So far the grouse and woodcock season has been a huge success.  We are seeing good numbers of birds and the dogs are doing great.  I am hunting in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where the fall color is in full swing. 

Ed Alsteens and Tom Gorman getting ready for the hunt.

 The temperatures are a little warm for the dogs (and us), but still getting plenty of time in the woods.  The first day of my trip was hands down my personal best day in the grouse woods.  Days like these do not come along very often and you can bet I savored the moment.  I do not know how many of you have tried to hit ruffed grouse on the wing, but in my opinion they are one of the most challenging if not the #1 challenging bird.  With that said, I was able to get my first limit of grouse ever (5 birds), and all on the wing.  I also was able to shoot a limit of woodcock (3 birds).  I have shot a limit of woodcock several times, but never grouse.  The dogs did great, and I was in the right place at the time.  This day I hunted with my dad, Ed Alsteens, and later in the day Tony Scott. 

Three grouse in 1 hour, off to a great start!

First grouse of the week over a great Sadie point.  Good girl!

Mac and the grouse he pointed.

The first spot we tried was a spot I call the woodcock spot.  This is because the first time Ed and I hunted it we limited out on woodcock in 15 minutes.  Anyway, in one hour we had 3 grouse and 5 woodcock.  All the woodcock and 1 of the grouse were over points.  We had several other points, just missed.  In that hour we flushed 7 grouse and 13 woodcock. 

Can you see Sadie on point?  Man this stuff is thick!

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I would say the grouse #s are up and we are starting to see an upswing in the cycle!  The 2nd spot we hunted for 2 hours, and flushed 8 grouse and 7 woodcock.  We got 2 grouse and 2 woodcock.  I had a great chance on a double over Ed’s dog, Mac.  I really thought I got both birds, but we looked and I only hit one.  Mac is just staring to come into his own, and proving he is going to be a great grouse dog.  This was a nice one to get for him.  The next spot we hunted 2 hours and flushed 4 woodcock and 3 grouse.  I was the only one to get a shot at a grouse.  Ed’s dog Maddy, pointed this one and I made a long shot.  That was my 5^th bird of the day.  I was very pleased. 

The fall colors up here are absolutely beautiful.  Back home everything is still green; it is nice to see fall has started somewhere.  We have been seeing a lot of deer in our pursuit for grouse and I am very optimistic for the bow season.  I have 2 bucks picked out.  I hope everything works out. 

Wow!

This week is going great and I hope to have more sucess to report.  Good luck hunting and I will post more soon.