Francis,
These birds are from state land. And about 200 yards from where I took this picture is a thick stand of grapevine tangles, pines and hemlocks where I've killed (and missed) grouse over the years. But the area has been devoid of grouse the last two years. It's like they just up and left. For NY grouse I need to head further north and west.
You are correct about pointing dogs and pheasants for they can ruin a good pointing dog. My father is a dyed in the wool Setter guy, and he always hated pheasant hunting to some degree because of their nature to run. I started my dog on grouse and woodcock and eventually we began hunting pheasants by the end of his 2nd year. I can read him now pretty good and I know when we've got a running bird vs. one that's pinned tight. He's become adept at trailing birds, sometimes too well. I've never hunted on a preserve with him and I prefer to take our chances on wild birds in Maine or on state-stocked gamelands in NY and NJ. That's really the only alternatives I have in my area now. We've been finding a lot of woodcock in the last week so I am enjoying that while the season lasts.
For those birds yesterday, I left my house in the late afternoon and arrived to start at 4:00PM and hunted until dusk. My plan was to get there after most people had gone home, the day cooled, and hopefully I'd have the grounds to myself. I was right. The sun was going down, it was cooling off, the cool dampness coming up from the ground was ideal for scenting that evening when I arrived.
No, I've never reloaded with Poly-Wad's to spread the shot. I may try those in my 16 ga. Trojan though. That's a little handier to carry around than the 12.
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