I expected more

My first grouse outing came and went without much to reflect on. I hunted remote private property near the Snake river bottoms and did alot of walking. It took approx 1 hour to get my first flush in heavy cover. I ended the morning with 6 flushes in about 3 1/2 hours of walking quality cover. I guess I expected more, believing that the bird numbers would be better from all of the reports I was hearing. It is still very difficult to see the birds after the flush due to the foliage, but the constant wind this past weekend helped knock some leaves off. I found the birds to be hanging around near cover changes, and I did not flush a bird further than 100 yards away from the river.

Had to be a beatiful day for a walk in the woods. I mowed the leaves… I mean lawn. Bagged it all and an hour later, you wouldn’t have known…

big g

Had to be a beatiful day for a walk in the woods. I mowed the leaves… I mean lawn. Bagged it all and an hour later, you wouldn’t have known…

big g

I drove 4 hours (or so) north again this weekend. It started like opener. Raining and nasty. Birds were scarce. My buddy and I got 2 Friday afternoon and 2 all day Sat.
The weather broke late Sat and Sunday was picture perfect. That was the key. The locals had been telling us all along that good weather brought them out. I was convinced they were pulling our tails. They weren’t. Birds came out of the woodwork Sun. I had my daily limit by 10:11am. I have only limited a hand full of times so it was a pretty big deal. My partner was very ill and wouldn’t even get out of truck so we left when I hit number 5. I’m certain we could have gotten his limit. The last bird I saw was along the road. I pulled up and whisteled at him out of the window only feet away. He trotted off into cover with his buddy. I watched the two of them standing there as I slowly drove away. A perfect end to the hunt.

I drove 4 hours (or so) north again this weekend. It started like opener. Raining and nasty. Birds were scarce. My buddy and I got 2 Friday afternoon and 2 all day Sat.
The weather broke late Sat and Sunday was picture perfect. That was the key. The locals had been telling us all along that good weather brought them out. I was convinced they were pulling our tails. They weren’t. Birds came out of the woodwork Sun. I had my daily limit by 10:11am. I have only limited a hand full of times so it was a pretty big deal. My partner was very ill and wouldn’t even get out of truck so we left when I hit number 5. I’m certain we could have gotten his limit. The last bird I saw was along the road. I pulled up and whisteled at him out of the window only feet away. He trotted off into cover with his buddy. I watched the two of them standing there as I slowly drove away. A perfect end to the hunt.

I, along with my 5 month old lab, brush-busted public land in the Finlayson area again and found birds to be plentiful. In 2 1/2 hours of walking we had 14 flushes, with 5 birds bagged. We had 3 birds flushed all together on two occasions. When we found gray osier dogwood berries we found birds. No woodcock, which is rare for the wet areas we hunted. It helped to have an inexperienced, close ranging dog, because I could walk up on the birds without them being flushed out of range.

I, along with my 5 month old lab, brush-busted public land in the Finlayson area again and found birds to be plentiful. In 2 1/2 hours of walking we had 14 flushes, with 5 birds bagged. We had 3 birds flushed all together on two occasions. When we found gray osier dogwood berries we found birds. No woodcock, which is rare for the wet areas we hunted. It helped to have an inexperienced, close ranging dog, because I could walk up on the birds without them being flushed out of range.

SWEET!!! I’m so glad to hear about birds on north shore. I wont make it there this year but will make plans next year. I love going to that area. Thanks for report.

SWEET!!! I’m so glad to hear about birds on north shore. I wont make it there this year but will make plans next year. I love going to that area. Thanks for report.

Oops. I was thinking Finland

Oops. I was thinking Finland

We have had a wonderful season with the grouse year hunting has been the best we have ever seen, although we have only been hear for two years. limits have uasualy been taken in a few hours. Every one has been doig well. I actual think i will go fishing this weekend, the walleyes are runing fairly well up the rainy river after the shiners. We had a trace of snow last night and a little this afternoon. Its realy starting to get cold up here. deer hunting is just around the corner.good luck all and be safe out there.

We have had a wonderful season with the grouse year hunting has been the best we have ever seen, although we have only been hear for two years. limits have uasualy been taken in a few hours. Every one has been doig well. I actual think i will go fishing this weekend, the walleyes are runing fairly well up the rainy river after the shiners. We had a trace of snow last night and a little this afternoon. Its realy starting to get cold up here. deer hunting is just around the corner.good luck all and be safe out there.