Grouse Report 10-29

[jbdragon17]

Uplander (aka grouse hunting slut), myself, and a buddy hunted from about 11:30-4. Uplander put up about 10 birds before we got there and went O-fer on grouse, but bagged 1 woodcock. We put up about 15 more birds and tallied 3 grouse and one more wood cock. Great day. Maybe a little warm for the dogs, but it sure beats a day in the office!

Couple pics:

[Shack]

Great report guys! Looks like grouse for dinner .

How are the deer ticks?

I can still feel them crawling up my legs from last week!

[jbdragon17]

I pulled about a dozen deer ticks off my dog. I found two on me after I was finished "de-ticking" the dog.

[Harmonica Bear]

Nice job guys!

[JSTARK]

The guy on the left needs to quit trying to look like Hugh Jackman.

[jbdragon17]

I was Wolverine for Halloween. Believe me...it is coming off. Kids want me to keep it to Trick or Treat.

[2thepointsetters]

jb--the red one looks really good. first pic I have saw of your dog. Does he hunt with similar style to Uplanders dog?

Uplander-- 0 for 10 on grouse. I think I need to help you with your shooting. Remember KEEP SHOOTING UNTIL THE BIRD IS ON THE GROUND...

[setterguy]

I knew he's been lucky all these years. 0 for 10, he's more like 0 for October.

[2thepointsetters]

Maybe we should try to get all the setters together and see if we can get Uplander some grouse to eat. They have to taste better than the woodcock he has been eating.

[jbdragon17]

2thepoint and Setterguy...

Uplander did connect right in front of me and completely folded a grouse. I was there to be his very own cheering section.

Uplanders dog did well. I got to shoot a monster woodcock over him.

The red is a female (expecting pups around xmas). She wasn't having her best day, a few false points, but she earned her keep with a really nice point which she held steady for a good while until we found her and ripped off a couple shots at the bird. She also tracked and retrieved a wounded bird for me.

She is still a little young (3 in Jan). She doesnt hunt quite as close as Uplanders dog. I dont think it is a bad thing (especially for trials), but I think I need to start reeling her in more when we bust brush vs. running her on the trails I normally hit WAY up nort.

I have a few birds I would be willing to donate if we ever want to hook up for a grouse cook.

[jbdragon17]

So... after the hunt the other day. Uplander says to me..."I have been having a hard time hitting birds this year, so I came up with a new strategy" ...here it is:

Once he tamed the bird he brought it home like this:

[gspman]

And they call these the king of upland game birds...sigh...

[2thepointsetters]

jb- did you take thoose pics??? I have never saw anything like that before.

[uplander]

Just to clear things up a bit. We had ten flushes before they got ther but I only shot once. Twice if you include the woodcock I killed....So I think I'm turning the corner and switching gears....ready to go kill some roosters now that the orange army will take over my beloved grouse woods for the next 2 weeks...Good luck all you deer slayers...leave your shotguns at home there is no grouse out there......See you boys in the corn fields.......uplander

[Matt Breuer]

Here's another tame one for you... This one would follow us around all day if he could! If a strange truck came in the yard he was a goner though, but would fly right back to our yard when they left! Cute little bugger!

I hear stories like this, or see this nearly every year. It seems like some younger birds find people curious, or get confused, who knows why it happens! HollywoodPete has a funny story of one riding around with his coworker on his wheeler I think....

[Shack]

I know someone who has then flying into their deck window all the time and sitting around on deck. I have never heard of them getting to close to birds, like you guys.

Grouse are very intresting birds.

[stick]

During a few summers in college, I worked at my hometown cemetery in northern MN. There was a grouse that would follow me around on the riding mower for most of the day. Then, he'd come charging in grouse attack mode at the trimmer when that was running. Wierdest thing. I still remember looking back while on the mower to see him just trotting behind me for hours on end.

[Kyle]

This happens more than people would think! There has been several outdoor tv shows highlighting this kind of thing. It happened to my grandpa up in the iron range a few years ago. The bird would follow him everywhere when he was outside!