20 days

Ben Lamb · Sep 10, 2025

Steelsearchin said:
Didn't you see them open for Jewel at Interlochen before heading up to Boone's Primetime for the after-party?!

We were going to, but the line to get in to the theater was full of wine-drunk down-staters and the kids at Interlochen may be gifted musicians and artists, but man - they suck at crowd control.

Never let a 17 year old textiles artist try to control 45 drunk GenX moms about to get their Jewel on.

Ben Lamb · Sep 11, 2025

The ear infection on the black dog has cleared up thankfully. And we just got added to the frequent flyer discount program at the vet, which is saving us about 70% of her carprofen.

Headed into an opener forecast for the 80's as a daytime high. Global warming can suck it.

El Jason · Sep 11, 2025

44hunter45 said:
That's today. Hoping for a Charli report and a limit on the tailgate.

No birds killed…

Hunting Wife · Sep 11, 2025

El Jason said:
No birds killed…View attachment 385517

Looks like harsh and beautiful country.

Ben Lamb · Sep 15, 2025

Goit out for a bit in this morning before the heat settled in. Clearly the dog and I both are out of practice. No birds moved, covered about 2 miles. Soaked through from the dew.

What a great morning. Back at it in the am! Hope everyone else's opener was more productive than ours.

Ben Lamb · Sep 16, 2025

4 mudbats & 1 pat this am. 98 minute walk, just under 1.5 miles. Got a shot off at a doodle, but all I saw were the leaves explode behind it.

The new knees on the dog are going great, but she's just walking after those 90 minutes and needs a few hours to recoup. 8 years old, 2 new knees and the spirit of a 2 year old dog. #pards

Ben Lamb · Sep 17, 2025

There's a saying in angling that you don't leave fish to find fish.

Same could be said for birds, I guess. These birds were across the road on our way out to chase grouse. The season opened Monday as well.

Took both dogs today. Annie, the chocolate lab doesn't really have the drive that Greta (black) does. She's a big, dopey chunk that would be better suited to a duck blind, but she hunted well and only had to get kicked out from behind me 3-4 times.

We moved 3 grouse this am. The first bird flushed and found every trunk and branch between it and us so no shot. The second bird almost gave us heart attacks, and I was slow to shoulder. Had the shot but just didn't pull it all together. So it goes. The third flushed close, from under a downed stump. I saw it but by the time the safety snicked off and my finger hit the trigger it was behind the pines. No doodles this am and it was heating up fast so we called it after an hour. One more morning walk tomorrow then I'm off to MT for a week for some work and some birds.

Treeshark · Sep 17, 2025

Ben Lamb said:
I'm off to MT for a week for some work and some birds.

Woodcock should be waiting for you when you get home, at least the front end of the flight.

Birdbander · Sep 17, 2025

Hunted the Michigan opener for an hour at dawn with my older Llewellin, Trace. Cover was a 15 +/- year old select cut with mature oaks & beech with a thick understood of witch hazel & alder. Dog pointed 3 single grouse that I only heard in the thickness.

Hunted close to home this morning with the young Llewellin, Rip. An overgrown creek bottom. Just like Monday, warm & no air movement. Dog pointed 3 single WC. My veterinarian who joined me got one, so the dog has him paid back for a thorn extraction on his day off last Saturday.

If you get the opportunity, turn your veterinarian that doesn't own bird dogs onto upland hunting. He'll make sure your dogs are always in top condition

Work this afternoon, off tomorrow to run errands & pack. Leave Friday morning for a week of dusky grouse, hopefully a ptarmigan venture or two as well, in Colorado.

Coincidentally I'll be mostly in an adjoining unit to the missing elk hunters.

Ben Lamb · Sep 17, 2025

Treeshark said:
Woodcock should be waiting for you when you get home, at least the front end of the flight.

There are a few residents around! Had some good doodle action yesterday morning. None today - same cover. but I also hunted the drier edges and more mature stands targeting grouse over doodles.

Birdbander said:
Hunted the Michigan opener for an hour at dawn with my older Llewellin, Trace. Cover was a 15 +/- year old select cut with mature oaks & beech with a thick understood of witch hazel & alder. Dog pointed 3 single grouse that I only heard in the thickness.

Hunted close to home this morning with the young Llewellin, Rip. An overgrown creek bottom. Just like Monday, warm & no air movement. Dog pointed 3 single WC. My veterinarian who joined me got one, so the dog has him paid back for a thorn extraction on his day off last Saturday.

If you get the opportunity, turn your veterinarian that doesn't own bird dogs onto upland hunting. He'll make sure your dogs are always in top condition

Work this afternoon, off tomorrow to run errands & pack. Leave Friday morning for a week of dusky grouse, hopefully a ptarmigan venture or two as well, in Colorado.

I had a discussion with one of the vets where Greta had her TPLO surgeries done. He's an upland guy and I have a new kennel to check out for the next dog. Looking like a GWP or GSP there.

Weather is supposed to turn a bit tonight. 10 degree temp drop for tomorrow so we'll be out the door at 7 so we can get a couple hours in before I have to fly out. Good luck in CO!

Birdbander · Sep 17, 2025

Good luck to you @Ben Lamb in MT!

Ben Lamb · Sep 18, 2025

We didn't make it out this am. At 7 it was already warm and humid, and the old dog wasn't terribly on-fire to get out, so she gets a rest for a week while I'm out on business.

Back at the big woods next week. All y'all get after it. The woods are calling, and you should go!

Steelsearchin · Sep 19, 2025

Finally made it north and hit the woods tonight. Never started a season with three birds with two shots, but dog brought back a live mudbat with a broken wing. Grouse crop was full of sunflowers. We were two plus miles from any house, so somebody must've had a bear bait out nearby.

Ben Lamb · Sep 21, 2025

Fun day chasing MTN grouse. Only flushed one though, and it slipped through some timber and headed to lower elevations.

Ran into a guy scouting his tag. He said he just bumped 3 on the road.

Never get out of the boat, as chef said.

Sharpies and huns tomorrow, hopefully.

Luckily, we had snacks.

Hunting Wife · Sep 21, 2025

Ben Lamb said:
Fun day chasing MTN grouse. Only flushed one though, and it slipped through some timber and headed to lower elevations.

Ran into a guy scouting his tag. He said he just bumped 3 on the road.

Never get out of the boat, as chef said.

Sharpies and huns tomorrow, hopefully.

Luckily, we had snacks.

View attachment 386650

Glad you are getting time in the field! Hope you find good numbers for sharpies where you are. Numbers in the northeast are noticeably lower than the past few years.

Ben Lamb · Sep 21, 2025

Hunting Wife said:
Glad you are getting time in the field! Hope you find good numbers for sharpies where you are. Numbers in the northeast are noticeably lower than the past few years.

Me too! We're west of you, hanging out in CM Russell's country tomorrow. 2 old dudes & a young dog.

fleabagmatt · Sep 22, 2025

We made it out for our first trip with the dogs. First location had a vehicle parked, so headed for plan B. As we rounded the corner on the gravel road approaching the parking area I commented that the location should be right here somewhere, and immediately spotted a Dusky hanging out in the middle of the road. Of course it flew off to the private side of the road.

By the time we got to the new spot and headed out it was already getting warm, so we kept it to a short 30 minutes or so, the Griffs don't do well once it hits 70 or so out there. Didn't see a single bird out in the trees, but it sure looks like good spot for further exploration. I'm not used to being in the trees like this, I feel like getting a shot on a bird will be a real challenge.