Head out a few hunts each week since opener with few birds flushed. This weeks quick hunt around Guelph/Kitchener area produced 7 grouse an 4 woodcock flushed in two hours. Seems to be a few birds coming down in this area , but last year by the end of October we would be putting up 20-30 woodcock off the same property. So migrants still aren't around in full numbers I'd say
So the plan was simple Go out first thing this morning shoot 1 of the turkeys I saw in the field Sunday than head off to parts unknown to find water and woodcock. The execution not so good. Never hunted fall turkey so set up like the spring. Placed my hen decoy 5 yards infront of me and waited for legal. First light heard 2 kee kees and figured the birds where near. Bit of an understatement as within minutes had 15 birds at my feet. Looked them over and they looked like hens to me. Not that I was looking for a tom but really want a decent jake. Looked them over for about 10 minutes deciding which 1 too take all the while they where getting more and more nervous. Lined up the shot and missed.. not to make excuses but subconsciously I think I really didn't want any of them. After that decided rather go look for woodcock. Treck to the furthest parts of the bush to find where the water went. Finally found it. The beavers have made a new 4 foot dam on the top end of the property drying me out. Looked around and found a birdy looking area when all of a sudden looking down I said "holy crap look at all the splat" at which point I failed to notice the dogs bell went quite. 5-6 woodcock exploded out. Was able to get 2 on the reflush. Then a little cat and mouse point put up a grouse which I managed to seal the deal. Dropped off the dog, gun, and birds at the jeep to gather some mushrooms I saw earlier to round out the meal. Of course while I was picking the 'shrooms don't I see a snowshoe only feet from me. All I could do was throw a mushroom at him and said next time.
The 2 birds I got 1 was a female perfect little butter ball, the other a male nice but not so fat.
My luck wasn't that good today....Walked about 7 hours in the swamps of Copeland Forest. Got rained on a bit too. Ended up in a beaver pond and got totally soaked... The puppy sure got a work-out.
Flushed one woodcock, No shot.
Flushed one grouse. No shot.
We are both totally pooped now....
Spent a couple hours on monday walking the edges of a few 2-3 year old cuts. Pushed up 8 woodcock and a couple grouse in about 3 hours. A couple of clean misses on two woodcock and no shots on anything else.
It's my first year targeting them specifically and my first year in the area, so I don't know how this compares... Lake Temiskaming area...
Pheasant hunting today at Fingal Marsh & flushed one out of a soggy bean field beside a ditch ... that's definitely a migrant. Otherwise, mosquitoes kept me out of the heavy cover....
Now, I know you're thinking, "Fingal ain't a marsh" ... well, it was this morning....
"The language of dogs and birds teaches you your own language."
-- Jim Harrison (1937 - 2016)
Pheasant hunting today at Fingal Marsh & flushed one out of a soggy bean field beside a ditch ... that's definitely a migrant. Otherwise, mosquitoes kept me out of the heavy cover....
Now, I know you're thinking, "Fingal ain't a marsh" ... well, it was this morning....
I was swatting those damned mosquitos myself this morning. You would think half way through October we would be done with those !!!!!
I’m suspicious of people who don't like dogs, but I trust a dog who doesn't like a person.
Originally Posted by welsh
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