Scouting for covers

[Andy]

I put a lot of birds up on public land that is hunted by other bird hunters. You never know if you're there at the right time or not. I put a lot of miles on that others just aren't willing to do. That being said, we hunted an entire day in Maine a few years ago in the most picturesque part of the area near Rangeley Lakes and it was idyllic. Young aspen, some apple, creeks, conifers, beech nuts everywhere. Not one grouse or woodcock. We drove around too, but limited ourselves to within several square miles which wasn't likely far enough to really find the birds. Back at Grants one of the guides said, "Oh that hasn't held a grouse in years. They prefer across the lower road down low not up high lately." When asked he said there is simply more preferable cover nearby but we never quite figured out what was wrong. Some places hold, some don't. I notice that I put up a lot of grouse in early season and once the broods break up it's much harder. And the places that still look amazing today hold nothing compared to 4-5 years ago when they really produced. There was a saying that was for chukar hunters but it also applies to grouse hunters, "My, you have big thighs and a small head, you must be a grouse hunter."