My guess is that most grouse hunting in Nova Scotia is guys like me out for a stroll on trails or fairly open places. With dogs, less so. It was a real eye-opener when an Alabama friend asked if I knew of good grouse habitat. He hunts quail down there and snipe, grouse and woodcock in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, all with a 28.
With me and his dog Rebel, he headed straight into alders and popple. I had no idea what he was doing and prefer my lackadaisical, gun-at-ready stroll with my sniffy Lab. Weight is important so I usually carry a SKB o/u 20, other times a light 1899 12ga Francotte IC/M 26-inch barrels owned by Charlie Billings of New York, captain of the 1912 US Olympic trap team. It's a sweet grouse and duck gun for an old man.
