Our oldest son and I just rolled in after three beautiful fall days out exploring and enjoying the woods. Anyone else getting out and putting some miles on your boots in search of grouse?
Oh, I am so envious . We have been going to Northwoods of WI for 20+ years and with some health issues of my own along with my 14 year old GSP who has hers as well, this will be 2 years in a row we will have missed. The pictures are beautiful and I can almost smell the scented air! You have a couple of terrific meals on that tailgate. Enjoy and do it for as long as you are able, as Father Time has a cruel,way of sneaking up on us and our 4 legged partners. Lord knows I miss it and all of the really nice friends we have made over the years while there
Nice work Hov. You guys find all those without a dog? I've only been out once with the gun, hiked about 5km in the foothills and only saw one, which got away from me. Course the next weekend when I'm out hiking with my wife and no gun I see 5 just sitting on the trail.
Thanks for that perspective JD Guy. Nowadays I don’t take it for granted. Our son is 28 and I am 30 years older than him. I have to pace myself a bit more now. At his age it was not unusual for me to leave the house at first light, take the old logging road down the gravel and wander through a vast network of tote roads and my own trails, sometimes over 8 hours a day with hardly stopping. I used to just take a few apples along, a canteen of water, and some salt/pepper to use on a grouse split and roasted over a small fire. I had a really good dog back then, but she is long gone now. Now I go hard for half the time, and by the end of 4 hours I can notice my legs getting heavy. If I overdo it, I may get a leg cramp later in the day. My times out now rekindle many good memories of solitary days afield, and bring me even more joy to see them enjoy it as much as I do. I hope you can go back to your favorite hunting grounds, take it easy, enjoy yourself, and enjoy the memories as well.
We walk a lot of good cover, and constantly explore new potential coverts. I also have a bank of many good coverts from years of wearing out boots. In my heyday I would wear out a good pair of Danners in less than two full seasons.
Beautiful country.... Good lookin' birds... Looks alot like a Praire Chicken, that we use to go chase... A lot of walking was involved...
Saw only three all season. One went home with me and I've gotta admit, after seeing only three so far, I felt a little guilty about taking that one.
All you said is true! We started going to WI when I was still working and would drive the entire trip with one night of motel on the road, and rent a cabin on a lake for 5 days and then drive back. Really hunted hard then as there wasn't any time to waste! I had never even seen a real live Ruffed Grouse or Woodcock before and knew almost zero about how or where to hunt them only what I had read.In retrospect I think the challenges and learning about the birds and habitats were equally frustrating and enjoyable As we continued our trips each year (and were retired) we stayed 3-4 weeks and started camping in a travel trailer which was enjoyable in its own way as we met great people in the campground, as well as people in the small town and would reacquaint every year. My wife is terrific and loved the experience as much as I did, even though she didn't carry a shotgun she would slog through the woods right with me just to enjoy the dog work. In the early trips we didn't hurt the Grouse population and often had only a couple birds to prove that we even went. It's about the total experience for us not how many birds taken. The locals all thought we were completely nuts to drive 1100 miles one way just to hunt Partridge!! I have also been lucky to introduce one of our grown sons to the sport as well as our oldest grandson. The grandson has flown up to hunt a 5 day period with us at least 3 different years and our son once or twice. The joy of introducing others to the sport and watching them behind our GSP is much more rewarding than shooting birds myself. Plus I still get to eat them! OK, enough with my epistle... just an aging man and his dog rambling on.... Again, thanks so much for sharing your hunt!!
GREAT pictures of some beautiful country and birds. I have been out once for an early season Teal hunt but nothing else so far. We still have a lot leaves on and I like to wait till I can see a little better for getting after squirrels. Got some Wood Ducks on the pond and I plan to introduce myself to them in the morning... Nice 870 Wingmasters!!
Thanks Ronaldo. We just have small pine/red squirrels in our grouse woods. The 870 Wingmaster in the pictures of our son was bought new for under $200 with my first job money in 1980 at age 16. It is now his gun and this was his first time trying it out. He is very happy with it. It is called a “Light Weight” 20ga. It has and improved cylinder choke and Mahogany wood. The weight on these is 5lbs 12 oz. It has a scaled-down receiver, whereas my brother-in-law’s older 870 20 ga has a 12ga receiver with the barrel necked up to fit.
Great pictures of land and birds. So glad you were able to spend time with your son. Those memories are priceless.
Great pics, Thanks I'm living vicariously through your adventures! Wood ducks are my favorite ducks to eat. Small but real tasty
We camped at Soleberg Lake Campground just outside of Phillips and hunted over the years in Price County and most of those Counties adjoining Price. Absolutely loved the entire experience with the cooler temps, fun and friendly taverns to eat in, cooking outside and the evening campfires. As stated earlier we never hurt the Grouse population much but did manage to take a few to enjoy in the evening meals. When our oldest grandson would be able to come up with us for a few days it was especially nice. I could act as guide and dog handler and he would do the majority of the shooting which made me particularly happy. He is a better shot gunner than I am on Grouse. Must be his youth and quicker reflexes! Do you hunt there as well?
Right on. I figured you might have been around the "rough grouse capital of the world". It's beautiful country for sure. I don't have a bird dog, but like to see a good one work. I bear hunt right in that area, mostly between Hwy H and Hwy 182. I met a couple guys a couple weekends ago at the Wintergreen resort that were up bird hunting from SC. I've spent some evenings at the Polish Palace and the Comfort Cove on Solberg Lake. Hopefully your health allows you to get back up there next year!
Yes, I know exactly where you are talking about! Polish Palace is always visited once or twice when we are up, as well as Birch Island usually on Friday night south of Phillips, Club 13,Harbor View,Crane Chase Tavern, Sunset Grill for Prime Rib night and others. Oh Phillips Cafe and Bonnie's for breakfast occasionally or homemade pie. All of this when we weren't cooking at camp. Oh do I miss it. Especially all of the great people we have gotten to know and spend time with! When you spend a day in the Grouse Woods you can certainly work up a hunger and a thirst!! The early years when we went we stayed at Hidden Valley Cabins on Hwy W owned by Jeff and Trish Kempke, super nice folks. It's now in different hands though.
It's a small world.. Get back up there if you can, whether you can hit the 'grouse woods' very hard or not.
