Maine Hunt Roundup: What We Learned
Off to MN!
Nice view...though we would've traded it for more birds!
Here’s a partial list of what we learned hunting the opening week of the Maine grouse season – partial because we’re sure we’re forgetting something.
Lesson 1 – Do not hunt the opening week in Maine ever again, maybe unless we’re much farther north or if we’re sure at least some of the leaves are down.
We’re jonesing pretty bad come Oct. 1. We want to be in the woods, we’ve trained for it, we’ve waited 9 months for it, we want to hunt birds already. But we hunted the opening week in Maine last year, and thought it couldn’t get worse in terms of leaves on the trees, ground vegetation and birds seen. We were wrong!
We’ll hunt the beginning of October next year for sure, but maybe it’ll be Montana or somewhere (we’ve never done it and that may thus be an ignorant statement!), or maybe chasing chukars out West. Who knows.
These young aspens will be worth returning to in 5 or 10 years.
Lesson 2 – If the vegetation is that tough, don’t hunt it all day every day for a solid week.
We thought we were in shape! That hunt kicked our a**es.
Lesson 3 – Sometimes, no matter how much you prepare, you just miss it.
We just missed it. Missed the right time/right place combo. We were in the right place, but at the wrong time. The weather didn’t help. We still put up some birds, were treated to a woodcock bonanza and figured a few things out that we can use in future hunts (and Serious Grouse Hunting, Book 2).
It’s not like the grouse weren’t there: Road-hunters were getting their limits. It was just tough to get them to flush, and when they did, to get a shot. Having a dog didn’t make much of a difference, as a bird guide told us.
To add insult to injury, Brendan’s brother Sean, who often hunts Maine with us, this year didn’t because he “couldn’t:” He was on a family vacation in Maine instead. But he brought his 20ga Citori, walked down a logging road, flushed seven grouse and shot one. In 2 hours.
Lesson 4 – Don’t be afraid to bring just two boxes of ammo.
We ALWAYS bring more ammo than we need. This time Brendan brought five boxes – a mix of 12ga and 20ga – and Jay brought six boxes, four 20ga and two 16ga. We each used both guns we brought, and still ended up bringing home most of the shells – and thus paying the airlines both ways.
Next time it’ll be two…okay, three boxes at most. If it turns out to be a shooting gallery, we’ll buy more somewhere.
Gear
We’re not going to get too heavily into the gear used right now (we will in the off-season, or maybe before the holidays), but will say that gear from the following manufacturers performed very well:
Clothing/Boots
> Cabela’s
> Irish Setter
> LL Bean
> Orvis
> Patagonia
> SmartWool
Ammo
> B&P
> Federal
> Fiocchi (we still LOVE the Golden Pheasant shells)
> Kent (why aren’t more people talking about these shells?)
> Winchester
Other
> Camelbak
> Garmin
> Glacier Glove
> Mother Tech
> Ranger glasses
Off to Minnesota!
The best part of this story is that the hunts’ not over yet: We’re leaving today for a week in Minnesota. We’ve heard that by then all the “easy” birds will be gone…which is right up our alley.
We’re hunting new areas in the general vicinity of the Chippewa National Forest, and of course will report back!
Category: 2010-11 reports, Ammo/shells, B&P, Cabela's, Camelbak, Clothing, Federal Premium, Fiocchi, Garmin, Hunt reports, Irish Setter boots, Kent, LL Bean, ME, Mother Tech, Orvis, Patagonia clothing, Ranger eyewear, Ruffed Grouse, SBH, SmartWool, Winchester
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like your book! check out 12 gauge cz-upland lightweight over under mine weighs 5 lbs. 9 oz. love it.
Been hunting opening week in Jackman numerous times. Hot weather will keep the birds in cooler heavy cover. We have always done quite well, bagged 67 birds between 3 of us on our last trip in one week. Got a bunch of Woodcock too, but stopped shooting them. You would absolutely do better with a good Grouse dog. We are counting the days until this coming October.
What do you know about Pittston Farm Lodge. Have been thinking of going up there, but they haven’t returned my phone calls. Also any good places to parka 30″ fifth wheel camper in that area?
Thanks,
Chris