Northeast Uplands 2023
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 12:57 am
A tough year most places in the Northeast for chasing the king as many know. Poor spring conditions did not help the population. We still looked forward to a couple annual trips to the north country and almost a month off of vacation during bird season. We found birds but it took some burning of some boot leather to get the job done. My time in the woods resulted in 3 to 4 times as many Woodcock encounters as Grouse in the north. Luckily my shooting was not poor besides one day when I think my buddy's snuck some 16 blanks in my vest pockets. I exited the woods with only one Woodcock in my vest and a empty box of shells. Bella, my old girl, and I had a fantastic memorable hunt one afternoon when we bagged 3 consecutive grouse on three points while firing 3 shells never mind it was + 70 degrees that day. Cleo, my pup held her own most days but needs many more years in the woods to learn all the tricks grouse have up their sleeves. Woodcock numbers have been very good in central NH. We have hunted all week resulting in great numbers. Wednesday being the best day when we ran into the only flight I have seen this year and the first for the pup to experience. 16 and 20 AE's were the tools of choice.