Grouse Opener

[C.O.B.]

Grouse season began Saturday and needless to say it was a bittersweet opener with the loss of Gunner. I spent the weekend with a friend at his cabin near Grayling, MI which is 90 muineutes north of me. Dave lost a dog to a trajic accident a year or so ago and his son Josh just had his dog rufus up and die on him a couple of months ago. They have very good English Setters.

We got a little later start on Saturday morning then what we planned on as we indulged heavily the night befor in the adult beverage department toasting our friends that were no longer with us, telling stories about first points, great retrieves and our excellent shooting abilities.

Early Grouse hunting is usually only a morning affair as it warms up quickly. Saturday would be no exception as it was in the low 50's at 9am. Dave carried a new to him Parker VHE 16 that I had found for him and I of course had Gunner's Gun. We had two Setters with us Ella 4 and Gracie 2. We hadn't gone 50 yards when a Grouse busted from a tree, Dave let loose a round but missed. I think a Grouse coming out of a tree is the toughest shot in the uplands. We hadn't gone much further when both dogs locked up. Dave came in from one side I came from the other. A covey busted and didn't afford me a shot but Dave got off one. Gracie and Ella made retrieves! Yup two Grouse on the wing with one shot! If I hadn't been there I'd never believed it.

We worked that cover for about 30 minuets when Ella locked up again and Gracie honored. As I approached the point the bird busted, I saw it clear the tree and Gunner's Parker was up and ready. The bird banked left and I touched the right barrel and the load of 8's from a RST 2 1/2 paper shell connected. The first shot with Gunner's gun in the uplands has downed a Grouse. Gracie brought the prize to Dave and as he handed it to me the emotions were welling up. He shook my hand and put the bird in my vest with the "now don't cry on me" and patted me on the back and turned away. As we moved on a tear rolled down my cheek and I'm sure I heard a congratulatory bark from the heavens. My weekend was completed right there and I could called it good with no regrets as far as the hunting was concerned. By 11:30 it was nearing 70 and while there were a couple of flushes no shots were afforded.

Sunday provided a cool morning but the forcast was for low 80's. We got a much earlier start than Saturday but had one wild flush and by 10am it was getting hot. The ferns are almost 6ft high and there was no breeze and the dogs paid the price so we called it a successfull opener and headed back to camp.

As I packed to go north I was needless to say somewhat out of sorts and forgot a couple of key items like my camera. I was going to bring the bird home and photograph it with Gunner's Gun but when we got back on Saturday but by the time I watered the dogs and grabed a couple of cold beers Dave had the birds cleaned. I have included a couple of pics with what I have. The fan is on Gunner's grave next to his stone.

He is missed terribly.