With ruffed grouse seasons finally coming to a close here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, I have now begun the annual reflection period and will inevitably begin looking ahead to next year. The late season hunting was ok this year aside from a few cold snaps and an unusual thaw that left the woods covered in ice, however once the snow covers up the ground, grouse hunting just isn’t the same for me. [Read more…]
As I pull off the gravel road and onto the driveway, I slow-roll past a familiar mailbox and a smile creeps over my face. I continue on by an “English Setter Crossing” sign and I like to think Hartley, my two-year old setter, is also smiling behind me in his crate. I follow the driveway that separates a beautiful piece of forested bird cover on my left to the open grassy training fields on my right. Eventually the truck is parked and we have arrived, this is Pineridge Grouse Camp. [Read more…]
I had an opportunity to join four others on a hunt to the west, the Montana prairies. We set up camp and targeted sharp-tailed grouse for eight days straight. It all started when I met two of the four guys this spring at a 16-Gauge shoot here in the Twin Cities area. We were all shooting A.H. Fox shotguns and ended up being paired together. [Read more…]
The bare days of November are upon us which have delivered an onslaught of thoughts, emotions and mixed feelings as they always do! [Read more…]