Rough forecast for grouse next fall…

If all goes well, it’s looking to be a tough fall for the birds.

I’d like to introduce the newest little bird demon in St Louis County – my english setter pup Sydney.

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Tuckered out after a hard session of chewing.

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It was a great season for me a son in Lake co.
I could not imagine how much better it would have been with a dog…
I am hopeful that with the easy winter that this coming season might be another great one.

mark-bruzek wrote:

I am hopeful that with the easy winter that this coming season might be another great one.

With not much snow this year they were more susceptible to predators. If we have another dry spring that could really help with nesting success though.

Congrats on the new pup!

-J.

I suspect that the snow concept is a bit more complex.

Deep fluffy snow does provide ruffed grouse with thermal protection during times of severe cold and in areas without balsams or other pines.

Snow that is hardened over or covered with glaze ice can be very detrimental to grouse because grouse must traverse the top of this snow and they are fully exposed to predators … the most successful predators on grouse are often birds of prey.

No snow cover should enable grouse to use their natural camouflage to avoid predators. They definitely did not need snow for thermal protection this year. Less birds of prey migrate down from Canada when winters there are mild.

Low and no snow cover years lend themselves to more hunting pressure in December. Grouse often congregate and with late season hunting pressure there are a few studies out there that say hunter kill can become additive instead of compensatory (certain percentage of birds die anyways). When hunting pressure becomes additive it means hunter mortality does make a difference on the overall population cycle.

Spring and early summer nesting conditions typically trump most other factors. Especially if you are able to find areas in the fall that had good nesting and brood survival success.

You two save some birds for the rest of us!

suzuki wrote:

You two save some birds for the rest of us!

No problem, We will save just a few for ya …..

It’s been too many years since i had a pup – i forgot how much chaos surrounds them. Or maybe I am just getting old!!

I have some grouse wings and tails that I would gladly share so you can get the pup on the right track.
If you are interested.
Ron

Congrats on the pup. Shooting birds over your own dog that you trained is simply the best.

Brittman is spot on with how snow impacts grouse in the winter.

Thanks a ton, Ron! Thats a great offer and I truly appreciate it.

This pup was planned a long time in advance so we stocked up last fall.

Have been taking her on walks out back and have found a few birds, gotten her to where the bird had been and then told her how smart she was when she showed interest in their smell…..its a start!

Timmy – one thing I like to do when they’re that young is before you go take the pup for the walk in the woods, go plant a grouse wing in a spot that’s in grousey cover. Then take your dog and walk them thru that area and essentially lead them to it but let them find it on their own. Follow it up with a bunch of praise. Try not to use the exact same spots over and over. Start working in whatever “hunt” command you plan to use (i.e. “hunt it up”, “find the bird”, etc).

Good looking pup Timmy. I did not get out much last year. Hoping this year is as good as I heard guys did last year.

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

Timmy – one thing I like to do when they’re that young is before you go take the pup for the walk in the woods, go plant a grouse wing in a spot that’s in grousey cover. Then take your dog and walk them thru that area and essentially lead them to it but let them find it on their own. Follow it up with a bunch of praise. Try not to use the exact same spots over and over. Start working in whatever “hunt” command you plan to use (i.e. “hunt it up”, “find the bird”, etc).

I’ve trained a number of dogs in my time and this is solid info

I was in the same spot as you exactly one year ago. My setter just turned one a couple months ago. Love them.

Have you had setters before?

Nice looking pup. Love the colors! I see birds in your future!