FFF 2022 upland season

So starts the upland season for me. Couldn't ask for a better start. Frosty morning kicked off what turned into a gorgeous day. Typical full canopy made for a challange keeping and eye on the dogs but they held for me to catch up. In the end made 2 grouse contacts and 8 woodcock. Looks like its only going to get better as the season progresses.
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Trying to get some vid of the dogs going to add the link but for the Siskel and Ebert's out there cut me some slack on the poor editing and film quality. Trying to figure out the settins to get the dogs in the picture.
https://youtu.be/zgHL9jEjQ_8

Some hard earned birds! Not bad for the first outing. How are the water levels after this dry summer and recent rains?

The usual wet areas seem the same. Must of had heavy logging trucks go through the trails up from the dump as all the paths are destroyed. don't forget your bug spray as though the morning chill kept 'em at bay once it warmed up they were out pretty good.

Pretty Great Start To The Season I'd Say!!! :)

Lots of action for opener. Congrats on the birds. I never hunted with a dog must be a lot of fun.

Frosty morning, color showing on the leaves can't ask for much more. Dogs did some good work today . Stella even had a double point on a woodcock and snipe. Now only if the shooting was better.
The first bird was how it should be the rest of the day is however was what it usually is.
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some spectacular misses today.
https://youtu.be/nfempbqMBlo

Leaves just starting to fall but the forest still is thick. Warmer temps brought out the mosquitos however woocock still aren't on the move. Knocked the first bird down after that just shooting air. Tried a different POV with the headmount so going to blame it for throwing off my balance. Don't know which POV I prefer the chest is more comfortable however the headmount feels like it gives a better prepective what do you think?
https://youtu.be/03tq5CNeULM

Nice outing for the first hunt congrats

Got out for a rare Staurday hunt. What a change in a couple of days. 22'c to 2'c sunny weather to dark threating winter clouds. Calm days to brisk wind. Well its tyhe fall ain't it? Ran into a few more birds can't say if its just locals moving with the weather or the signal the migration is starting. No video today as was on the move today to hit a few more spots on the milk run today. Wouldn't be much different than the previous ones just darker skies, more color in the leaves and a bit thinner canopy as leaves a slowly falling. A little pissed with myself as somehow the camera has gone missing so had to use the gopro for the photo. Have a feeling things may be picking up quickly and all too soon will be over.
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your dogs look like they know the routine, and how to pose for pictures afterwards. Good work so far, I hope to get into a few myself if I can find some. Look forward to more pics and stories.

What better way to work off an extra helping of turkey and stuffing than with a run with the dogs. Thing is Thanks giving Monday always is my least favourite day to hunt. Mostly because the traffic driving home is always a nightmare and with that in mind hunting closer public spots mean less solitude with not only other hunters but atv/motorcross people out. Although hate hunting on the clock figured and early start and check out should keep other interactions and traffic to a minimum off I went. Got to my first spot and found it desolate. Released Nova a was quickly into woodcock, seems birds are on the move, even kicked up a couple of grouse. Thats when I heard a troop come in behind and push ahead of me. Preferring solitude or birds pulled out and ventured on to the next bush to check out the conditions. Put Stella down found a few birds though the dry conditions may have altered the birds preferrence. Cut back to the first spot for a bit of brunch and waited for the group to clear. The four hunters came out with one woodcock. Chatted a bit than set off with Nova to finish the inital route. Pushed up a few more birds but shooting was sub par toaday. Nothing for the bill board however put together a bit of video of the hunt.
https://youtu.be/Re58Kth1qyY

So got out for some Shinrin-Yoku, ya its a thing, Now I know why I always feel re-energized come the fall. Now too see if I can claim it on my health insurance :). Don't know if its because as many birds are leaving as arriving as numbers don't seem any more or less. Birds were acting funny today preferring to scurry around under the pines rather then takeing flight. Managed to scratch down a few but kind of felt like work today.
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Hope its not so but think the seasons winding down already. Moved only 6 woodcock today, thing is doesn't really look like they pushed through though. Left the Gopro in the vehicle today and regretted it. Stella made a beautiful point on a grouse and was able to make a decent shot.
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Maybe the volatile weather Saturday kept things pinned down, I didn't see any sign of life this weekend just to the north. Fur or feathered.

