Guiding David and Paul from Oregon 10/12/2009

My friend and NAVHDA buddy Dean and his outstanding Viszla Reuben accompanied my GSP Bruno and me on a five-hour ruffed grouse and woodcock hunt during which we guided our NAVHDA guests David and Paul from Oregon. Both David and Paul are retired but experienced and very active bird hunters and bird dog enthusiasts. David is in charge of the NAVHDA dog training in Oregon and owns two awesome GSPs that he uses regularly to hunt chukars. Dean asked if we could take these gents to some of my favorite coverts near my cabin in NE Lower Michigan, and I agreed without hesitation.

During our first brief stop in Otsego County, we put up only two woodcock, but they were in a thick tag alder/cedar swamp and no one fired a shot.

Our second stop was to a large, moist aspen stand in Montmorency County, which in previous years had always been productive for both grouse and woodcock. It didn't disappoint our guests as both our dogs put them on grouse and woodcock, but being first time hunters of ruffed grouse and woodcock, they fired but failed to connect. The fun had certainly begun, and both David and Paul beamed smiles as broad as our northern woods.

Our last stop was at my all-time favorite secret covert in Cheboygan County, and, well, I certainly saved the best place for last. Both Reuben and Bruno were pointing birds everywhere--once even simultaneously almost side-by-side on two different birds--a mixed double--a grouse and a woodcock. I'd have given a thousand bucks to have had my video recorder in hand to capture that scene! We all connected on birds in this stand and left feeling happily satisfied with our hard-day's effort and great pointing and retrieving performances by Reuben and Bruno (who injured/slashed his left front paw near the end of our last hunt).

In all, Reuben and Bruno pointed 23 ruffed grouse and woodcock in just five hours of hunting (no double-counting birds in this tally), and we bagged five birds--2 grouse and three woodcock. I think David and Paul are perplexed by the flight of escaping woodcock. I assured our Oregonian guests that they certainly are not alone in holding that belief. We all enjoyed one another's company and a great hunt togther. Great Lakes, great woods, great upland bird hunts are here to enjoy in Pure Michigan! So grab you bird dog, shotgun, and shells and c'mon Up North this fall!

Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Hunting in Northern Michigan

My wife, hunting partner, and camera/videowoman Christine, my GSP Bruno, and I checked out some promising-looking grouse and woodcock habitat in Antrim County.
We found lots of ruffed grouse and deer but surprisingly no woodcock. We frequently returned to this habitat throughout the Fall 2009 hunting season, and it faithfully produced ruffed grouse on every visit. We are surprised we have not experienced meeting other bird hunters in this great habitat area.