Grouse Reports ! ! !

Let us know where youre finding the birds, what were the conditions, what type of terrain.

Lets here some good dog stories as well.

Can we attach pictures in this forum now?

Duffin, I total agree with the title of Grouse Dog being the ultimate title.  Its pretty easy to get good dog work on stocked/released birds or tight-holding woodcock.  Getting a dog that can consistently point and hold pressured grouse is the ultimate.  I've been blessed to have owned 2 so far including my current 4 yr ES who will likely be the best bird dog I ever own.   

Not sure I’ll get out again this year.  It’s been another good year for the Griffs and I.   My 3.5yr old dog Birdie has moved up the string to my #1 grouse dog.   She is going to be a special one.   I’ll be running her in the NAVHDA Invitational next fall.  But “Grouse Dog is the ultimate title in my book.  

Good luck to those that will get out yet before season ends.   The pics here are Birdie in the mixed cover from Monday and Aza with the bird from yesterday 

River:

Hunting birds in fresh snow is maddening. Seeing the tracks makes me wander aimlessly trying to figure out where they are. And I can never seem to get close enough.  They always seem to surprise flush and get away. 

Hunted several days this past week and I must say very enjoyable to hunt grouse in the snow and it drives me crazy too.  Seeing fresh tracks in the snow, knowing the grouse are nearby and they dont show themselves.  I know theyre roosting in the spruce and firs above. The dog knows it too. Neither one of us can pinpoint them and so birds remain un-nerved and unmolested.  And when they do flush impossible to see.  Did manage one kill over a cattail marsh where the dog eagerly searched and retrieved.  

Less than 3 weeks left of the season  

20 gauge is just so more easy to buy shells for than the 16. Not everyone sells 16 G if youre in a pinch.

As far as barrel length.  Personally I like shorter.  I had a gunsmith shorten my gun barrel to 20 inch and reinstall the threads to accept the choke tubes.  I love it. Gun is lighter and easier to carry thru thick brush and doesnt effect my shooting. 

I got 26" barrel in both my 20 and 12 ga Berettas.  I would get what feels good to you.  I think one of the reasons I shoot autos better than o/u or sxs is shells are up in the forearm of the gun and that helps weight forward the gun which helps the gun swing on through.

Taco:

I have 28” barrels on all my guns. I know people like shorter barrels in the woods. I find the longer barrels swing better for me. I’m sure I’ve missed birds because my gun got hung up in the brush. But I shoot better with the 28” barrels. 

Grace:

I have a 391 12ga. Love that gun and I hit everything I point at. I started carrying the 12ga in the early part of grouse season to get more pellets in the air and it served me well the last five years. Zero kick and so reliable. 

My wife carries the Benelli 20 ga ultra-light with a 24" barrel.  It's a great gun, with never any issues. However, I prefer my Beretta 20 ga 391 Urika Ultra light. It's not quite as light as her Benelli, but it's still under 6 lbs, and the recoil is considerably less since it's gas-operated rather than inertia.  ​

How long of a barrel,24",26 or 28"?

Taco;

I can’t speak from experience with the Franchi. However, I have a 20ga Benelli Montefeltro Limited and my youngest son carries a 20ga Benelli Montefeltro. Very lightweight and easy to shoulder and fire quickly in the grouse woods. Never had either gun fail or foul even when shooting cheap shells dove hunting.  That said, have to seen the newer Benelli Evo series?  Just saw one a few weeks ago for the first time. Very nice and the 12ga weighs about the same as my Montefeltro.

Great, reliable and not too crazy price wise. 

Hunted last weekend, found the birds in the pines and also found out that my franchi instinct o/u wouldnt fire. Firing pin malfunction of some sort. No back up weapon , howener i am in the market for one now. Looking at the sweet sixteen or benelli montefeltro ultralight,any thoughts on the franchi? Any thoughts on the semi i should get, if not the 16 gauge id like 20

Duffin, we're running basically the same setup I have the 550+ and use DT Systems Baritone beeper in track and point.  I love the 550+, it's so simple compared to the Alpha 1000.  I dont think Lovetts are still around would like to try something different. I like the Baritone beeper but they're not real durable basically get 2 seasons out of them if I'm lucky.  I tried the Tritronics beeper when it worked, it was great but it constantly turned itself off for no reason.    I have the Dogtra that I carry as a backup beeper in my vest but don't like the magnet on/off and it beeps every 7 seconds in track mode so when my guys are moving that can be quite a bit of territory covered between beeps.

Graceonpoint, I run a similar set up.   Garmin 550 pro+ and an old Lovetts beeper set to point only.   The Garmin used to be 8 second delay to notify on point.   Its longer since the last update.  I havent timed it but a training buddy said he timed it at 14 seconds.   My beeper is 4 seconds.  My dogs work grouse in a track/point/track/point sequence.  That shorter time between point and notification is important IMO.  

Birdy, I can tell you this too, I run with a beeper collar and Garmin GPS that alerts you when the dog goes on point. There times that the beeper collar alerts me my dog is on point 20-30 seconds before the Garmin.  Sometimes I'm already to the dog before the Garmin alerts so another reason to use a beeper/bell.   

Graceonpoint;

I am with you on the bells. I have a good friend who lives in Iron county. He’s been hunting grouse more than 50 years. Runs nothing but setters and insists on using a bell. He brings extras when he hunts with other guys in case they don’t have bells.  He lives in the middle of the Northern Highland Forest and is in the woods nearly every day with his dogs most of the year. He never lost a dog to the wolves and there are plenty in that area.

I use a bell because the guy who knows more about grouse and setters than I will ever know says it’s a good practice. I’m smart enough to pay attention.