Birdbander
Well-known member
Congratulations! May you both put many more in the vest!
Upper Midwest Bird Camp 2026
- Thread starter TheGreek
- Start date
TheGreek
Well-known member
It’s a gorgeous morning here in the grouse woods of MN.
Every few years, we seem to get a couple of warm days towards the end of October that leads to one or two of those absurd woodcock days- they seem to stack for a few days up north.
Pay attention at night around the bonfire, when then they come in heavy you can hear them dropping in. I’m hoping you get into one of those, it’s a blast.
Pay attention at night around the bonfire, when then they come in heavy you can hear them dropping in. I’m hoping you get into one of those, it’s a blast.
TheGreek
Well-known member
Today, the Fox spoke and the grouse listened.
Overall, it was a relatively slow day of grouse and woodcock hunting. We only flushed 6 grouse and 7 woodcock. We only shot at two grouse. However, I was able to kill both the grouse I shot at and one woodcock. My buddy bagged two woodcock as well.
Killing a brace of grouse is always a great day in the uplands. The first grouse I killed was very lightly hit and Creed made a great find and retrieve on a running bird. He also got to retrieve his first woodcock today. No issues with him picking up and retrieving woodcock which was good to see.
On the second grouse of the day I killed, I was able to slow down after the shot and make him retrieve to hand, sit next to me and allow me to take the bird from his mouth. He can do it, I just gotta make him do it right.
By 2:30pm it was almost 70 degrees so I bagged it. Hunting grouse in the heat in tight cover is no fun for the dog or I.
Another great day in the grouse woods.
While it’s hot outside, my buddy’s cabin is pretty cold so we’ve got a fire going, enjoying cocktail hour. Woodcock for dinner tonight.
Overall, it was a relatively slow day of grouse and woodcock hunting. We only flushed 6 grouse and 7 woodcock. We only shot at two grouse. However, I was able to kill both the grouse I shot at and one woodcock. My buddy bagged two woodcock as well.
Killing a brace of grouse is always a great day in the uplands. The first grouse I killed was very lightly hit and Creed made a great find and retrieve on a running bird. He also got to retrieve his first woodcock today. No issues with him picking up and retrieving woodcock which was good to see.
On the second grouse of the day I killed, I was able to slow down after the shot and make him retrieve to hand, sit next to me and allow me to take the bird from his mouth. He can do it, I just gotta make him do it right.
By 2:30pm it was almost 70 degrees so I bagged it. Hunting grouse in the heat in tight cover is no fun for the dog or I.
Another great day in the grouse woods.
While it’s hot outside, my buddy’s cabin is pretty cold so we’ve got a fire going, enjoying cocktail hour. Woodcock for dinner tonight.
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TheGreek
Well-known member
Ticks!!!!
Having not ruffed grouse hunted last year, I made the mistake of not showering after hunting yesterday afternoon. Dinner and drinks and then the dog came first and then it was 10pm and I went to bed. When I woke up this morning and went to shower, I realized that I had three ticks embedded in me.
I put a little vicks vapo rub on each one, waited a few minutes, and was able to remove the entirety of all three of them with a pair of tweezers. Horrible things. The Vicks seems to allow you get them off a little easier once they are embedded.
Speaking of which, it’s time for a shower.
Having not ruffed grouse hunted last year, I made the mistake of not showering after hunting yesterday afternoon. Dinner and drinks and then the dog came first and then it was 10pm and I went to bed. When I woke up this morning and went to shower, I realized that I had three ticks embedded in me.
I put a little vicks vapo rub on each one, waited a few minutes, and was able to remove the entirety of all three of them with a pair of tweezers. Horrible things. The Vicks seems to allow you get them off a little easier once they are embedded.
Speaking of which, it’s time for a shower.
Birdbander
Well-known member
If you're not opposed to treating your clothes with permethrin you'll be tick free.
Really enjoying following your hunt
Really enjoying following your hunt
TheGreek
Well-known member
I sprayed my pants, shirt, undershirt and hat down with it last night. Didn’t find a tick on me after hunting today.If you're not opposed to treating your clothes with permethrin you'll be tick free.
Really enjoying following your hunt
TheGreek
Well-known member
A slow morning of grouse hunting here in MN. We only flushed three grouse but I managed to kill one so I can’t complain. The lab retrieved to hand so that made it even better.
It was 65 degrees by 11am so I spent the afternoon driving down to Ballistics Products Inc outside of the twin cities to load up on reloading components for my 16 ga.
One more morning of grouse hunting here and then I need to start the long drive home. The end of bird camp is always a little sad.
Pheasant Marsala for dinner tonight. Grouse camp dinners are always a highlight of the trip.
It was 65 degrees by 11am so I spent the afternoon driving down to Ballistics Products Inc outside of the twin cities to load up on reloading components for my 16 ga.
One more morning of grouse hunting here and then I need to start the long drive home. The end of bird camp is always a little sad.
Pheasant Marsala for dinner tonight. Grouse camp dinners are always a highlight of the trip.
