doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com From the Great White North...

Woodcock seem to have been plentiful for maybe 3 weeks now. Good numbers of local birds. But my own stay in the UP was cut short by that long rainy period. Still plenty of doodles hanging around northern WI. But amazing how quickly the coverts have dried out--after rain, wind, and snow. From the birds I shot yesterday, I don't think the locals are heading south just yet. They weren't carrying the heavy strips of fat I usually assume are an indication either of flight birds, or of locals about to start their journey south.

Larry,
Fortunately I showed up at the tail of the wet period. Bird numbers were down, but I enjoyed my stay regardless. That new lightweight Churchill carried very nicely for me.
Karl

Had some better weather yesterday and went out with my 14-year old son. The birds clearly are more-active on sunny days and we saw quite a few. My boy even shot his first grouse, ever. A big deal in my little world, a right-of-passage thing. The family made a big fuss of it (as they should IMHO).

This trip of yours is sounding better with every post Lloyd. Congratulations to your boy and I hope you both have many more memorable events in the field together.
Steve

Lloyd,
Shooting a first grouse is quite a milestone for anyone, and very special for your son. Congrats!
Karl

Thank you Karl! I explained to him that in my youth, it was a pretty special thing to do (1970s) but.... that I suspected his peers in Colorado wouldn't even know what he had accomplished. We were born on two separate centuries (20th and 21st) and much has obviously changed. I also explained to him that there weren't many places left to accomplish such a feat (even where I grew up in Pennsylvania), because of the loss of habitat and low-bird numbers (due to West Nile?). His grandfather was particularly jazzed, even bragging about it to his hunting buddies (all in their 70s, of course). The congratulatory texts has been rolling on all morning here from them (the ones that do technology, of course). I don't know entirely about my son feels about it (he's just not effusive), but I certainly feel blessed to have been part of it. A right-of-passage for a parent as well, I suppose.

Congrats, Lloyd. Give my regards to your young man.

Best,
Ted

Lloyd,
Every grouse is a hard won bird, and I'll always remember my first.
I've just returned from Michigan's U.P. and found fewer birds this trip, when we are supposed to be on the upswing on grouse. I've heard about the West Nile problem, but after seeing an unusual amount of turkeys, I'm wondering if they are raiding grouse nests.
I hope you captured the hunt's highlight in pictures.
Karl

Thank you Ted!

Karl, not like I should have. We came home with four birds yesterday and no pix. Today was gorgeous shirtsleeve weather and no pix. I'll try to do better tomorrow. Too much on my plate in other areas.... I fear.

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