16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 26 Apr 2016 Posts: 369 Location: Vermont

Gents- today is the day but its gonna be hot again, plus I have a funeral to attend today and am busy tomorrow . So monday its supposed to be cool and a little rain so I'll be out then.

soggy socks,

Monday sounds like a good day to hunt Grouse out your way, have fun!

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Will be headed to the UP in October with my Grouse hunting partner a new pup and some fine L.C. Smith and Purdey 16 gauge double guns.

Life is good!

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

L.C. Smith 16 gauge #5, one serious Grouse gun.

Joined: 26 Apr 2016 Posts: 369 Location: Vermont

Thanks Dave, cant wait to see the pictures of your hunt. Joe

I have been hearing good reports from both WI and MI on grouse numbers.

I was suppose to leave this AM for over a month in the U.P. Unfortunately a treatment got pushed off until Tuesday so I am leaving 10/1. I will be out that evening for a hunt on Wintergreen Trail, which is approximately 310 miles due north of my house.

Taking two 16’s and two of another gauge. I have a new toy for this fall but I couldn’t find it in 16 and I have been looking on and off for 15 years with no luck. I will find it someday.

Good Hunting,
Mike

Chicago,

Mike sounds great, we are going to be in a pretty secluded cabin in the UP opening day, I hope the weather cooperates and is a little cool and maybe a little rainy. Taking my L.C. Smith #5, 16 and 12 gauge guns along with a 00 20 gauge I just purchased.

Ken will bring his 16 gauge Purdey self opener, his 16 gauge Fox and his new 16 gauge AYA #2 gun, we will should be all set for great Grouse guns this trip. We will head back to Pa for the 2nd week of Grouse season, this year.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Dave,
I don’t know where you are headed in the U.P. but the temps up by Marquette next week are the mid 40’s to low 50’s. There is plenty of morning dew for good scenting conditions if that is why you wanted rain.

Soggy Socks,
I hope you have a good opener when you get out on Monday.

Good Hunting,
Mike

Mike,

Thanks much hopefully it will be even cooler when we arrive to hunt.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 444 Location: WI

I just got back from a week in Maine, lots of birds this year. I split my time between hunting and fly fishing, and wow was it warm! It's been so dry, so warm, and the water so low the fishing was great but the catching was terrible.

My dog was definitely overrunning his nose due to the warm temps, but still had a lot of good dog work, solid points, and I brought home two birds.

I hunted opening weekend here in Wisconsin, and we missed a few birds but numbers are also good. Going up to the UP next week to hunt for a few days as well.

Good times!

Joined: 05 Oct 2017 Posts: 284 Location: Central MN

I don’t grouse hunt but some friends do some and I know a few families with cabins in the northern grouse woods. All have said the grouse numbers are up and the hunter numbers are way up.

EmtyMag,

Good to hear that both the Grouse numbers and the Grouse hunter numbers are up, we have lost one 1/3 rd of the Grouse hunters in the past few years due to age and death. Great to hear that we have many in the woods this year.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 26 Apr 2016 Posts: 369 Location: Vermont

Went to an old covert today. Actually three parts to it, one is still fairly young and should hold some woodcock once the flights start. Flew two grouse there got one young bird of this year. The rest of the cover has sadly gone by as a lot of ours here in Vermont have. I have another to hunt tomorrow after I get out of my treestand that looks promising.
[URL=https://www.jpgbox.com/page/61400_600x400/]

[/URL]

Soggy Socks,

Have fun and be careful in the tree stand! Sounds like it's time to leave the old covert alone and find some new ones. Had to let 3 of mine go last year, and this year with the lack of water here in Pa it's going to be even worse. When we find water here on the northern tier right now we also find Grouse, the Woodcock will be along the bigger streams for sure.

All the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 444 Location: WI

A 16ga SLF, a Grouse, and my Setter Very Happy

Joined: 26 Apr 2016 Posts: 369 Location: Vermont

Dave,
You are correct, as deer and bird hunters we often revert to places where we have had great action in the past. Just had this conversation with a friend, that's why I checked out that covert. There is a big alder run alongside a river near where my in laws live that I've always wanted to try. I will check that out this week. I've lost quite a few of my old haunts due to condos and posted property.

I am very safe in a tree stand these days, I use a safety line all the way up and all the way down. Feel very fortunate I never took a tumble earlier in life! Best Joe