[Harold Pickens]

Rich, I feel exactly the way you do. My bird season--THE REAL SEASON- is now over until next year. We used to be able to hunt grouse here until the end of February, but with the tanking of the Appalachian grouse population, I must be content chasing released ringnecks with the dogs. Dont get me wrong, that is fun, but it ain't grouse hunting. That is why I hunt so long and hard during my 2 weeks in the UP.
I just could never get into bow hunting for deer, but my friend Terry, that you met loves it. He is out at my farm right now, and has texted me several pictures of the bucks cruising by. We have pictures of several 150 class bucks on the trail cameras, and Terry will hold out for one of the big boys. Yes, I will get out with a crossbow this weekend, but sitting in a treestand just does not excite me- I'll have the dogs out after pheasants first.
I do take a couple of days off for deer gun season. We have just recently been allowed to use straight walled rifle cartridges in Ohio, and Terry shoots a 375 Win. I will use my Fully rifled 20 ga single shot(scoped). It is deadly out to 150 yds and devastating on deer--yeah, it is 1800 fps, shooting a 260 gr hollow pt pistol bullet (Winchester Supreme Gold Sabots). It will outshoot my 12 ga slug gun, and I don't feel compromised with a single shot.
They certainly have got some early snows in the UP, I left Sat in a freakin' white out, and drove thru snow clear thro Grayling. Have you ever tried late season-December, grouse hunting in the UP? Would be interesting, and probably totally dependent on the amount of snowfall to be able to get back in the covers.