2024 Upland season

whacko said:
No. Walk and stop walk and stop. Perhaps I mis spoke.......I said "by hand" but really meant were not using dogs.

They flush mostly when your stopped. Ruffed grouse don't live in "brush" anyway.....they live in early successional forest.....thick patches of alder, Birch, cherry......the type of stuff that's growing up like 8 to 10 years after a clear cut. That's why ruffed grouse are almost gone in Massachusetts and southern new england......nobody clear cuts for timber anymore in mass cuz the soccer moms all cry about "destroying our forests" because they think they know everything.....and believe all wildlife needs big tracts of old hardwood.... and that's just not true. For diverse ecosystems you need diverse land and clear cutting is one way to promote early successional forests that grouse, whipporwill, and rabbits prefer. For the mass siccer mons and yuppies it's all about immediate optics......theyll never actually walk in those woods other than a maintained trail lol.....they see big older trees and think that's habitat all wildlife needs.

if and when logging is done in mass it's select cut which doesn't promote early successional forest growth.

This is prime grouse habitat on both sides of this old logging road. Both sides of it were clear cut probably 8 to 10 years ago.

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Is that Pittsburgh?
Looks like Pittsburgh.
 
A little too quick to reach our limit, but my hunting buddy and I bagged 3 roosters and a hen at the club this morning. His GSP is maturing into quite the unit. We had 23 [shocked] hunters mostly with dogs show up for the opening bell. There's over 500 acres but it's still a bit nuts to have that many hunters. All of the commotion had the smarter roosters and a couple of the hens get cagey but our dog did a fantastic job of holding and pointing in a manner that kept the birds from flushing wild. As we were walking out he got beeped a few times w/ the collar because he was finding more birds. Bigger groups and general pandemonium was pushing birds our way.

About 100 yards to our left I saw a group take a bunch of shots at a flushed hen. It didn't get hit hard but eventually slowly dropped down. I assumed they retrieved it but on our way out our dog found the 'crip' and brought it to us. I followed and yelled to them that we found their bird, but they ignored us and kept pushing into the woods. Oh well, gave it to someone else who had not limited out.

A very fun day, though my preference is a more challenging hunt and no crowd. LOL there were guys in the distance emptying their semi's. I wrongly had thought there was a 3 shell limit for capacity. Glad I wore shooting glasses- I usually don't. Must have been raining lead everywhere. [laugh]
 
Slow start for me and Dale this year - Mostly because of my poor wing shooting. I'm going to blame the chokes. That's right. It's the chokes fault. /s Switching back to IC/Mod instead of Mod/ImpMod

I went to the Ross Flood Control on Tuesday. It's an interesting property. We put up two birds and chased them around the back field for a while, but I couldn't connect.

Was too hot to take the pup out yesterday so we stayed home and did some training around sundown.

Taking next week off to go to NC to hunt deer. My friend dumped a ton of money into his properties this year so I'm looking forward to seeing how it came out. Pictures seem amazing - and so do the deer they're putting on the ground.

Then back to going out three days a week with Dale until the season ends.
 
admcd said:
Slow start for me and Dale this year - Mostly because of my poor wing shooting. I'm going to blame the chokes. That's right. It's the chokes fault. /s Switching back to IC/Mod instead of Mod/ImpMod

I went to the Ross Flood Control on Tuesday. It's an interesting property. We put up two birds and chased them around the back field for a while, but I couldn't connect.

Was too hot to take the pup out yesterday so we stayed home and did some training around sundown.

Taking next week off to go to NC to hunt deer. My friend dumped a ton of money into his properties this year so I'm looking forward to seeing how it came out. Pictures seem amazing - and so do the deer they're putting on the ground.

Then back to going out three days a week with Dale until the season ends.
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I'm considering going with a full over IC, vs. mod over IC. The dogs each put up a bird yesterday, but the birds were runners. They took flight over 40 yards away, so I didn't pull the trigger.
 
pupchow said:
I'm considering going with a full over IC, vs. mod over IC. The dogs each put up a bird yesterday, but the birds were runners. They took flight over 40 yards away, so I didn't pull the trigger.
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I've not had trouble this year with medium to long range shots, but I've missed most of the easier shots so I think I'm patterned too tight on the first shell.
 
Does anyone want a size LARGE Scheels Dog vest? It's too big for Dale. He's worn it a couple of times and it needs to be washed, but it's free if we meet up in person. Just cover shipping if I send it to you.

