Fox Double and a Bonus

[Silvers]

Back up to the mountains for grouse again today and right off the bat I got a double on ringnecks while cutting across a weedy area to get to a thicket. This place is about 3 miles from where our Game people put out pheasants. One cock bird lifted off just before the second one and it was a true double with the 20 bore Sterly I’ve been carrying so far this season. Neither one ran after dropping. The shells were Gamebore 28 gram loads of UK 7’s. First pic is the weedy area.

I didn’t find any grouse there in the thicket and hunted a couple of other places where I found some bayberries. Flushed two birds that didn’t offer good shots and I didn't fire at either one.

Here’s a pic of an old cabin of sorts. I’ve roamed these mountains for decades and never saw anyone there. The door is unlocked and there's no need for anyone to break into the place. It probably was built there as a shack for railroad tenders going on one hundred years ago.

The last place hunted was a side hill and I was fortunate to take another silvertail grouse as I also did last week. This is my third one taken in almost 30 years of grousing, and along with the double on ringnecks I'm still on cloud nine. Pic of all three birds follows.

[jolly bill]

Pretty hard to beat a day like that Frank.

Do all you can while you can.

[setterspell]

What a tremendous day afield! Thanks for taking us along Frank.

[glassman48]

Thanks for the great pictures and story. What a tremendous day you had.

[Sporrns]

Gives new meaning to the term "Bonus Bird", Frank - good on 'ya! Kevin

[Kimber06]

Frank, what an outstanding day. One that will go into the memory book forever, to be broken out and relived when the cold and snow of February have you grounded.

[Jim Cloninger]

I absolutly LOVE your photos, Frank. It must be a lot of fun roaming the mountains where you hunt.
Jim

[Jeff S]

Wonderful pictures Frank. You certainly know your way around Pennsylvania.

[fox-admin]

Very nice. Cherish the red letter days.

[DarylC]

What a great day Frank. Shooting a double on roosters is not an easy feat as is flushing grouse without the aid of a dog and making good on the shot. This is testament to your shooting skills which are honed on the many, many clays you shoot. Everyone who hunts should strive for this level of skill. The birds deserve it.

[grouse_fan]

That's an awesome hunt and good shooting.

[Jeff S]

Now that I'm out of the deer blind and back in my house, I can get a nice look at those pictures on my laptop. The colors of those 3 birds are beautiful. Nice pictures (and nice shooting).

[Silvers]

Thanks again everyone. It was a very special day that I'll well remember. Daryl, I'm just a decent shot but there's something I'll do while still hunting for grouse that gives me an edge over just poking along and stopping now and then to get spooky grouse to fly. It was shared with me by someone who took me under his hunting wing when I was a kid and on my word not to tell anyone. End of story.

Several readers have written to ask where I hunt. It's on State Game and Forest lands in Wyoming, Sullivan and Bradford Counties in PA. The state land there probably totals 2-300,000 acres or maybe more, all free to hunt and without any no trespassing posters.

[Stan Hillis]

Late to the "game" because of an all day trip to compete in a Ronald McDonald House Fund Raiser, but equally impressed with your day, Frank. I think you know how much I enjoy your hunting scenery pics. Thanks to you for sharing them with those of us who never get to see that type of countryside, and those who never get to see any at all behind a gun.

Great shooting!!! SRH

[Jim Cloninger]

Frank, you are definately better than any hunting dog in finding Ruffed Grouse!
Jim