Today I decided to look for deer sign.I also decided to get a little grouse hunting in at the same time. I used my .62 caliber smoothbore. I loaded 80 grains of Goex 2f, a plastic Winchester AA wad, 100 grains of #6 bird shot, and then two over the shot cards.

I was walking slow along the cedars near the marsh. Watching the ground and deer trails. Taking my time, looking under trees and such when the first bird flushed from the top of a black cherry tree over my head. It scared the snot out of me. As it flushed to the thicket I managed to get the rifle up but because of the thicket, could not get on the bird so I did not shoot.

Calling the dog back to a shorter range we headed on. I then saw a grouse on the ground about thirty yards in front of me. I hand signaled the dogdown, which he did. I got the rifle up and cocked, and started forward. The grouse got nervous and broke cover. He put a balsam tree between us and headed straight away. I never got a shot.

I finally found some good deer track and began to check their routes. It was then I noticed a grouse sitting in another black cherry tree (they were eating berries)over my head about thirty yards out.I called the dog in close, got the rifle up, and ready. As soon as I got to where I could shoot, the grouse flushed. I fired but never saw a feather come off. The dog casted out and checked but did not return with anything so I considered it a miss.

I reloaded and continued my circle. I did manage to flush a few more birds but none that offered a shot. Back at my house, since I was still loaded I decided to pattern the shotgun. I took a cardboard box and set it at 25 yards. I had not patterened the smoothbore since I switched to the Winchester AA wads. Took a bead on a bulls eye on the cardboard and discovered the rifle plastered three inches to the left. That might account for the missl because it was a wing shot to the left which meant I shot way behind the bird. (Need a reason for the miss don't I).

Over all I found some good deer sign, found a good group of birds which I will meet again soon and had a nice walk with the dog. Good way to spend the afternoon....