Late season Michigan Grouse

Heff · 12-07-2015, 09:34 PM

Warm weather in northern Michigan after deer gun season is rare, but when you get the chance the grouse hunting can be real good!
Drove up this weekend with my neighbor for one last hunt. Decided to go back to basics and take up my old re-stocked, re-blued, choke and chamber modified 16 ga Trojan. This is my first Parker, purchased about 25 years ago from an old grouse hunter who had all the mods done on this gun. I'm not sure why I ever stopped shooting this gun? I have nicer more original ones, but none I shoot as well with as this one.

Bill Murphy · 12-08-2015, 09:32 AM

My Wirehair, Eva, wants an introduction to your pup.

Dean Romig · 12-08-2015, 10:27 AM

Wow! That looks like you limited out on grouse. Vermont is 4/day, what's the limit in MI?

birddogdoc · 12-08-2015, 01:30 PM

Looks like a blessed day

Heff · 12-08-2015, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Wow! That looks like you limited out on grouse. Vermont is 4/day, what's the limit in MI?

There are 6 birds in the picture, two guys, over two days. But 4 of them are mine and one of the others was shot over Milo

The limit in Michigan is 5 per day. The chances of me getting a double pin on grouse is slim and none, but slightly better odds than me shooting a limit of 5...

This was a fantastic weekend for me, I had a really good year on woodcock and had lots of good opportunities on grouse, but just couldn't seem to consistantly close the deal on them. This weekend everything came together.

Heff · 12-08-2015, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

My Wirehair, Eva, wants an introduction to your pup.

Milo would love to meet her. I can't say enough good things about this breed, but I'm sure you already know that.

C.O.B. · 12-09-2015, 10:04 AM

A nice weekend for sure Heff. I'm still looking for a deer but hope to get out for a Grouse hunt as well. Daisy and I made a trip to the Hay Marsh for some Pheasants and I took Gunner's gun out so I kinda had both dogs with me. The season goes to Jan 1 so there is still time.

Harold Pickens · 12-15-2015, 11:52 AM

Heff, were you in the northern lower or go up to the UP. Iwas just saying yesterday that I wish i had planned on going back up after deer season. I dont think there is any snow on the ground yet up there. My friend Mike was going back up to the Atlanta area, but got an invite to Kansas and is there instead hunting pheasants and quail--and doing quite well.

Heff · 12-15-2015, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harold Lee Pickens

Heff, were you in the northern lower or go up to the UP. Iwas just saying yesterday that I wish i had planned on going back up after deer season. I dont think there is any snow on the ground yet up there. My friend Mike was going back up to the Atlanta area, but got an invite to Kansas and is there instead hunting pheasants and quail--and doing quite well.

We hunt in the upper / lower, my neighbor and hunting buddy Glen has a nice house on a little lake near Lewiston. It's a pretty sweet deal for me. I buy him a steak dinner and jug of Jim Beam, he drags me up there about every weekend in October / early November.
I normally don't go up with Glen after deer season because there is usually snow and cold by then, but this year it was beautiful. We did not move as many birds as earlier in the year, but the opportunities were better.

Harold Pickens · 12-15-2015, 04:11 PM

I always wanted to try hunting later in the season, just to see if the birds were in the same types of cover this time of year. Next year, i will be a week later than normal hitting the Up. I wont be there until the last week of Oct, and stay thru the end of the first week in November. I work in Martins Ferry, Oh, just across the Ohio River from Wheeling, WV. Sadly, our covers hold few birds now.