First of the season

[Steve Milbocker]

Well it’s small game season again here on Beaver Island so I got out for a couple of hours today. Cover is thicker than the hair on a dogs back. Birds are skittish for some reason,I put up 4 and only saw this one. Station 8 high house = grouse burger. I did manage to salvage a few morsels though

 

[Steve Milbocker]

My luck continued today.

 

[Patocazador]

Good eating and a nice 870, the most indestructible shotgun there is.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

4 for 5 so far. Birds were drumming a lot today but they are holding tight and it is really heavy cover still. If a guy was hunting with a good dog I’m sure you’d do much better. Having a good time nonetheless.

 

[PonyKiller]

Looking good on both accounts

 

[wombat13]

I'd love to get into upland birds. Such a different type of hunting than deer and turkey. We have grouse on our property; we were loaded with them several years ago, but the population seems to be on a downswing in NY. Still, I hear drumming pretty much every time I'm there in the spring and fall. I tried one time with a couple friends, one of whom had a bird dog. The dog was an all purpose dog for ducks, grouse and pheasant. Turns out the dog was better at finding porcupines than grouse.

If a guy wanted to try grouse without a dog, how do you go about it?

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Wombat, I don’t have a bird dog so I just find an area that holds birds and slowly walk patterns through the area and hopefully get a shot when they flush. Sometimes you catch them on the ground if you look carefully. I know purists scoff at the idea of shooting them on the ground but I say a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush I’m more interested in eating them. If they are drumming try stalking them. Keep an eye on logs. They like to sit on them. Move slowly and as quietly as you can.

 

[Armored farmer]

You need a hunting buddy.
I suggest a britt.

Good looking 870! 20ga?

 

[Duster340]

Heck of a day in the field!

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Farmer,yup 20ga. At this point in life I really don’t have the time necessary to train a dog properly and that would be a huge disservice to the dog

 

[Armored farmer]

Farmer,yup 20ga. At this point in life I really don’t have the time necessary to train a dog properly and that would be a huge disservice to the dog

Ah, the Britts train you!.
My wife is on the web looking at pups every day....we call it her puppy porn.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

Ah, the Britts train you!.

That’s what scares me

 

[Terry G]

All around Bird Dog.

 

[d31tc]

If a guy wanted to try grouse without a dog, how do you go about it?

Before my last dog, my advice would be walk though a lot of crap and don't expect much. Expect them to jump when you are tangled in a thicket mid stride and watch them fly away. At least that's what I used to do. Also, stop in areas that look like they should hold a grouse or two and stop. Make some noise. Make them nervous. Wait to see if anything jumps. If not, move on.

Last time out with my dog, I was just traveling past an area with no cover, with the exception of 1 dead fall that I just walked pass. I had less than zero expectation of a grouse and was completely ignoring it. My dog didn't. He gets birdy and I go back to call him off. He's on the other side of the dead fall pushing his nose in when the grouse jumps and flies a few feet over my head. Of course I miss the passing shot, but got it on the second. Last grouse I got last season. Had to put my dog down after last season. Having a dog can be a blessing and a curse.

 

[Terry G]

Dog's are expensive, I don't care. You have to train them, I don't care. You have to feed them and take them to the Vet. I don't care. They will Hunt their heart out to get you that Bird. I care a lot.

 

[d31tc]

View attachment 1034703 Dog's are expensive, I don't care. You have to train them, I don't care. You have to feed them and take them to the Vet. I don't care. They will Hunt their heart out to get you that Bird. I care a lot.

Yep. It's just that last trip to the vet that is a curse.

 

[Terry G]

Yep. It's just that last trip to the vet that is a curse.

Absolutely agree with you. With Labrador's, or whatever you prefer, the first year and the last year are the hardest.

 

[Random 8]

We've had an abundance of rainy, grey weekends, so haven't chased many birds. The 3 I've gotten have been with blunt points and my recurve while bow hunting deer, includign one who was too curious and delicious while camping in the NF for a fishing trip. Unfortunately no pictures, as it was a bit wet to bring my phone. I have discovered the joys of stalking grouse in the heavy, wet conifers however. One had flushed from the same spot walking out 2 times in a row, so I stalked him the 3rd time and slicked him off his stump at 25 yards. My shot was a bit high, but caught him on liftoff as he tried to flush and dodge the arrow. Would have been a cool "trick shot" if I'd had a go-pro rigged up. "I meant to do that!" He was about 20' outside the cone of one of my game cameras, or it might have been captured for posterity. I moved the camera as it was his favorite treestump and I got an SD card full of grouse video in 2 weeks, all blurred and obscured by one small balsam bough.

 

[Edcnh]

I have flushed quite a few birds this year but without a dog they are often gone in thick cover before I can get a shot at them. But I really enjoy bird hunting, more so than deer hunting.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

All around Bird Dog.View attachment 1034493

Love the birds, the puppy, and the Auto-5!