The King
 

Well, with the season not opening for another 10 months and living 150 miles from the forests I love, I find myself longing for a fix as the forecast calls for a few more inches of snow here in PA. Some of the best footage that I've seen of The King drumming https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MVfiIp3QGs4 Enjoy.

Oh my.... Now you've gone and done it. And I thought I was able to put all of that in the back of my mind at least until August or September. More sleepless nights - (groan).

My sincerest apologies Dean. :whistle:

Hope your new hunting buddy is coming along well.


Marcus

Just got back in from running her for a mile or so down by the river. We still have more than 15 inches of snow so hard I can walk on top of it without going through at all. The top inch or two is kind of soft from today's sun... just right for Grace's pads. The wind was pretty strong coming from the Northwest and along the river under some pines and scrub alder where the sun's rays have melted the snow to bare soft ground she bumped a woodcock. Can't blame her for bumping it as the wind was totally wrong... and she might have bumped it even if the wind was in her face - first bird of the season for a pup. Nice to know the woodcock are returning but the open areas are still pretty scarce with all the snow still on the ground.

A big thank you! It's been way too long since I heard a grouse drum.

Watching that reminded me of a bear hunt in Western Montana about 35 years ago. Three of us were walking up a horse trail on a ridge and heard a drummer up ahead so we were watching for him. As we were walking by him at 20 feet or less he jumped off his log and ran out and pecked me on the boot as if to say "get out of here, you're ruining my love life". I've seen a lot of grouse over the years but that was the only attack one.

I took Daisy and a DHE 30 inch 20ga out to the Haymarsh this am to run some of the winter stress off both of us. Our snow is for all intent and purposes gone. We moved 5 long tails and one Woodcock. First Timberdoodle of the year. Grouse season will once again be here..and gone in the blink of an eye.

I watch for them and think about them all year long. Last weekend a shooting buddy of mine and I were on our way to shoot some clays. We were driving past one of my favorite covers and I was looking for birds and almost drove off the road. My buddy says "I'll look, you drive the damn car!" Na, I never quit looking for them and I've been called a bunch of names as a result of my passion for grouse.

Glad to hear the woodcock are returning. It is snowing like a banshee right now. Sure does not look like dog running weather.

365 days a year, i am thinking, looking, reading, often eating grouse. Already have my cabin paid for for October.

That was fantastic ! I had a ear to ear grin watching it ...It beg's the question ,why do Fall only come but once a year ?

Wonderful footage! Thanks for sharing. However I beg to differ. The "KING" of drummers is below. And yes, on a good night his single stroke roll was even faster than "ruffie's!"



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