2021 Maine Grouse Trip

[Mike of the Mountain]

My buddy hooks me up with this trip and really doesn't want me to disclose the location. Let's just say Maine North Woods. I't going to get harder to get into the birds. IFW changed the seasons by moving the opening date to September during bear season. Locals get on them in September already. So, the guides are now trying to sell their "combo" hunts to the bear and moose hunters. They tell the bear hunters they can bring a shotgun, don't need a dog, and they can ride the roads in the AM to shoot birds then be back and heading out to a bait site for bear in the afternoon. Same for moose season which has also been expanded. The tell the moose hunters to bring their shotgun and after they kill a moose they can also ride the roads and shoot grouse. We saw 144 in 3 days in 2020. We saw 83 in 3 days in 2021 and the bird season was moved to September last year. We have shooters here that were in Jackman. One group was there 2 weeks ago and flushed 43 birds over 3 days. Another group was there the first week and saw very few birds and were told by the outfitter DO NOT BRING ANY DOGS. One needs dogs up there.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by Mike Koneski

My buddy hooks me up with this trip and really doesn't want me to disclose the location. Let's just say Maine North Woods. I't going to get harder to get into the birds. IFW changed the seasons by moving the opening date to September during bear season. Locals get on them in September already. So, the guides are now trying to sell their "combo" hunts to the bear and moose hunters. They tell the bear hunters they can bring a shotgun, don't need a dog, and they can ride the roads in the AM to shoot birds then be back and heading out to a bait site for bear in the afternoon. Same for moose season which has also been expanded. The tell the moose hunters to bring their shotgun and after they kill a moose they can also ride the roads and shoot grouse. We saw 144 in 3 days in 2020. We saw 83 in 3 days in 2021 and the bird season was moved to September last year. We have shooters here that were in Jackman. One group was there 2 weeks ago and flushed 43 birds over 3 days. Another group was there the first week and saw very few birds and were told by the outfitter DO NOT BRING ANY DOGS. One needs dogs up there.

That's just shit, sorry. So much for sporting bird pursuits. We saw road hunters last week. Was just as bad (TO ME) as the duck hunters in Currituck Sound who shoot the ducks AFTER they land on the water. How very noble of you. I guess those guys have to make a living but how disappointing.