Author and K-Lee in October |
In a near-convalescent state, I’m back at home after another
ruffed grouse hunt near the Canadian border.
I’m stiff, weary, aching and satisfied—for a while. In several days, we covered about twenty or
more miles through blow-downs, marshes, alders, shale, skidder trails and moose
wallows. Our flush rates were about one
bird every 30 minutes. The woods were
noisy on the second and third days, and the birds tended to run more and flush
farther out....perhaps we
should have employed some sort of “stealth mode”. We took a few grouse just the same, and had a
good time. What more could we ask?
If bird hunting were measured only in flush rates,
kills, bag limits, statistics and such, our sport would be severely diminished. Being
much more than the aforementioned activities, “ruffed grouse hunting” has the capacity
to inspire, to motivate, and to impress those of us who seek such an elusive
quarry. It even causes us to dream and reminisce. Perhaps that is why some of the greatest
sporting stories written have been about ruffed grouse hunting. Great
writers have captured singular and funny events and shared them with us—their stories are perfect for
fireside reading!
Speaking of writers, one of my favorite (modern) authors is G.N. Allen, who keeps
a blog called “Ruffed Grouse, Drumming on
a blog”. Mr. Allen is a long-time
grouse hunter with a very extensive understanding of the north woods. Not only does he have a comfortable and easy reading style, his humor reaches out to me. It’s fun to read his posts as he goes through
the memories of his hunts and the anticipation of future ones. He also has written some hilarious articles for the Roughed Grouse Society. Call it "recommended reading" from yours truly.
Getting back to the north woods, there’s the fresh "Canadian" air and the smell of
spruces as we poke along in the wilderness. Whatever it is, the lure of it all pulls us
along—mile after mile—as we look for ruffed grouse and opportunities to shoot another
bird for our dogs.
You see, while some
folks consider the dog as a means to get a bird, I’m one of those who consider
the birds as a means to see our dogs do what they love. My “pup” K-Lee gave us a few nice points, but
the grouse had run out from under them.
She’s only a year and a half, and has a lot to learn from what I
consider the cagiest bird in the northeast—perhaps in the Americas.
Dropped in for a free lunch |
Soon there will be plenty of time to
rest by the fire, to write and call up a memory over a steaming hot
chocolate. 'Today' is the time to be out
there. Wandering from cover to cover,
turning a back to the northerly wind, and working in partnership with a canine
that was born and bred for the moment.
“Why abuse yourself” you say? “Why push yourself so much?” It’s simple.
I am recharged and alive after spending days afield with dog, my friends
and ‘chasing’ birds. I love the
companionship and cooperation of a good bird dog, and K-Lee needs more bird exposure.
The weather looks pretty good for the
first half of next week, so perhaps I’ll go north one more time. Our tomorrows are unknown, and who knows how
much longer I have before I can’t navigate the north woods? I think I’ll place a call to see if there’s
still a spare bunk at “grouse camp”.
Yep, that’s what I’m going to do. Now if I can get my lame legs to move....
I'm quite impressed; I did not know you led such an exotic life :) I've never been grouse hunting, nor been the North Woods by the Canadian border, but you described it well and I'm glad you are doing something you love while you can!
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