ETA: Link to vest
 
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admcd said:
I've not had trouble this year with medium to long range shots, but I've missed most of the easier shots so I think I'm patterned too tight on the first shell.
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It's easier to hit a moving target at a greater distance, so makes sense. I try to force myself to slow down for those close shots, but it's not always easy.

The dogs and I were out yesterday afternoon, and I spotted the delivery truck across a field we were working. It's been quite a while since that's happened, as we usually get out on a Monday or Wednesday, and the pickings are slim. The dogs had been working for over an hour without putting up a single bird, so it was a welcome sight.

The cocker didn't get a lot of satisfaction yesterday though, as the pointer has picked up her game significantly and now covers a LOT of ground quickly and thoroughly and made quick work of two birds. The pointer is mostly steady but still young. If the bird moves, she does too. As we're packing up back at the truck, I get a, "Is that a cocker spaniel?!" Yep. I've got no clue how the stocking schedule will go this week, but our last hunt will likely be this coming Wednesday. The cocker will have a chance at redemption.

I'm liking this Fiocchi #4

OIP.jpg
 
pupchow said:
It's easier to hit a moving target at a greater distance, so makes sense. I try to force myself to slow down for those close shots, but it's not always easy.

The dogs and I were out yesterday afternoon, and I spotted the delivery truck across a field we were working. It's been quite a while since that's happened, as we usually get out on a Monday or Wednesday, and the pickings are slim. The dogs had been working for over an hour without putting up a single bird, so it was a welcome sight.

The cocker didn't get a lot of satisfaction yesterday though, as the pointer has picked up her game significantly and now covers a LOT of ground quickly and thoroughly and made quick work of two birds. The pointer is mostly steady but still young. If the bird moves, she does too. As we're packing up back at the truck, I get a, "Is that a cocker spaniel?!" Yep. I've got no clue how the stocking schedule will go this week, but our last hunt will likely be this coming Wednesday. The cocker will have a chance at redemption.

I'm liking this Fiocchi #4

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I'm a fan of Fiocchi. Their Golden Pheasant nickel plated is good stuff too.

My hunting partner forgot to charge his GSP's collar, and once the dog figured it out he decided to be an a**h*** today and was somewhat incorrigible for three of us. LOL he was still awesome at finding birds but some of our shots were pretty far away because he'll bust them while in a**h*** mode. He hunted beautifully earlier in the week and didn't really need the collar. Anyway, despite the rain and rowdy dog we all bagged our limit of pheasants. Now to tear down the shotgun to dry and oil up.
 
Mountain said:
I'm a fan of Fiocchi. Their Golden Pheasant nickel plated is good stuff too.

My hunting partner forgot to charge his GSP's collar, and once the dog figured it out he decided to be an a**h*** today and was somewhat incorrigible for three of us. LOL he was still awesome at finding birds but some of our shots were pretty far away because he'll bust them while in a**h*** mode. He hunted beautifully earlier in the week and didn't really need the collar. Anyway, despite the rain and rowdy dog we all bagged our limit of pheasants. Now to tear down the shotgun to dry and oil up.
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My pointer was in a**h*** mode yesterday, but I'm giving her another year to grow out of it.
 
I'm sick as a dog today, so we didn't go out, but Dale was in a**h*** mode on Tuesday when we went out. Took off into the woods chasing squirrels.

Must be something in the air.

My wife surprised me with the Chief Upland vest that I've been lusting over for years for my birthday. Should arrive on the day itself (Monday) or just in time for the post-Shotgun season last hurrah.
 
Biffed another hunt with Dale—two flushed close. The first one, a shitty mount, miss, then a misfire on the second trigger pull.

Second one, just shot like shit and watched the bird fly to the other end of the WMA. We had to leave after that one so I could attend a meeting that should have been an email or we would have kept chasing it.

One more hunt on Wednesday. We're going to do a double header - drop the kiddo at school, hunt, pick up the kiddo from school at noon, do last-minute Thanksgiving errands, wait for my wife to get home between 1:00 and 2:00, and do a second hunt until Sundown.

I have only heard horror stories about Thanksgiving morning, so I'm continuing to take a pass.
 
admcd said:
Biffed another hunt with Dale—two flushed close. The first one, a shitty mount, miss, then a misfire on the second trigger pull.

Second one, just shot like shit and watched the bird fly to the other end of the WMA. We had to leave after that one so I could attend a meeting that should have been an email or we would have kept chasing it.

One more hunt on Wednesday. We're going to do a double header - drop the kiddo at school, hunt, pick up the kiddo from school at noon, do last-minute Thanksgiving errands, wait for my wife to get home between 1:00 and 2:00, and do a second hunt until Sundown.

