I have just returned from another great Grouse hunt in Michigan's Upper Pennisula. Last year a fellow PGCA member and I were discussing 16ga loads when he mentioned a member from the 16ga Society that had lived in the U.P. and now resides in the Chicago area. Well it turns out this gentalman was my old neighbor from Marquette. We made plans and joined forces Friday for a Grouse hunt south of Marquette.
Friday am we met in Gwinn for breakfast and hit the woods from there. Mike has an older GSP Sophie and a young Setter named Drummer and I had Daisy my 8yr old GSP. We hunted several different areas rotating the dogs at each destination. Birds were pointed in each location and some were actually shot at. The leaves have thinned substantially from two weeks ago but are still thick but at leat a glimpse of the Grouse was had and shots were taken. Although we didn't hurt the population any we tried and that along with connecting with an old friend after what has to be at least 25 years is what counts. There was excellent dog work by all three and I got my first Woodcock with Gunner's gun.
How do these birds fly through the thick cover without getting hurt amazes me. Why don't they fly across the logging road? The river is the Escanaba and some of the cover along it.
Friday was the only "hunting day" as it rained Saturday but I did some exploring of the many two tracks and found some "birdy" looking areas for another time and Sunday I drove home as it was raining yet again all 7hrs of the trip
To sum it all up 14hrs in the truck, one hunting day, one Woodcock shot, reacquainted with an old friend, good dog work....priceless
Shots at Grouse
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