Anyone else feel guilty stepping out on old haunts?

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October 13th, 2020, 04:58 PM
finsfurfeathers

Anyone else feel guilty stepping out on old haunts?

So got in a rut over the years. Developed a milk run route through the old haunt hitting the most productive spots. Was comforting to walk the place and kind of knew when to get ready. Well got hit with a bit of wonderlust and set forth today to hit some new covers. Goggled some info, downloaded some maps of 5-6 spots to try and off we went.
Was both exciting and anixious hitting the first spot. Cast Nova off and let him search while I walk the trails. Wasn't long before he found the first bird. After that with new found confidence worked the area.
Worked a little quicker than typical as wanted to cover as much ground and places to get a feel of the zone.
Will be heading back to prospect the areas more throughly Friday.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...39441f34_z.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jU6ZV7]
October 13th, 2020, 05:05 PM
dean.f

Nothing wrong with that!

Exploring new ground is my favorite part of hunting the uplands, birds or not, it's refreshing to see new scenery with the potential of becoming a new secret gem.

I see the board is a bit more crowded today :thumbup:
October 13th, 2020, 05:10 PM
finsfurfeathers

Quote:

Originally Posted by dean.f

Nothing wrong with that!

Exploring new ground is my favorite part of hunting the uplands, birds or not, it's refreshing to see new scenery with the potential of becoming a new secret gem.

I see the board is a bit more crowded today :thumbup:

Shooting was a bit easier today. Birds were positoned in the cover more like migrants but held like locals. Was suprised with the activity about toady, passed a couple of mushroom pickers, a pod of dirt bikers. and there is a trail cam pic of me as I passed a huge mound of apples placed out in the bush.
October 13th, 2020, 05:43 PM
ninepointer

Funny you should post this... I was just thinking about exploring a spot I’d been meaning to check out.

I think the reality for me has been that hunting time has been so limited and precious that it’s always been the safe bet to hunt the tried and true.
October 13th, 2020, 05:46 PM
trimmer21

Changing up hunting areas is always a good thing. I rarely hit the same area more than once a month. That way,I don't seem to burn them out as quickly.
October 13th, 2020, 06:02 PM
finsfurfeathers

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninepointer

Funny you should post this... I was just thinking about exploring a spot I’d been meaning to check out.

I think the reality for me has been that hunting time has been so limited and precious that it’s always been the safe bet to hunt the tried and true.

Thats why I book off time in October now. Enjoy it when I'm able as all too soon the spirtit will be able but the body won't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trimmer21

Changing up hunting areas is always a good thing. I rarely hit the same area more than once a month. That way,I don't seem to burn them out as quickly.

Woodcock hunting is different. Woodcock tend to key in on very specfic areas in the bush. Locate those spots and you can develope a milk run route of high precentage spots that get replenished with new birds as they migrate through.
October 13th, 2020, 07:10 PM
fratri

Nice pic and congrats on finding the new spot
October 13th, 2020, 08:23 PM
Lor79

Nice pic, definitely always fun to hunt new spots. Enjoy, as the season seems to just fly by way too fast, and they are gone before you know it!!

Lorenzo
October 14th, 2020, 06:53 AM
fishhawk

Nice hunt FFF, I know what you mean about always hunting the hot spots. I really enjoy the excitement of trying new spots.
October 15th, 2020, 12:59 PM
chocolateman

Nice photo FFF.
Question....what is your strategy for hunting with your dogs? When you wrote "I cast them off and then walk along the trails". Do you let your dogs run free until they lock into some birds and then you use a GPS to locate both your dogs and birds?
If so...how long will they hold on point until you find them?
Curious on your methods...FYI I have a GSP and try to keep him in tight...that way when he finds something....I am not too far away.
thanks
October 15th, 2020, 01:21 PM
finsfurfeathers

Quote:

Originally Posted by chocolateman

Nice photo FFF.
Question....what is your strategy for hunting with your dogs? When you wrote "I cast them off and then walk along the trails". Do you let your dogs run free until they lock into some birds and then you use a GPS to locate both your dogs and birds?
If so...how long will they hold on point until you find them?
Curious on your methods...FYI I have a GSP and try to keep him in tight...that way when he finds something....I am not too far away.
thanks

Might be easier shown than explained.
The way I hunt I'll never win a blue ribbon and would probably cause the purist to faint in shock but it works for me.
I run the dogs with a bell and beeper on point mode.
If I'm strictly hunting woodcock in familiar area I reign them in hard as I like to see the dogs work and woodcock can be missed if the dogs aren't turning over every leaf. Some would stay its because I don't trust the dog but in reality I like to see 'em work.
As I didn't know the cover I let the dogs work the bush as far as I could here the bell than recall them back. When the bell stops and the beeper starts follow the sound to the locked up dog.
They'll hold a woodcock forever , southern grouse can be a challenge as they are twitchy most times though the bird will bust most often on my approach as I'm not that stealthy
October 15th, 2020, 01:41 PM
chocolateman

Nice...thanks for the explanation.