Ruffs up north

[Harold Pickens]

In the past years, the weather in early Oct has been too darn warm and dry, hard on men and dogs. It is also miserable hunting in that slopy wet early snow that soaks right thru you. Tough waiting all year for a hunting trip, and then having bad weather.Looks like it will be better for me when I get up there next Sat--but as they say, it is what it is..I will be going regardless of weather forecast and bird numbers. Getting all those little chores and last minute packing done this weekend, luckily the wife is in Fla, so not getting sidetracked. Good luck to all.

[mobirdhunter]

Well, it's definitely not too warm in the north country right now. We arrived on Saturday to spitting snow and rain, and Sunday's high was 29 degrees. Bruce must have taken the snow with him -- hallelujah -- as we found only traces and wet conditions.

Too early to tell about bird numbers, but we flushed 9 on Sunday hunting about 4 hours, and yesterday, after the sun finally came out, we had a nice two hour hunt during which we flushed 12 grouse. Our Alder had 5 nice points on this hunt, but her handler (yours truly) got no shots from her points, and, predictably, missed a wild flushing incomer on his only chance. That's grouse hunting.

We have very spotty cell and internet service, but I will try to send another report or two...and hope that Harold and others will share their north country grouse hunts also.