Late Season Grouse Hunt

[ACP230]

I took my 14 year-old son out grouse hunting this morning.

We haven't been out much and hadn't taken the Springer Spanial out yet this fall. She was picked up as a stray in a neighboring county and unclaimed at the shelter. I was a little concerned that she'd hit the woods and just start running. Instead, encouraged with bits of hot dog bun, and praise, she stayed within 30-40 yards most of the time. That's just about where my old Springer used to work.

The woods were wet, but we didn't actually get rained on. We found no grouse, but the dog did tree a red squirrel. Springers are fur and feather dogs, so I approved of that. She put it up to the top of an evergreen and I had a clear shot, but didn't want the skinny red squirrel.

At the second place we went there is a small dam where we fish for trout in the season. It was as full as I've ever seen it. The water was dark and still and, although all the brilliant colors were long gone, the place was beautiful, as always.

I needed to get out in the woods this morning. We timed it just right too, since a half hour after we got back home it started raining. It has been raining, off and on, ever since.

We may go again tomorrow for a little while.

 

[ACP230]

My son and I made another late grouse hunting trip Sunday afternoon.

It was combined with scouting for deer season, which starts here Wednesday. We saw tracks, rubs and found one scrape. If we don't get too much snow we may look for deer there Wednesday. Too much snow will close the road in and I'm not in good enough shape to walk down into the valley and back out.

Brought the Springer again and she didn't need much encouragement to hunt close this time. I flushed one grouse while the dog was on the other side of the bush road and missed it by shooting over it. Got to get the face down to the stock to hit.

Drove a half mile to check a little clearing. For 15 years there's been a scrape under an apple tree there and buck rubs at the other end of the opening. No different this year, although the scrape may have been smaller. There is often a grouse in the place too and the dog bounced one for us.

I shot at it twice with my 20 gauge OU and missed both times. Not sure how many shooting faults were at work that time, but obviously some were.

Cold enough for my deer hunting coat, and windy, off and on.
Still a fine day in the woods.

 

[kentucky_smith]

beats working

 

[ACP230]

Today was the first day of deer season.
Grouse hunting is suspended for two weeks, or so.
My son and I were in the same place we hunted grouse on Sunday afternoon, sitting and waiting for deer.
After we'd been in place for a while two grouse flew out of a small apple tree and into a couple of big maples in the tree line.
They were nowhere around on Sunday, of course.

If the snow holds off we may go looking for them again in the December grouse season.

 

[anapex]

I did my first grouse hunting in 5 years this past weekend here in PA. Spent most of the day out with my Dad and a family friend and we only flushed three. Of course all three were on my side and four shots later I still didn't have anything to show for it at the end of the day except for a pulled groin. Great fun though can't wait to get back out after deer season and try for some more. Probably after some practice though

 

[GSPKurt]

I practice all the time. I just shoot in the air and curse. Just like when I hunt grouse.