Minnesota grouse hunt

[3Setters]

Spent 2 weeks in Minnesota walking after dogs looking for grouse and woodcock. I've killed woodcock locally with my muzzloader but never a grouse. My goal was to shoot one over a point. Did plenty of missing but did bring down 2 grouse and some woodcock. I really could use a spotter as it's tough to see thru the smoke to see if I hit what I was aiming at.

 

[Thingamajiggy]

Man, haven't hunted grouse or woodcocks in quite some time and never over dogs. Sounds like a great time.

 

[Dutch7]

Good job, I am on a similar quest - looks like some remnant snow, hope the temps were cool for you.

 

[Spikebuck]

In my neck of the woods in SE MN grouse are WAY down from what they were years ago, which is amazing considering much more woods was pastured then vs brushy now.

Did your dog run into a fence? Looks like a deep cut under the eye in the one pic.

Also, for anyone with dogs in the field in Minnesota, carry what you need to open large conibear traps quickly and know the procedure. There are no regulations requiring coon sets to be placed in a manner that keeps dogs out of them.

 

[ORBushman]

Congrats on the hunt and great looking team ya got there!

 

[3Setters]

In my neck of the woods in SE MN grouse are WAY down from what they were years ago, which is amazing considering much more woods was pastured then vs brushy now.

Did your dog run into a fence? Looks like a deep cut under the eye in the one pic.

Also, for anyone with dogs in the field in Minnesota, carry what you need to open large conibear traps quickly and know the procedure. There are no regulations requiring coon sets to be placed in a manner that keeps dogs out of them.

Dog didn't run into a fence, he has abrasions under both eyes. No finesse when he runs, he just barrels thru the cover no matter what it is.

 

[ETipp]

Congrats on a nice hunt.

 

[Rancocas]

Nice.
Does your setter retrieve?
I used to hunt with springer spaniels when I lived up north. They were good retrievers of most birds, but they didn't like woodcock. They would flush the timberdoodles okay but picking them up was obviously distasteful for my dogs. In particular, I remember sending my Rosie to find a downed woodcock. She found it, but then she picked it up using her front teeth to hold the very tip of the bird's wing to bring it back to me. She didn't want her lips to touch it. The expression on her face was "Why would anyone want this stinking thing?"