Two more weeks to Grouse!

Brad Dimond wrote:

I’m on the other end of the dog age spectrum. My Springer was 10 in April, probably this year and next year as a hunter. Time to figure out the next dog.

My 10 year old pointer will be my sole companion on Grouse and Pheasant opener this year. Not letting my best player sit out the first games of the season!!!!! She’s earned first chair. By the time she cant hunt the other one should be up to speed. And on and on it goes….Though this may be my last round of overlapping 2 dogs. It inhibits my wife and I a bit too much not to mention doubling the dog expenses.

I’m headed up the weekend after this and this will be my first time grouse hunting! We have a number of spots picked out and hope to cover 7-12 miles a day for three days. We will be hunting Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I’m just looking forward to the new scenery and we will be brining a new pointer up for his first hunt.

Good luck to those trying over opener!

Wow, that’s a lot of ground. Good for you! I hope the temps are cool for you and the wind and rain stay away. Wind is a real killer when it comes to Grouse but I’ve done quite well in rain although it usually keeps me from wanting to hunt.

Do you guys have tick problems?

10 years ago I tried the early season and between the dog, wife and me there musta been a couple hundred of them little bassturds on us.
Staying at a resort so got tick shampoo, filled the tub for the dog and the water was crawling with em. I was picking ticks outta the truck for a week afterwards.

I wait until later in the season now. Gawd I hate them little f’ers!!!!

A good frost will kill those ticks (and other bugs) off. I don’t see that in the near future though.

Yea ticks can come into play early season. I try not to think about it. Thanks for the reminder….

Thanks for the reminder! I will definitely be using permethrin on my clothing. I had a BWCA trip a few years ago where I recommended my canoe partner to treat his clothes. He forgot (or neglected to) and I didn’t. One day we cleaned fish on a weedy shoreline and did some fishing there as well. I had 0 ticks that night and he pulled at least 20 off…

The debate has been had in other threads – systemic treatment vs. drops vs. collars. I won’t rehash but do give my Springer Bravecto with good results and no side effects. A few years back I was picking 3-4 dozen ticks off him the week following a hunt. Now it is zero.

For myself, I use duct tape on my pants cuffs, make sure to tuck my t-shirt in and cinch pants tight with a belt. This keeps the large majority of ticks of my sking. Tick check every night before bed. Nothing worse than waking up with one crawling across you in the middle of the night.

Totally and completely jealous of you. We do not have them down here and I do not think I will be able to make it up north this fall. I am bummed to the max.

suzuki wrote:

She started actually hunting more in the woods instead of burning up and down the trail.

I have two pudelpointers and the older one is amazing at pheasants. Grouse hunting though he has never figured out to get off the trail after 7 years. The younger one, who’s kind of a dope at pheasants, figured grouse out last year and stays in the woods parallel to the trail perfectly. I thought they’d learn from each other but apparently that’s not how it works. Oh well, as long as they get tired that’s all that really matters

Regardless of the tick meds I have used to treat my dog over the years, I always keep a spray bottle of 50:50 vinegar/water solution in my truck during hunting season. Both my dog and I get sprayed before we head into the woods. I also permethrin my briar pants and hunting vest at the beginning of the season.

gimruis wrote:

A good frost will kill those ticks (and other bugs) off. I don’t see that in the near future though.

A frost will not kill the ticks. They can be bad after a frost sometimes, you have to watch.

This is Gary the grouse. He’s been here since spring. He comes running out of the brush when we’re pulling into the driveway. He’s eaten from Mrs Belltaine’s hand on several occasions. There’s 25 acres behind us and we’ve been hearing them drum for 17 years but never had such a tame one.

In case anyone’s wondering, he gets a pass this fall.

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tight_lines wrote:

Thanks for the reminder! I will definitely be using permethrin on my clothing. I had a BWCA trip a few years ago where I recommended my canoe partner to treat his clothes. He forgot (or neglected to) and I didn’t. One day we cleaned fish on a weedy shoreline and did some fishing there as well. I had 0 ticks that night and he pulled at least 20 off…

Thanks for the second reminder! I have that stuff and will be treating my clothes and boots. Problem is I may be wearing shorts hunting this weekend! I have some tick spray for the dog but she’ll end up with them all over her face. Nothing a flashlight, reading glasses and tweezers won’t “partially” solve.

belletaine wrote:

This is Gary the grouse. He’s been here since spring. He comes running out of the brush when we’re pulling into the driveway. He’s eaten from Mrs Belltaine’s hand on several occasions. There’s 25 acres behind us and we’ve been hearing them drum for 17 years but never had such a tame one.

