Cold wet weather decimates the grouse broods more than any other factor. Pneumonia does it to ‘em every time. Those that survive have to face a host of other factors. The grouse population in Vt’s NEK was waaay up in 2007 but has progressively fallen ever since with only a very few good years.
Grouse and woodcock just can’t seem to get an even break.
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__________________
"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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