[Harold Pickens]

Andy, you posed a great question that I have pondered for years. Back in 1983 when I graduated from optometry school at Ohio State, I was adamant about wanting to move where I could hunt grouse and have good fishing for smallmouth and walleye. To that end, I took the board exams in Michigan and Wisconsin, and took a driving/camping tour thru Northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. I was also going to take Minnesota boards. I was then offered a position in an HMO Medical clinic eye dept just 10 miles from where I grew up. Well, everything I wanted was there. eastern Ohio had phenomenal grouse hunting with a season that came in around Oct 10, and went thru the end of February . The woodcock migration was good in November. Hunting 2 1/2 days/week with good dogs( we shot pointed birds only), it was common to shoot 40-50 grouse per season. Flushes of 30 birds/day--not counting reflushes--were not unusual. Then in 1986, I made my first trip to the UP, and have not missed a year since. The grouse hunting wasnt better in the UP than it was in OHio and West Virginia, but it sure is a hell of alot easier. Flat ground and lack of blood letting briars was a welcome change to us brush worn Appalachian grouse hunters. One week trips ,turned into 10 day trips, then 2 weeks and now 3.
Then the plummeting of the grouse population to almost endangered specie levels happened. The DNR said poor habitat, thats bull, I spent the day today in fantastic grouse cover, no birds. In 2009 I told the DNR it was West Nile virus--have a MS in Microbiology, and was working on PhD--now look what they have suddenly come up with--WNV!
Well , I digress. Good fishing is certainly easier to find than good grouse hunting. I love the UP, and the great northwoods of Wis. and Minn. Idaho offers such a wide variety and really piques my interest--I believe I'm going to have to go there in upcoming years.
Congrats Shawn on your retirement. My wife loves South Carolina also, esp around the Hilton Head area--cant really see the bird hunting very good in SC, what with the demise of wild quail and dearth of grouse in the mountains now.
Andy, tuff choice. My heart draws me to the Northwoods, but my wife wants to head South. Good luck on your decision.