Late November Grouse Hunt!

Well I made the trip back up to "The Hill" for a guided hunt for three clients. The beginning of this hunt was made possible for two lucky hunters that bid on our auctioned hunt for "Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation". Although I won't make any money on this hunt, it made us feel good that we could provide some funds for the Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation. In total Steady Point raised 830.00 for the Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation. I was contacted earlier by the winner of the hunt and questioned as to adding a hunter to the package. After the price was settled and the scouting completed, it was time to prep at the cabin.

My clients arrived at about 700 AM and they were treated to a large breakfast at "The Hill". Paperwork was filled out and it was off to the first covert. Upon arrival the pups were tearing the dog box apart. The crisp air was a welcome relief from the warmer air of the early season. After strapping the pups up, safety brief and talking over the game plan, the hunt began.

The first grouse flushed from the pines and leisurely crossed over where I had put Brad. Brad fired and missed. I completed the push with the pups and turned to the north. My hunters repositioned themselves and we pushed to the north. Briar was the first to go on point then a bird erupted from the hemlocks. Stan shot and missed. Then a second bird busted as Ticket rounded a hemlock blow down. I watched in anticipation as I saw the cock grouse burning toward myself and my awaiting hunter, Dan. I ducked down with Briar and called for Dan to shoot! He did and a miss was registered. Knowing that more birds lay in front of us, we pushed on. Seconds later a bird busted from yet another Hemlock, where Stan promptly missed. Knowing that grouse are very tough animals, I asked my hunters to mark the last place they saw their birds go down and we returned in an attempt to recover a wounded grouse.

The dogs were brought to the area the birds were seen going down and commanded to hunt for a down bird. Nothing was recovered. We then pushed on with no re flushed. Thinking the grouse had gone to the trees, I returned to do a push back to the truck. I positioned the hunters for an easy open shot. As we began, a bird busted close to the barberries and no shot was presented. We gathered at the truck for a bit and then off to the next covert.

We hit another spot but no birds were found. I was still in a state of bliss, knowing that the Steady Point Pointers put up four grouse in 30 mins. Not bad. But my shooters were unaccustomed to hunting grouse, so we had to push on. We pushed through the next covert and the birds were running well ahead of the dogs. They had the advantage, as the barberries were in most parts 6 to 7 feet high. Even the dogs couldn't keep up to the fleet footed birds as they ran and busted 60 to 70 yards in front of the hunters. We signaled defeat here, but there was another part of this covert to push. We crossed a game land road and pushed the opposite direction. The dogs did have a quartering wind so I felt comfortable they would scent the birds before they busted. No birds were marked.

As we walked back to the trucks, I conversed with my hunters about the years I've hunted this covert. "I then remembered a hunt with my dear cousin John, my close friends Jesse and Joe. As we walked down the road, I explained that we did exactly what we had just done, with no flushes and then Ticket went on point." Just as those words exited my mouth, I watched Briar lock up, backed by Ticket. I yelled at my hunters to make ready. I moved in and a fine hen grouse busted from the barberries. Brad shouldered his scatter gun and made a fine killing shot on the bird. The bird was promptly fetched by Briar.

We headed to the top of the mountain for the next covet. We made our way down to the swamp that was a secret hide away for the "Kevlar wearing pheasant". We moved about a hundred yards when Ticket went on point just behind Brad. I slowly moved in looking for a bird, but I could see nothing. Then it happened. A fat cock pheasant busted from the blow down. Brad shot and missed, but was back by Dan, who winged the bird. Ticket made quick work of the bird and Dan was presented his prize with a hand shake!

We were not done, there was much work to do. I casted Ticket and Briar into a covert that screamed a grouse and bunny hide out. Soon Briar put her nose down, ground scenting and sounding. I yelled at my hunters that the dog was on a bunny.Then Ticket joined in on the fun. The bunny made a few short hops from its blow down. Then Ticket cornered it in another blow down. He went on point, with tail waggin'. The bunny soon busted and went past my hunter. Brad didn't shoot, so we left the bunny go. No need in running the dogs ragged if the hunters weren't shootin' We pushed on with no results.

We ended the day with a few cold ones and thanks for all the good memories.

Steady Point Upland Guide Service

Steady Point Huntin the second week

I headed up to Hittle's Half A Hill for a brief conversation with Mom and Dad. I quickly unloaded the hunting rig and headed to parts unknown, for new coverts to hunt with my clients that soon would be arriving. As most of my scouting trips start, I combed over maps and looking for the Holy Trinity. Upon finding it on a section of a undisclosed game land. I set off with the Steady Point German Shorthairs, eagerly whining in the dog box. I arrived with a cloud of dust. I hooked up the dogs and we were off. The dogs did a great job quartering, constantly checking back.

Then it happened, what I was looking for, my ace tracking dog, Briar got hot on ground scent of a running bird. I pushed for a bit, but didn't want to bust the bird, as I may need this covert for my paying customers, Dave and Pat. I examined the covert closely and could here the ghosts of my Great Grand Pa Jake and Grand Pop Hittle, telling me, "Boy, there be birds in these here woods." I could see the smoke coming from Grand Pop Hittle's cigar, as he gave me a half ass grin! Great Grand Pa would have just said, "What the hell you looking at boy, get at them." in his strong Pennsylvania Dutch accent. Either way, I couldn't dilly dally here. I needed to check in on my hunters, who should now be getting set up at their rented cabin for the next couple of days.

