Took the dog out grousing

I never take dogs grouse hunting but decided to see how the young pointer would conduct herself and was pleasantly surprised. She worked very well but was not picking up scent very well. She might just need practice since she didnt know what they smelled like. Walked right past a couple but pointed their fresh scent. Jury is still out. The excitement came 3 minutes after starting our first covert. it was thick and we walked right up on two bears. They headed straight up a tree and I started moving the opposite direction very quickly. My dog didnt even see them! It happened fast and I didnt hesitate for a second. I dont want anything to do with mother and cubs. On our second covert the dog came on a porky. She was pushing it and barking right in front of me. Luckily the porker never flared his tail and I was able to get my dog away from it. It was another intense few seconds I had to end with a warning shot to break them up. Third covert nothing happened but I was on the lookout for skunks and wolves big time!!

Sounds like an exciting time! I gotta laugh that your pup didn’t even notice two bears. Aside from the excitement, how was the hunting?

5 flushes. One wild shot.

Yep, we were within 10′ of a porcupine Sunday afternoon and it seems that my dog just isn’t interested… I like that!!! The big old beast made it up the tree and Viv just looked at him lumber up… 1 grouse up and shot and missed on one woodcock. The grouse had a crop full of red berries, I am thinking highbush cranberry and was nice grey phase adult.

Mark

I flushed a couple woodcock for the firs time so maybe they are starting to migrate?

Porky encounters are never fun, but it’s crazy how some dog’s ignore them and others try to tear them apart even after having been quilled multiple times. My 3 dog’s have never been stuck even though I’m sure they’ve had many encounters, while my buddies dogs will get in a scrap with them every chance they get.

Good luck on the grouse Suzuki! I’m sure it won’t be long before your pooch will be a grouse pinning master.

I haven’t seen any woodcock where I’m at yet, but I’m sure it won’t be long. They usually start showing up in numbers around the second weekend in October for me.

Resident woodcock population is down big time by me…obviously the very late spring didn’t help them. Migrants might start showing up this week, but suspect we’re at least one more week away. Grouse numbers might be a wee smidge better than last year but pretty even for the most part.

Sounds like and eventful outing. You got that 10MM on your side for bear encounters?

kooty wrote:

Sounds like and eventful outing. You got that 10MM on your side for bear encounters?

I dont have a holster for that cannon yet. My G23 is always with me. I’ll be carrying bear rounds in that soon.