reporting on a week in Western Maine

[Woodcock survey]

Russel I have been hunting about 60 miles south of there since 1985. The first year out of a camp owned by friends a flush rate of 35 to 40 birds a day was normal. This held for about 10 years and woodcock were hunted first in the AM. then grouse the rest of the day. Please do not ask about success rates on grouse.

My sons grew up hunting this area where we never had to use a vehicle and could walk our legs off in good cover. Fast forward to last week and the camp has been sold and we are day tripping. Flushed 2 grouse and 3 woodcock and the boys( now in their 50s got a few but i came home with a clean pair of barrels.

The building of second homes and retirement homes in the best abandoned farm land and a notable decrease in bird numbers over the years is lamentable but at 75 i i think i love it as much now as i ever did.

We have spent the afternoons looking for new covers, traveling a good distance but finding the numbers low and those we meet saying they find the same. Newcomers to the sport are very happy with 6 to 8 a day and i say nothing about the old days in fear they will not believe me. We still will continue to search and there is no other hunting that compares with it.