In case anyone’s wondering, he gets a pass this fall.

Always wanted a friendly Grouse. I would protect him too.

Reef W wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
She started actually hunting more in the woods instead of burning up and down the trail.

I have two pudelpointers and the older one is amazing at pheasants. Grouse hunting though he has never figured out to get off the trail after 7 years. The younger one, who’s kind of a dope at pheasants, figured grouse out last year and stays in the woods parallel to the trail perfectly. I thought they’d learn from each other but apparently that’s not how it works. Oh well, as long as they get tired that’s all that really matters

My Pud does it right too but they sure have the perfect fur for hiding ticks!

belletaine wrote:

This is Gary the grouse. He’s been here since spring. He comes running out of the brush when we’re pulling into the driveway. He’s eaten from Mrs Belltaine’s hand on several occasions. There’s 25 acres behind us and we’ve been hearing them drum for 17 years but never had such a tame one.

In case anyone’s wondering, he gets a pass this fall.

We’ve had a few cabin grouse over the past 40 years. They hang around the mowed parking area, pick grit from the driveway and eat poplar and tag alder buds on the edges. Like you, we give them a pass. Makes the dogs a little crazy but they are fun to watch.

Brad Dimond wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>belletaine wrote:</div>
This is Gary the grouse. He’s been here since spring. He comes running out of the brush when we’re pulling into the driveway. He’s eaten from Mrs Belltaine’s hand on several occasions. There’s 25 acres behind us and we’ve been hearing them drum for 17 years but never had such a tame one.

In case anyone’s wondering, he gets a pass this fall.

We’ve had a few cabin grouse over the past 40 years. They hang around the mowed parking area, pick grit from the driveway and eat poplar and tag alder buds on the edges. Like you, we give them a pass. Makes the dogs a little crazy but they are fun to watch.

It’s pretty cool. Our dog has gotten used to it and visa versa, they share the yard and do their thing.

I was heading out for breakfast this morning and he came outta the brush and trotted alongside the truck but he always stops at the end of the driveway.

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I need to be a steely eyed ice cold killing machine this weekend and your making me want to pet them!!!!!!!! Please stop.

Suzuki – pretty sure you are like me, spend much more time looking at the @ss end of the dog and listening to grouse fly away behind the foliage that pulling the trigger. Wouldn’t miss it for anything.

belletaine wrote:

This is Gary the grouse. He’s been here since spring. He comes running out of the brush when we’re pulling into the driveway. He’s eaten from Mrs Belltaine’s hand on several occasions. There’s 25 acres behind us and we’ve been hearing them drum for 17 years but never had such a tame one.

I have seen a story on Minnesota Bound about grouse doing this more than once. They’re like a tame chicken. One even jumped up on a guy’s ATV and rode around on it with him.

Brad Dimond wrote:

Suzuki – pretty sure you are like me, spend much more time looking at the @ss end of the dog and listening to grouse fly away behind the foliage that pulling the trigger. Wouldn’t miss it for anything.

I do love that sound. It might be my favorite sound of all time.

suzuki wrote:

I need to be a steely eyed ice cold killing machine this weekend and your making me want to pet them!!!!!!!! Please stop.

Sorry Mike! Get out there and blow their brains out!

belletaine wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>suzuki wrote:</div>
I need to be a steely eyed ice cold killing machine this weekend and your making me want to pet them!!!!!!!! Please stop.

Sorry Mike! Get out there and blow their brains out!

oh man.

Dogs found 4 on the first little walk. Only had a shot at one and I was about 20 ft behind it At least they’re out here and the dogs remember what they smell like.

I was out at day break. Dog worked spectacularly. Probably moved 7 or 8. I got off one shot and connected. Taking a break then back out this afternoon. I broke rule number 1 and didn’t trust the dog when I was approaching the truck. Cost me an easy shot. This picture is so wanky because as I was setting it up a vehicle approached so I quick snapped it and hid the bird in the truck. 😁

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I’m done until this evening. Flushed 12, really only had a shot at 2 and missed both. I would have had a perfect shot at two more but I unloaded my gun, put it over my shoulder and was reaching for my keys, and 2 came up about 20 ft from the truck and flew across a wide open clearing.

Attending my nieces wedding in the south end of the state. Glad to see you guys getting some action. Thankfully we have about 100 days left in the season!

I put on another 4 miles this afternoon with zero flushes. Turned into a death march back to the truck. Switched gears and it turns out the fish are on a tare. From shore. Wish I had a shot of the big perch!

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Should have had my limit but I missed a very makable shot

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