Gun Infidelity

[Dylan Rhodes]

I tend to make room in my hunting schedule for all the guns I own to get out at least once, but at the end of the day it’s the covers I hunt that define which ones see the most action. Being from a state where grouse are few and far between, and pheasants are essentially put and take, I find myself against the grain in the classic double world by desiring short barreled small chambered guns. Both for the lightness of the gun on long grouse walks and the fact I spend my time crawling through the places where no one else wants to for pheasants. So my 20 gauge lc smith, fox and Ithaca SKB’s get the nod for now. Being my collection is just beginning and a nice sub gauge graded gun from a prominent maker takes a little financial planning - I hope someday to have more options in these smaller gauge and barrel length configurations..But my 28” 12’s get their dose of vitamin D.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dylan Rhodes

I tend to make room in my hunting schedule for all the guns I own to get out at least once, but at the end of the day it’s the covers I hunt that define which ones see the most action. Being from a state where grouse are few and far between, and pheasants are essentially put and take, I find myself against the grain in the classic double world by desiring short barreled small chambered guns. Both for the lightness of the gun on long grouse walks and the fact I spend my time crawling through the places where no one else wants to for pheasants. So my 20 gauge lc smith, fox and Ithaca SKB’s get the nod for now. Being my collection is just beginning and a nice sub gauge graded gun from a prominent maker takes a little financial planning - I hope someday to have more options in these smaller gauge and barrel length configurations..But my 28” 12’s get their dose of vitamin D.

Dylan, I spent quite a few years chasing grouse in SE Ohio. I wish you could have known it back then…or did you?

[Dylan Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

Dylan, I spent quite a few years chasing grouse in SE Ohio. I wish you could have known it back then…or did you?

My hunting career started in about 2005, so I did not. I have heard the stories of the days of old here when a dog wasn’t necessary and running out of shells was a real problem. I’ve witnessed the decline and now am seeing a mild resurgence in my area. We used to put 10 birds a day in the air when I was in high school 07-11 and then it slowly diminished to about 1-2 in 2018…then things started coming back up. just this last year I averaged 13. So I am holding out hope. However, they seem smarter than before. 13 in the air but if you were able to get close enough to 1-2 a day to get a decent shot your lucky. Most are 30 yards out and you hear the and catch them headed off through the woods….


Still more fun to me than going and popping a couple newly released pheasants though.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dylan Rhodes

My hunting career started in about 2005, so I did not. I have heard the stories of the days of old here when a dog wasn’t necessary and running out of shells was a real problem. I’ve witnessed the decline and now am seeing a mild resurgence in my area. We used to put 10 birds a day in the air when I was in high school 07-11 and then it slowly diminished to about 1-2 in 2018…then things started coming back up. just this last year I averaged 13. So I am holding out hope. However, they seem smarter than before. 13 in the air but if you were able to get close enough to 1-2 a day to get a decent shot your lucky. Most are 30 yards out and you hear the and catch them headed off through the woods….


Still more fun to me than going and popping a couple newly released pheasants though.

13 flushes in a day of hunting— in Ohio?!?!? I would not complain about that (and I keep those coverts secret).

[Dylan Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Garry L Gordon

13 flushes in a day of hunting— in Ohio?!?!? I would not complain about that (and I keep those coverts secret).

Oh no, sorry for that confusion. I do most of my hunting in PA. The grouse are north of the Allegheny national forest.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dylan Rhodes

Oh no, sorry for that confusion. I do most of my hunting in PA. The grouse are north of the Allegheny national forest.

Gosh, you had me thinking of going back to Ohio again. BTW, my wife is from the Youngstown area. I grouse hunted in some of the nearby WMAs back in the late 1980s/early 1990s and found grouse not too terribly far from you then (Madison, OH, yes?). There were enough to justify visiting my in-laws.

I hope your PA coverts have a good nesting season.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Dylan Rhodes

Oh no, sorry for that confusion. I do most of my hunting in PA. The grouse are north of the Allegheny national forest.

That makes some sense, but 13 flushes is outstanding. Western parts of NY are clearly better than the eastern parts this past year or two. So far if this rain doesn't let up the nesting season will be bad in upstate NY.