Grouse Report 2022
October promises the upland hunter many memorable experiences and it never fails to deliver. And, October 2022 delivered beautifully.
Susan, the dogs and I usually begin our season the second week in October at a sporting camp in Northern Maine. From there, for the past eight years, we’ve headed for Allagash, Maine, where we rent a cabin for a week. This year, since temperatures seem to be warming, we spent the third week in Allagash and the fourth week of October at Tim Pond Camps in Eustis, Maine.
Let me explain our interest in hunting later in the month. Early in the month, everything is still green. That means the food plate for the ruffed grouse is huge. Grouse are simply harder to find since there is no concentration of birds due to diminished food sources. Also, trying to get a a decent on-the-wing-shot, in front of a point, when all the leaves are still on the trees, is very difficult. We like late October hunting the best. Recently, a long-time friend and grouse guide told me he thinks November is the new October.
Switching our second week of hunting to the last week in October, was not totally successful. The leaves were off the trees, however, everything was still green. Clover, wild strawberry, raspberry leaves, ferns, etc., were all very green. The food plate was still very large. However, temperatures were cooler which made it more comfortable for both the hunter and the dogs.
Regarding our 2022 grouse hunting success, here’s a report. Although we may not see a repeat of 2020 for many years, we think the grouse numbers were up slightly from 2021. In Allagash, we had between eight to ten flushes per day in front of the dog work. That means the flush was either in front of a point or while our dogs were tracking a running bird. The last week, at Tim Pond Camps, we had six to eight flushes per day in front of dog work. Slightly less than Allagash but still good when it comes to dog work.
A highpoint for Susan and me was the work our eleven year old Dena gave us the last day at Tim Pond Camps. Dena has a habit of finishing a week of hunting with a grand find of birds. Two years ago, she gave Susan a four bird find at Tim Pond Camps. Last year in Allagash, she gave Susan, the last day, a five bird flush. So here was her last day performance at Tim Pond Camps. And, Dena was hunting with me rather than Susan. There is a two hundred yard stretch on one of the back roads which is usually productive for us. I put Dena down and started up the two hundred yard stretch. Within a few minutes, she found scent in the ditch to my left. She tracked bird scent about thirty yards and then established a staunch point. I slowly approached her and when I was about two feet behind Dena we had a two grouse flush from under a pine tree. Like most grouse, the birds kept the pine tree between me and the birds so I had no shot. The wise old girl remained steady to the flush and waited for me to release her. A fine performance.
We then walked about fifty more yards when Dena again started working bird scent. She only went about 15 feet and stopped. I couldn’t see her but the stop of the bell told me she was on point. I took one step into the ditch and the bird blew out behind me and to the left and across the road. Probably a tactical error on my part. If I had stayed on the road and waited perhaps another minute, the bird would have become nervous and taken flight and I would have been on the road and had a nice on-the-wing shot. And, hopefully, a bird down and given the wonderful Dena a retrieve opportunity. The retrieve is the reward for a shorthair. Thank you, Dena, for a fine performance on a difficult bird for the pointing dog.
Regarding grouse numbers in the Northeast, reports from other hunters were positive. At Tim Pond Camps, a group from New Jersey had eighteen birds in the air on the last day of their hunt. They had two Spinone Italiano dogs which evidently performed very well. Reports from Jackman, Maine and Pittsburg, NH have also been very positive.
Hoping all our readers have also had a rewarding season.
Copyright 2022 Paul Fuller
Paul and Susan Fuller are co-hosts of Bird Dogs Afield TV show. All past episodes are available on their website: www.birddogsafield.com. Contact: paul@birddogsafield.com.