Minnesota Recovery

[Harold Pickens]

Garry, I spent today visiting old covers I haven't been into for 15+ years. Was pleased to find good grouse numbers in those old covers. Rain blew in but then ended, allowing me to hunt one last cover. Willie has been laid up for two days limping on his right front foot, but put him out for this last evening hunt and he was knocking them dead, but birds were flushing too far out to shoot . Finally managed to knock down a big gray phase cock bird with the 28. Have one more week up here.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Harold Lee Pickens

Garry, I spent today visiting old covers I haven't been into for 15+ years. Was pleased to find good grouse numbers in those old covers. Rain blew in but then ended, allowing me to hunt one last cover. Willie has been laid up for two days limping on his right front foot, but put him out for this last evening hunt and he was knocking them dead, but birds were flushing too far out to shoot . Finally managed to knock down a big gray phase cock bird with the 28. Have one more week up here.

Good luck, and be safe, Harold. We were rained on most of the day yesterday, but got out for an end-of-day short hunt with Rill. She again pointed on our way back and three grouse and a woodcock got up. I managed to down two grouse...but not a true double. Needless to say, that was the highlight of the day. The place we were exploring was an area we used to hunt often back in the day (1990s). Maybe we should visit old coverts more often, eh?

[Andy]

Great post Garry and Elaine! : )

[Phil Yearout]

Good for you both (or all, I guess, including the dogs!).

[mobirdhunter]

..."Always good to get away, always good to get back home."

We are finally home after a long ride following a 12 mile last day in the Northwoods. We tried hard to get the pups into birds on this last day as we had lost the previous two to rain. I especially wanted to shoot a bird for Aspen, who had good bird work throughout the trip, but never resulting in decent shots. We walked over 12 miles on our last day, saw some new cover, and plotted out strategies for next year. Ah, next year! Anymore, I still plan for next year, but don't count on it. We reserved Cabin #6 again, and we may have a new pup to introduce to the grouse that have supplied us with so much over so many years. How's that for optimism!?

Thanks to those who've commented on our posts and photos.

Photos:

1. Our last day was mostly cloudy and cold, soggy from two days of rain that kept us out of the woods. Our 4WD was necessary for some coverts.

2&3. One unique feature of some Northwoods counties is that residents can set up cabins on county land. No water, sewer or electricity allowed, and the land is still open to the public. We found this cabin deep in a county forest and enjoyed reading the note on the window.

4. I brought three Parkers with the plan to use each to take a grouse. My last gun, one we call "Reggie's Gun," a sweet little CHE 20 with some very unique features (raised flat rib, articulated trigger, checkered butt and perfect upland choking). I shoot this gun better than any I own, but on this day its barrels were clean when I put it away. Still, it was a joy to carry and think about its pathway to me from its first year of 1918 to the wilds of Minnesota.

5. Although the day did not give us grouse, it did distinguish itself with this sunset. Hopefully we'll see more Northwoods sunsets in the years to come.

[Dean Weber]

Good to hear Elaine, the pups & you are home safe.

But….did you use the cabin to eat lunch? Maybe a quick nap?

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dean Weber

Good to hear Elaine, the pups & you are home safe.

But….did you use the cabin to eat lunch? Maybe a quick nap?

Lots of 💤 in the truck cab (that would be Elaine while I was driving). We saw a family of little people in your old cabin

[Dean Weber]

I am having a hard time stopping laughing trying to write this…😂

That cabin was not designed for typical sized humans….just sayin!

[Clark McCombe]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, all of it.
It takes a rough time with cancer and radiation to understand things a little differently.
We are all in this support group, let’s pray that our friends who have not been on the treatment table never have to be there.
And those dogs …. They are the angels …. Their eyes speak without words .

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Clark McCombe

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, all of it.
It takes a rough time with cancer and radiation to understand things a little differently.
We are all in this support group, let’s pray that our friends who have not been on the treatment table never have to be there.
And those dogs …. They are the angels …. Their eyes speak without words .

Amen, Clark, and thanks for your friendship and encouragement. I know that I am blessed and grateful for it.