A Vermont Sojourn, Finally
 

Today I was able to squeak out a single day in my favorite Vermont grouse coverts with Kathy.
It was a glorious day! The weather was beautiful although quite a lot warmer than I like for bulldozing through the slash and blackberry tangles...

...but there are rewards :cool: :smiley7:

Six grouse flushed - four shot at (both barrels at one of them...to no avail) - and one grouse brought to bag.

I put up one woodcock but chose not to shoot woodcock this time out, mostly because I haven't checked on the opening date for those "little russet fellers" this season.

The day was definitely good for the soul!.



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Nice time,jealous I am.

Sounds like a great day afield Dean. No dog? Looks like great country. Gorgeous fall colors. Our leaves are long gone now.

Well done, Dean. Looks like fine woodcock country.

gosh....... charlie

Don, that sidehill behind me in the top picture was a veritable landing field for squadrons of flight birds late last October. Best woodcock shooting I have ever witnessed in that little part of Vermont. They sure saved the season 'cause the grouse numbers were down last year and so far this season they don't seem to have increased in numbers.

No Rich, no dog. I've had dogs and good ones too - a couple of Brittanys and a fantastic Lab too but I get along without them pretty well and my host in Vermont has always had Great Danes that like to worry smaller dogs and attempt to eat them... :shock:

Grouse numbers are up in Michigans Upper pennisula according to my scouts. I'll give them a whirl the end of the month. In north central MI good numbers of birds are being seen and shot at. What I haven't been seeing are any appreciable numbers of Woodcock....but tis been in the 80's for over a week so no flight birds.

Dean ,Great Pictures ,sounds like you two had a great day , beautiful country ,no prettier time than the Fall to be out ! Which Parker might you be carrying there ?

Russ, that is Kathy's 28 ga. Repro with DT, BTFE, PG and 26" Q1 & Q2 barrels.

I was able to but a really nice second stock for it that I cut (it had already been cut and the SSBP is long gone) another 3/4" and finished it off with a NOS NOSHOK pad for correct length. It is a tad short for me so I added a leather slip-on pad while I used it.

Dean great pictures, its funny your landscape looks like you were hunting north of lake Superior in the township of Dorion/Nipigon here in North Western Ontario Canada, very deja'vu! The grouse numbers climaxed last year with bag limits filled in a few hours at most in 2010, now this year 2011 very reginal of where there are pockets of grouse. Wew have had summer time weather up till last friday, I believe no cold mornings and plenty of food has kept the partridge back under cover, we will see as the temperature is getting back to normal hear. I wish everyone a great grouse season, cheers from Thunder bay Ontario Canada( The lakehead) Dale Z!

The ruffed grouse population in our little piece o' heaven peaked about three or four years ago and has been steadily and quickly declining since. I believe we are at the low ebb at this time.

Around here in Michigan, people talk about a 7 year cycle for grouse. I assume that is peak to peak, not peak to bottom :eek:

Well John, I think it refers to the 7 year period from bottom back up to the top - then it stays up there for a few years and in a few short years the grouse population drops drastically :crying: