What a great story William! I had a grouse like that Russ! I was down in this bad boys cover 4 times, alone 3 time and with a friend once. Kicked that bird up each time and never got it. Trigg and I finally took his GSP Dodger there with a plan. We pushed the bird to the upper corner of the cover and trigg got him when he blasted out with his gorgeous and rare 24" PHE 16. The bird was the biggest ruffie I've seen outside of my back yard, a magnificent specimen that we should have had mounted out of pure respect; he was a survivor. I actually regretted shooting him after seeing what a bird he was. Would have rather left him to keep breeding. It sure was an excellent hunt though. I haven't seen another bird in that cover since.
|