2024 Maine and NH uplands

[zacharysmith]

The girls and I wrapped up the season last week. I managed to take almost a month off straight from work this year. I'd guess we moved 300 birds or so. We spent 12 days strait, at two camps in Northern Maine. Normally I break the trips up into two. Grouse numbers were good but the drought conditions were had and still have dropped leaves much earlier this year leaving my normal covers looking like ball fields. The majority of the birds were not where they usually were. We found new covers, generally around spruce thickets and made the hunting harder for sure. Most of the time my girls hunt separate to keep their legs lively. My young girl Cleo, made huge strides in the woods. Woodcock have always been easy but the tricky grouse not so much. Very poor numbers last year did not help her learn much. By the end of the season this year she was pointing grouse regularly. I managed to take her first pointed grouse with one of my Parkers. Unfortunately, the Foxes did not get any use on the Maine trips. The Foxes came out at the local covers closer to home. I located a Sterly 16, Skeet and Upland game gun in the offseason that my smith cleaned up a bit. I shot fairly well with it. My AE 20 gets a bunch of use, and I even managed to take a ruffy with it over my old girl Bella pictured(first photo). That was a local bird that are fairly rare around home in NH. She made a great point, bird flushed under a pine, I dropped to one knee and fired at it flushed quartering away at 25 or so yards. It immediately tumbled in the air from the RST. We had a few fantastic days of Woodcock hunting between the 8th and 12th of November. Flights were coming through and we managed to find some thick travelers. Some of the best days I've seen in my 25 plus years in the uplands. I even shot a true double over Bella with the Skeet and Upland, First I have ever taken(last photo). Leaving the woods with a smile and saying to yourself, Wow, over and over for those last few days of the season for us.

[Jeff S]

You always take beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing your hunt with us.

[Upland Hunter]

Good report. Especially like the last photograph. Old dogs are special and some of their later hunts are as memorable as some of their early retrieves.

[44whiskey]

sounds like a stellar hunt, always enjoy your reports and pics.regards fred

[ROMAC]

Great pictures. 12 days straight sounds like a dream.

[Foxnut]

Great pics! Love the last pic of Bella w/her head resting on the log! Tell us about the 16 S&U please. Barrel length and chokes. That would be a great gun. Envious that you hunted 12 days straight!!

[zacharysmith]

Great pics! Love the last pic of Bella w/her head resting on the log! Tell us about the 16 S&U please. Barrel length and chokes. That would be a great gun. Envious that you hunted 12 days straight!!

I laughed when Bella placed her chin on the fallen tree. Figured it would make a good pic though. The S&U 16 is a 26". Cylinder and Improved Cylinder on my gauges. Dual ivories and a pad. A pretty solid early season all around gun or easy on the Woodcock with # 8's.