I was up in wmu 42 last weekend and easily kicked up over a dozen birds. I think they should be coming down this week with the cold weather forecast for up north.

conrgrats on the grouse, flushed 3 today no decent shots for me.:(

Last minute invite had me change my plans too hunt in Haldiman today. Found birds but not a big push I thought the weather this week would of encouraged. Still seems theres going to be plenty of hunt this season.
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Keep up the good work

With Nova on the DL list due to a cut on a back toe it was up to Stella to pull a double shift. Almost too nice of a day as it got warm quick. Birds are on the move as put up a few double and one triple flush.
Alot of hard work from Stella alot of poor shooting only one bird on the board.
One tired doghttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...63653007_z.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nV9DWn]
only problem with walking with the gopro it records more laughable misses than spectacular hits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1G3LylXTgc

Was a good day to satisfy a bit of wonderlust today. Always wanted to explore some Grey forest lots download some maps and off we went. Some nice looking plots but birds were absent. Kick up a nice deer in one, and found a lone woodcock under some wet cedars. Chatted with an area resident said grouse were plentiful this year and had some roost in a ree behind her house. Go figure. Biggest kick in the pants was out feeding the dogs and had a woodcock flush from infront of the kennel. Got to love them little birds.

With Nova up and running and days counting down it was off to the woods. Got to the first spot and found someone alrerady setting out with his Setter a generous offer to join him was graciously declined as not to interfer with his hunt so off to the next spot. This spot was a new to me bush so more of a reconnaissance session. As I geared up was greet by a nice looking little springer in the parking lot. Was trying to determine if it was a lost dog or some hunter missing in the woods when the owner made his way down trail. Chatted with him reminiscing about the good old days as he was my senior by a bit and after off Nova and I went. Found 2 got one and added a new bush to the rotation. Returned to the first spot and found it vacant. Wasn't to concerned hunting behind someone as Stella excels at working reflushed birds. Found 5 got 3. Almost got the drop on a grouse walking back to the vehicle. Had the gun shouldered and Stella was strolling up the path. She spung around as she caught scent of something crossing the road. Although instantly knew it was a grousy situation but not fast enough to prepare for the flush all one could do was way good bye and say next time.https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b5ed2767_z.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/2nVP9br]

Always nice to find a new spot, even better when you can meet some good people. Icing on the cake that you managed a few birds along the way! Looking good.

Left the fog behind me and drove into prefect blue skies, Started hunting just as the frost burned off the ground. I feel more birds have left than arriving but the dogs managed to find 6 stragglers. With no real weather on the horizon think can stretch it out for another week but the window is closing on another season,
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You might just find them still here, or even arriving, after the controlled deer hunt.

Went 1 for 5-6 today. Crazy warm for Nov. called it quits early as overheated walking the bush.

love those grey county forests. so many around and lots of birds

So finally got together with a new member to the setter club. Meet this morning with the only expectation of a good walk in the bush as this late in the season one would expect the woodcock to have moved on. As it turned out found about a dozen birds before the heat exhausted both dogs and men. The icing on the cake was one of those once in a season perfect execution of a hunt plan. Started with Stella locking on point just up from my partner stating "Always find a grouse here". As it happened I was able to be the wingman and position myself for the shot. Once ready had my partner work up to Stella and flushed the bird. The grouse broke and gave me a rare clear shot and a wonderful memory to add to the season.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

So finally got together with a new member to the setter club. Meet this morning with the only expectation of a good walk in the bush as this late in the season one would expect the woodcock to have moved on. As it turned out found about a dozen birds before the heat exhausted both dogs and men. The icing on the cake was one of those once in a season perfect execution of a hunt plan. Started with Stella locking on point just up from my partner stating "Always find a grouse here". As it happened I was able to be the wingman and position myself for the shot. Once ready had my partner work up to Stella and flushed the bird. The grouse broke and gave me a rare clear shot and a wonderful memory to add to the season.

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I can validate that there are elements of truth in this story ;)

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Looks like a great hunt, found this guy on the road, to bad whoever hit it didn’t take time to clean it. Unfortunately it got run over again, so the meat was wrecked.

Curiousity got the best of me today so a drive to Hullet was on the menu. Suprised to find the corn still standing usually have it cleared for the control. Most of the guys about were getting ready for the deer hunt as the target site was quite busy. Really didn't see dogs out. Ran into one guy that reported seeing 5-6 birds and getting one rough looking bird with no tail during the week. Pushed some woodcock areas moved 4 and didn't run into any pheasants. Finished the day With a BYOP Nova seemed happy about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0MTaontQQg

finally caught a break with the weather, well sort of. Although was called for sunnyer and warmer the brisk wind that picked up was cold and the thickening clouds made it quite a grey day. Had some time this morning so made out for na walk around Luther. Only a skiff of snow on the ground so walking was good. Seen 1 grouse, the tracks of another and took a shot at a cotton tail who didn't want to stop.
Expexted too see more but still was good to get out with the dogs.