I have only heard horror stories about Thanksgiving morning, so I'm continuing to take a pass.
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Happy birthday to ya! I half played with the idea of one more late season trip to Maine but the snow is starting to finally fly so it might get shelved.

Any idea regarding the misfire? Ongoing issue or first time rearing its head?

Will you be serving one of the birds for holiday? I’m still a horrible cook but feel I’d be doing a disservice by breading and frying it
 
admcd said:
Biffed another hunt with Dale—two flushed close. The first one, a shitty mount, miss, then a misfire on the second trigger pull.

Second one, just shot like shit and watched the bird fly to the other end of the WMA. We had to leave after that one so I could attend a meeting that should have been an email or we would have kept chasing it.

One more hunt on Wednesday. We're going to do a double header - drop the kiddo at school, hunt, pick up the kiddo from school at noon, do last-minute Thanksgiving errands, wait for my wife to get home between 1:00 and 2:00, and do a second hunt until Sundown.

I have only heard horror stories about Thanksgiving morning, so I'm continuing to take a pass.
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Years ago, I took the dogs out on a Thanksgiving. I don't remember if it was that day, or the eve. But it was mayhem. Birds everywhere though. We picked up our birds quickly, but my pointer developed a sudden onset of fail to recall.

There was a group of hunters working the swampy grass which was loaded with birds. My pointer started hunting for THEM and would not come - no matter what. I'm looking a fool trying to get my dog back. One of the hunters yells out, "Your dog is awesome!", as they keep popping birds that my dog is finding for them. In the pointer's defense, one of the hunters in their group resembled my appearance, and the Griffon does have those brows in their eyes...

We're heading out tomorrow. Now sure what part of the day though. Good luck out there!
 
rogerk said:
Happy birthday to ya! I half played with the idea of one more late season trip to Maine but the snow is starting to finally fly so it might get shelved.

Any idea regarding the misfire? Ongoing issue or first time rearing its head?

Will you be serving one of the birds for holiday? I’m still a horrible cook but feel I’d be doing a disservice by breading and frying it
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Thank you! I was hoping for some birthday luck, but maybe I'll get some end-of-season luck instead.

If I connect, I'll probably do them on the smoker. I bought myself a nice Traeger in the spring and smoked pheasant is awesome. Or maybe I'll freeze them and do pheasant cacciatore. Hank Shaw's recipe is amazing.

This is the first time this shotgun has had any issues. I went to rip the trigger a second time, and it was just dead. I broke it open, put another shell in, and the barrel went off when I missed the second bird. The tang safety is kind of sticky, so maybe it didn't entirely disengage? I'll have to watch it. It's not a "fancy" gun in any way, shape, or form - Weatherby Orion O/U. I paid less than $700 for it so even if it needs to go to a smith for some tuning, I'll still be ahead of the game.

I'll take that one out for my morning hunt and my AyA for the real closer. The AyA has "juice" and is special to me. It'll be the shotgun I pass down to my daughter one day if she still wants to hunt when she's older.
pupchow said:
Years ago, I took the dogs out on a Thanksgiving. I don't remember if it was that day, or the eve. But it was mayhem. Birds everywhere though. We picked up our birds quickly, but my pointer developed a sudden onset of fail to recall.

There was a group of hunters working the swampy grass which was loaded with birds. My pointer started hunting for THEM and would not come - no matter what. I'm looking a fool trying to get my dog back. One of the hunters yells out, "Your dog is awesome!", as they keep popping birds that my dog is finding for them. In the pointer's defense, one of the hunters in their group resembled my appearance, and the Griffon does have those brows in their eyes...

We're heading out tomorrow. Now sure what part of the day though. Good luck out there!
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Dale did that when I went to Ross with him. He was sick of my bullshit so decided to make new friends. The bastard put up two beautiful roosters for them.

I'm hoping with the shitty weather today the spot didn't get hammered.

Good hunting!
 
Has anyone been to Westborough recently? Is the corn still mostly standing or has it been topped/harvested?

Trying to get out one more time today - this morning was beautiful but the only bird I saw was running away from the WMA to the no-gun hunting area across the street.
 
admcd said:
Has anyone been to Westborough recently? Is the corn still mostly standing or has it been topped/harvested?

Trying to get out one more time today - this morning was beautiful but the only bird I saw was running away from the WMA to the no-gun hunting area across the street.
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I went last Sunday just to walk around with the kids. The corn & beans were all cut on the Lyman St side, we didn't make it as far as the field that are closer to Milk St. The fields were bare, not a stitch of cover left behind.
 

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