cocke County. I haven't heard of anyone grouse hunting around here in years but I am sure someone probably does. We have some Wilson snipe in our area. I have a daughter in Seattle, I plan to hunt my way west when I retire! That trip may begin in the UP or Minnesota.

Retirement is great, so I hope it happens sooner rather than later for you. If you decide to go to Minnesota on your way west, let me know and I can point you to some good areas. I assume quail are few and far between in Tennessee. We have had fair years the last two, and predictions are for the same for this year. It's sad when one is excited at a prediction of "fair" quail hunting. It still beats work!

Mills I have hunted grouse in N. Ga mountains and Est Tennessee. It can be dang tough hunting. Have also hunted them a good bit in Eastern Kentucky. My advice is take a light 20 gauge and enjoy the scenery. Nothing like walking in the woods with a shotgun, which is close second to walking in the woods with a shotgun and getting to shoot at your intended quarry a few times.

Believe it or not I stumbled upon a few grouse in the upper sections of Chatooga river basin years ago but I was not actually hunting for them. Its a long story but they are there and it is some of the meanest country. You gotta have a dang good dog and really study up on your maps.

Reggie, see my reply to Mills. Yes I have hunted the with my dad a long time ago in hills of Tn for grouse and it is not for the faint of heart. If you can find some areas that were clear cut 5 to 7 years ago and that are grown back up and you have a good dog you can find a few, maybe.

Tellico area does have them and I have seen them there. Used to be big into white water kayaking steep creeks and we would run Tellico and western NC creeks. Occasionally jumped some grouse but it was in some of the most inhospitable areas you could imagine. Tough country with few and far between birds. As you know worst part of hills of Tennessee are those cliff faces near the tops of those hills. You would be on the side of one of hills in a steep hollar hanging on to a laurel for dear life on one hand gun in the other and have a bird flush at your feet and fly on top of that cliff face. Tn grouse are mean spiteful birds and you gotta really want em.

One hunt in Minn where the land flatter and chances of seeing birds is 10 fold will break way from thinking about chasing them in Tn. Load up the car and go if you can. That is what we did and it was worth it.

Step up and be the high bidder on the Pineridge Grouse Camp three-day hunt in the Silent Auction this year Mills. You will NOT regret it!
Pineridge is THE place to get your feet wet on grouse and woodcock... Dis I say THE place?... hell it is THE BEST place to become fully immersed in grouse and woodcock shooting!






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I'll be starting the season with my grandfather's 20 bore VH because it's traditional for me. Then I'll use a 20 bore PHE and a Holland and Holland 28.

We will head to the Michigan grouse woods next week with two Parker 16 gauges, Jenns 16 ga 26" GH Damascus and my 16 ga 28" vh 5lbs 6 0unce and 5 lbs 9 ounce... easy to carry all day with the setters.:bigbye:

Going Grouse hunting next week in upstate NY ,taking a 20ga VH and a 20ga Win.model 21.

You guys hunt with some really nice guns! I got an old war service (RAF) Birmingham Small Arms that is my go to. Last year I hunted a GH exclusively, maybe this year I'll get the Trojan out, just got figure out the full chokes with light loads!

Legh, those are both really nice guns and are perfect for “pa’tridge an’ ‘cock.”
I hope we can get together in October when you get back to Vermont.

(I might even let you look at my NEW Sterly):cool:



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[QUOTE]Step up and be the high bidder on the Pineridge Grouse Camp three-day hunt in the Silent Auction this year Mills. You will NOT regret it!
Pineridge is THE place to get your feet wet on grouse and woodcock... Dis I say THE place?... hell it is THE BEST place to become fully immersed in grouse and woodcock shooting!

Dean, you are right on. Jerry does an outstanding job. Pineridge has an grouse camp ambience that can't be beat. I will be there the third week of October with a bunch of buddies for our fifth year in a row. I will be using my 1903 vintage DH 16ga, 26" barrels on an O frame choked .003/.012. Evan a man of my limited abilities can knock down a bird with this beauty every once in a while.

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;253613]

(I might even let you look at my NEW Sterly):cool:

Oh my gosh!!!! First Kevin and then Dean go over to the wrong side of the tracks. A Sterly Dean? They are nice guns but geez, I thought you were a loyal Parker guy. I love the Smith's and Ansley's guns, but hunting with anything other than a Parker or London gun is not something that should ever be done. I saw the light years ago and sold all my "off" brand American guns. Hang your head in shame Dean. :)

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;253613]

(I might even let you look at my NEW Sterly):cool:

???????????????????????????? :corn::corn::corn::corn:

Haaaa, the FAB-5 knew it would only be a matter of time....:rotf::rotf:

Attachment 65650

Ansley sure did make some great guns. I once owned a C grade 20 bore in 95% condition that I bought from Gary Herman many years ago. It had factory 25" barrels choked full in both barrels. I wish I hadn't sold it. It was a great benchmark gun and the 25" full choke barrels were unusual. But still, my perspective is that those who take any gun other than a Parker or London gun into New England partridge coverts is a heathen. I hesitate to call Dean that because I love the guy, but anyone other than Dean is a heathen. :)

Kirk the "cabin" is in Channing about 40 minuets north of Iron Mountain. Come on up and chase some birds.

Digging around in the safe I'm going to get the dust off a couple that I haven't used in a while, a GHE 20 w/26 inch Damascus barrels IC/M, H&H 26 inch 20 also IC/M, CHE 20 Damascus another 26 incher and a Fox A grade 16 factory straight grip.

[QUOTE=Steve Cambria;253631]
Who among us would pass up a gun like this one? When I said "NEW" I meant NEW and when you talk about benchmark guns - this is certainly a benchmark gun. This is what a new Sterlingworth looked like when it left the factory in 1926.

Yes, I'm a Parker man through and through but who could blame me for allowing this one to reside in the safe with my best Parkers?


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That’s one heck of a find Dean. Beautiful gun. But I wouldn’t take it into the grouse coverts. Not because it is not worthy of the bird, but because I wouldn’t want to put any wear on that gun. Guns in that condition shouldn’t be diminished by hunting with them, in my opinion. They should be preserved as is. When are you ever going to see another one like that. Heck, if I came across that gun, I would run across the tracks to get it.

Dean, I hope you bring that "heathen Sterly" next week to the Vintagers. I know Tom is kidding but many of us heathens who shoot Fox guns would love to see it up close.:)

I'll bring it with me.





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[QUOTE=Dean Romig;253639]No one could blame you for buying that gun...but would think you were crazy to pass it up!