finsfurfeathers 2024 Upland thread

So starts another season for me and time to start the daily hunting report. As usual if you're interested in sharing stories, seeing some pics of happy dogs, or just wanting to get a feel of what's going on stay a while and enjoy. All others please hit the ignore button at this point.
Left the GTA in warm temps and a light drizzle but the weather man promised cool morning temps and clear skies. Hunt started well enough with the bush thick as ever and would say drier than I'd expected. Nova ran well enough but only managed 2 woodcock finds. The first gave no shot on the initial flush but on the reflush had a glimps so let the 28g bark once. At last no joy as Nova returned with no bird. The second Nova had pinned down however as I made my way to flush it the woodcock took off running right at Nova who made an uncharacteristic jump at the bird so no shot there. Finished his loop with a bird watcher/photographer out and about. Nice enough guy however did suggest an all black outfit might not be the best outfit to wear during the hunting season.
Switched spots to put Stella down and as I was walking in encounter three young guys finishing their morning duck shoot. Was a little surprise didn't find anything. Stella did put up a couple of wood ducks out of a beaver pond and a grouse did flush wild but strangely slim picking. Got a little warm by 11 and all three of us had a nice walk so called it early with dreams of cooler days and more open canopy to come.
On the up side a logging crew recently went through so should rejuvenate the bush to come.
No pictures today as photo ops didn't present itself today.

Great report. The gardener in me loves this weather, the hunter in me wants some hard frost and good wind.

Last weekend we flushed a dozen or so woodcock, the bush is incredibly dry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Birdbuff

Great report. The gardener in me loves this weather, the hunter in me wants some hard frost and good wind.

Last weekend we flushed a dozen or so woodcock, the bush is incredibly dry.

---

I'm with you on that, planning on friday to be up your way, weather seems to be sliding into more favourable climes

Great report as always. Gonna try to get out Saturday for some grouse and woodcock

Temps are really supposed to drop next week with crispy mornings. That should make bush stompin' a lot more comfortable.

Couldn't ask for more prefect conditions this morning. As the season is still early thought I'd prospect a new bush today. On the drive in took a liking of the cover along the secondary access gates however the road was too busy and not alot of shoulder space to safely get the dogs out so venture forward to the main parking lot off a secondary road. This area was less appealing to me. Bush look both too old and too new at the same time but figured worth a look as was already here. Put Nova down and set forth to explore. Was looking for edges, points, and openings favoured by woodcock but never came across anything. Mostly it was homologous cover that kind of held promise but was short on rewards. Nova did manage to find one but didn't offer a shot and didn't sit long on the reflush. Though with further investigation I'd get a better feel of the area I'd seen enough to put this bush further back in the rotation and made my way to another spot. Put Stella down in a bush i found last year the just screams woodcock. Again though not a lot of joy. Pinned one that gave me a decent shot but whiffed. Again no grouse encounters though. One can only hope that the cooling weather next week will get the birds moving.

Fall is in the air but the bush hasn't gotten the notice. Thick and green making it hard to see the birds. Managed to find some figure 5-6 woodcock and a couple of grouse. Scratched down one to get the ball rolling however its only going to get better. Dogs were tired so not in the mood for pictures
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ae8598f826.jpg

Listened to an arborist on CBC Country a month ago, she said that the trees would drop their leaves very quickly as the rain this year was so intense and run off so fast the trees were actually not getting enough water so would drop early and color's would not be vivid this year. So far she was dead wrong. Spotted my first grouse of the year under a well used apple tree.

I haven't been out hunting yet this year, but have been out every weekend this fall scouting for deer, hiking with the dogs, and building a new trail up at the cottage, etc. Haven't seen a single grouse. Hoping that's just because it's been so mild.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shoreline

I haven't been out hunting yet this year, but have been out every weekend this fall scouting for deer, hiking with the dogs, and building a new trail up at the cottage, etc. Haven't seen a single grouse. Hoping that's just because it's been so mild.

---

the grouse encountered were in 10 foot young pines. With the dog on point couldn't see her or the grouse flush yards infront of me. Birds are around but don't think they'll be easy to find