[mobirdhunter]

..."Always good to get away, always good to get back home."

We are finally home after a long ride following a 12 mile last day in the Northwoods. We tried hard to get the pups into birds on this last day as we had lost the previous two to rain. I especially wanted to shoot a bird for Aspen, who had good bird work throughout the trip, but never resulting in decent shots. We walked over 12 miles on our last day, saw some new cover, and plotted out strategies for next year. Ah, next year! Anymore, I still plan for next year, but don't count on it. We reserved Cabin #6 again, and we may have a new pup to introduce to the grouse that have supplied us with so much over so many years. How's that for optimism!?

Thanks to those who've commented on our posts and photos.

Photos:

1. Our last day was mostly cloudy and cold, soggy from two days of rain that kept us out of the woods. Our 4WD was necessary for some coverts.

2&3. One unique feature of some Northwoods counties is that residents can set up cabins on county land. No water, sewer or electricity allowed, and the land is still open to the public. We found this cabin deep in a county forest and enjoyed reading the note on the window.

4. I brought three Parkers with the plan to use each to take a grouse. My last gun, one we call "Reggie's Gun," a sweet little CHE 20 with some very unique features (raised flat rib, articulated trigger, checkered butt and perfect upland choking). I shoot this gun better than any I own, but on this day its barrels were clean when I put it away. Still, it was a joy to carry and think about its pathway to me from its first year of 1918 to the wilds of Minnesota.

5. Although the day did not give us grouse, it did distinguish itself with this sunset. Hopefully we'll see more Northwoods sunsets in the years to come.