North Shore Grouse Report

[rwwong]

was up on the North Shore this weekend, and had about 2.5 hrs to walk some logging trails. I've done very little grouse hunting, and my dog has never had the scent of a grouse under his nose. Needless to say, I didn’t know what to expect. We ended up moving 8 birds, 7 of them he pointed in only 2.5 hrs. I had two legitimate shots, of which I connected on both of them. He got scent of a bird about 30 minutes in to the hike, flushed it out for an easy shot right over the logging trail. Once he got the first bird in the bag he was a mad man, and he pointed the rest. The second bird was from a point on two birds, one I couldn’t even see the flush, the other one he flushed towards me and I landed it on the logging trail. The other ones, were classic grouse flushes and I either couldn’t get a safe shot off, or I threw up a hail mary.

All birds came from areas with clover on the ground, lots of brush and downed trees, shade, aspen/popple and pine trees. Both crops on my birds were full with clover.

[MuleShack]

Sounds like a fun after noon.

[R. Miller]

Nice report. Great looking bird dog.

[rwwong]

Thanks guys!

[2thepointsetters]

Welcome to the addiction.

[rwwong]

Welcome to the addiction.

I've focused so much of my time on pheasant hunting, but I really think I could get into grouse. I had an absolute blast.

[IceAge@work]

I had a good hunt up there a week ago. Bird numbers seemed to be pretty good with some young ones still hanging around the trails.

Did you see many others hunting? I saw a lot of cars\trucks on the main Forest Roads but almost no one walking the trails.

Also how were the leaves? They were still pretty thick a week ago.

Good luck on your future hunts. This is a good year to introduce your hunting partner to the game.

[rwwong]

Saw a few trucks, parked at the trail heads, and one other guy walking the trails. It was duck opener, so there weren't too many guys out.

The leaves were past peak colors, and were starting to shed. It wasn't thick, but it wasn't wide open either.