11 birds in 2 days between the 2 of us. 

Couldn't be happier except Kutya has a bulge on his side (thinking the seed rearing it's ugly head again).  Fever too.  Taking him to vet this afternoon. 

Vic

Vic,

Glad to hear you had success!

My son got his hunter safety this past summer so I took him out of school on opening day. Unfortunately we didn't have your success. We were unable to locate any birds.

Went out scouting with the dogs this morning for some other areas to hunt, ran the dogs a little, but again no birds. I think I'll hit it again tomorrow and try again before work (I don't have to go in until 10:00AM).

Are you still planning a trip out to the west slope for some chukar/grouse hunting?

If so, let me know when.

Rob G

Went out again this morning...again no grouse. I'm starting to think I don't know what I'm doing!

I'm enjoying the dog work though.  Both young dogs are starting their first full season and they sure cover ground nicely.  Cricket is a pure joy to watch and Jack does nicely as well (both just 2 year old).  Maverick starts out nicely, but turns into a boot-licker after about 15 minutes- not sure, but I think the preserve hunting ruined him!

Rob G

Rob, I have been out many a times without finding any grouse. It took me 8 years and my spots can be counted on one hand.
The spots come and go too. For instance, one of my hot spots and I couldn't find a bird. But, I found two new ones this time.

I am going out again on the 12th (APLA test this weekend) and going to try a fresh new area. We'll see how it turns out.

I'm not planning on goin on over that way this year.
Oh, and it takes a dog a while to get used to "what, birds are in the woods?  I'm used to nice grassy fields...".

I mean they have to jump over logs and through thick brush sometimes.  Just keep bringing him out there, and when you find the birds they get the idea.

Vic

Thanks for the pep talk!

I'm actually just enjoying the outings with the dogs to new locations. I plan on continuing to go, especially since it's only 15 minutes from my back door.

I hear you there. 

Views and scenery is the 2nd best part (dog work is first).  Then if you find grouse and actually knock it down, through the trees,...icing on the cake. 

Vic

Very nice !
We are going out for Grouse this weekend........... It's been very hot and dry here, so hunting may not be real good until we get some cooler, wetter weather (should be soon). We have Ruffs, Blues and a few Franklins -- for the first time in history, our limit this year is 4 per day instead of 3 (any one or combination of species).

Gonna be some good eatin' for sure.



.

You guys rock! Nice when things come together. Cool to earn titles but lets face it what is the point of having a dog if you cant hunt em!

Good luck to Doc and of everyone else this year. Hunting season is here

Gary

PRG

I'm happy to report that we got into our first covey of Blue Grouse this morning. Three birds that I could see, shot one, the other two flew into the trees and I left them for another day... Cricket made a nice retrieve and I was only about 10 minutes late to work!

Rob G

WooHoo! Perseverance pays off! Where's the pic?

Vic

Well Vic, I need to get in a better habit of bringing my camera with me! As I said, I was running late to work anyway, so no time for pictures this time! I plan on continuing to go up so I'll be sure to get some on the next trip.

BTW, when you discover a covey, is it good practice to leave that area alone for the rest of the season or do you return to the same places more than once a year? I certainly don't want to destroy that particular covey if I find it again...

Rob G

I harvest no more than 40-50% of the birds I see fly the first time (early in the season).

But, later in the season, there is a lot of walking and not a lot of finding.
So, I have gone back to a same area  and harvested another bird without any ill effects for the following year.

I wouldn't go back to the same place you found these three birds (it does take two).

Vic

Posted By VicR on 11 Sep 2009 08:32 AM

I wouldn't go back to the same place you found these three birds (it does take two).

 Point taken!!

I just got back from elk hunting and my buddy and I took 6 grouse with our bows. good numbers where we were.

I hunted again this Saturday.  According to the bow hunters, there was grouse all over.  I unfortunately did not find a one.  That does happen.  Just didn't walk far enough (although I would think 5.5 miles should do the trick ).
I know the grouse were there.  But, still a great hunt. 

Maybe next weekend I'll find em.....

Vic

Nice pictures Vic!

Glad to see that even the "pros" have the kind of day I usually have!

Oh well, it sure looks like a beautiful place to take the dogs for a stroll. I haven't gotten back up since last week...had to go to Denver this weekend to pick up some cattle, but I think I'll go up tomorrow morning before work again....

Rob G

Good to see you're getting after the blues Vic.

Keep after em Rob they are an awesome bird to hunt and to harvest.

Pi and I have been having fun out on the river bottom. My buddy and I took a short walk Sunday am and got her done. Two tags, two turkeys on the wing with Pi doing her thing.

Randy, you hunted turkey's like an upland bird?  That's cool.  I bet they sure look big when they fly.  I never wanted to go Turkey hunting, mainly because I thought I would have to leave my dog home.  I'll have to re-think that. 

Nice pics!

Vic

That's awesome Randy! What size shot and choke do you use to drop a flying turkey?

That reminds me...about 3 months ago I was walking with Cricket down our dirt road and she locked up on a really solid point towards the roadside. I continued walking toward her and as I approached, a female turkey came flying out of the sage. Man, they can get up and move! It looked like a B-52. Cricket just stood there and watched it fly off - she must have been thinking "WHAT THE $%@& WAS THAT!?!".

Did Pi make the retrieve? How much does a turkey weigh?

Rob G

Yes Vic, just like upland. I've probably had a dozen or turkeys pointed over the years. Fall season is eaither sex, the poults are in groups and tom's scattered around. From what I've read you can bust up a flock of poults with a dog, then hunker down right were they flushed and use the kee kee run call. Which is a young turkey. It works out pretty good if you just shoot them and forget the calling.

I don't think many people put in for fall tags, they want to call in the love sick toms in the spring. I got one last fall with Pi as well, but not on the wing. The flock busted and two stuck their heads up, one left, one didn't.

#4 shot is the largest sized shot you can use. I just used the same #4 steel shot I use for ducks and the same choke IC.

A week ago Pi had a tom not 10ft from me. It was next to a deadfall and behind a willow tree with several shoots coming up. I was snookered and couldn't get a shot off. Man was the adrenaline flowing. I thought that was my chance for the season and it won't happen again.

These were poults, I shot the hen that was 6-7lb, my buddy shot the jake that was 11-12lb. The hen fell right in front of us, the tom the other side of the willows, which Pi retrieved. About the same weight of a greater canada goose.....Speaking of adreniline, I was shaking like a leaf 10 minutes later while trying to take a few pics.