I headed down the mountain and found Dave and Pat unpacking from there trip. We discussed the paperwork need for the hunt and then it was off to bed for them. I met the guys that morning in a down pour, but there would be no post poning hunts with Steady Point. We were off to put up birds. As we drove up the mountain, I told the guys that the birds would be on the roost and flushing from the trees. Upon arrival at the first spot, we managed to put up one hen pheasant and several grouse without shots. Down the mountain! We hit a promising covert, that provided nothing but the lose of Briar's brand new hunting vest in a sea of barberries. 36.00 down the drain!

Pushed on to the next spot, hitting the dynamite shack. On running birds straight off. Until the unthinkable happens. Briar starts to chop. From my experience she has a running bird. I can't see her in the cherry stand, but I'm sure its a bird. I give her the command to flush the fleet footed grouse and am greeted with quicker chopping and she's not moving. Problem! As I close into the cherry stand, I see the culprit. A porcupine has been cornered and has delivered his payload right in the face and nose of my Champion Bred German dog. A quick hand on the dog, I managed to remove all the quills from Briar's nose (the working part). I then rushed her to the hunting rig to drive back to the "Hill" as I forgot my pliers. I removed the rest of the quills with the help of Mom and me and the boys were back off up the mountain.

We entered the lair of the bullet proof pheasant. This bird had eluded us before, but I was hoping to break the curse. His large body size and 24 inch tail, made me believe that he was a hold over from last years stocking. We would see. I casted the dogs out on their normal path. They began to track but no bird was to be had. We lowered into the swamp and quickly Ticket went on point once again. I heard the familiar cackle of the cock bird, the shots followed and then the question. Did you get it, Pat? The answer no, broke my heart. Was he big I asked. Yes, very big with a long tail! That was him, missed again. This bird was giving me fits. I would have pursued him, but the clients wanted grouse and that's what we would hunt.

A few wild flushes from the trees later, Briar locks up on point in front of a large hemlock with Pat closely behind her. I measured the wind and quickly realized the bird was in the hemlock. Before I could call to Pat, a huge grey phase cock grouse launched from the branches. Pat didn't even see the bird! I was salivating. I have never gotten a give me shot at a grey phase like that. Pursuing him was futile, as I'm positive he went back to the security of the trees. As we exited the swamp oak thicket, Dave didn't look too good. After inquiring about Dave's status it was decided to go up to a easier thicket to run.

The ride was uneventful, until I had a blowout on a back country game land road. Thank the good Lord for folks that we know up on that mountain. Feeling bad for my clients, I gave them 3 hours on me free that following day. Hopefully without rain and any more porcupines. I transfered the dog box to Dad's Chevy and met the guys the next day at their place. We headed back to the sweet spot for a redo with the pheasant hen and some of those grouse. It was not to happen.

I headed down the road and entered a section that I haven't hunted in years. I casted out the dogs and grabbed my E.R. Amiantino. I was tired of watching dead birds fly away. The dogs worked a running bird for over 100 yards, until we hit a cherry stand and that familiar rush of wings erupted. The bird rocketed from the hemlocks right at me. I fluidly mounted that battle scared 12 bore, swung over my head, settled below the fleeing bird and let the bottom barrel go. The bird dropped in a heap. As the bird attempted to make it to its feet, I gave it the second barrel as not loose another bird, as last week. Ticket pinned the fat hen and I gently took it from his mouth. Myself and the client admired our quarry for the day. We discussed how things had gone so wrong, but how they had such a good time. I told them that I enjoyed our time in the field together and that I would glady have them back on a winter shoot. They made it off the mountain to pack up as I did. I had to pick up my rig and head home.

Back at Hittle's Half a Hill, the dogs and I had a moment sitting on the tailgate with our prize, as they worked the hardest for that bird. Oh the memories, oh I wish Great Grand Pa Jake and Grand Pop Hittle were there. That's right, I forgot, "They were!"

Hit the bush for a mixed bag!

The night was October the 20th. Mike and Steve and I left the base of Steady Point Huntin' in Berks County at about 8:30 PM. We had a sum what short trip up to Hittle's Half-A-Hill. We met my friend, Jesse, at Strievig's. The closed sign was not a welcome sight. Although Jesse's truck with a anxious English Setter in the bed, was sitting in front of the closed bar. I made a quiet entry into the bar and there seated at the bar, looking at an empty beer mug, was Jesse. We exchanged greetings and proceeded to Hittle's Half-A-Hill for a few cold frosty beverages and wait for AceArcher to arrive. Ace got there and we hit the rack for a early morning of grouse and woodcock hunting.

The morning arrived early. We had a hearty breakfast of venison sausage, scrapple and eggs. Our drive started up the mountain. We hit the CC Road and we were on for our 7 mile ride up the mountain. I ended the drive to the sweet spot with a word of caution to my hunters. I had killed a great number of birds on that hill. The push began and we were greeted with a flush from a American Woodcock. As I was not carrying a gun, I watched in wonder as the bird flew past me. Hoping, waiting for Mike to take his first woodcock. The shot was fired by Ace but the bird just landed unscathed.

Mike and Ace moved in for a re flush, aided by the Steady Point Pointers. The Timber doodle erupted and shots fired without a fallen bird. We checked the area for 5 minutes without the bird. We moved to the next covert without a point or flush. Since we were under a time constraint, we made our way down the CC Road for the next Covert. We arrived 30 minutes later and the dogs firsts hit ground scent from the road. About two minutes later a brace of birds erupted. One flew straight away and the second committed suicide in front of Mike. Mike made two quick shots with his Wingmaster and the bird fell, wounded. The bird must have been stunned and not fatally wounded, as the pups could not locate the bird.

We proceeded down the hill and the action began. First, Jesse called out that Steady Point's Ticket was running a large Cockbird. Myself and Steve witnessed this and the sight was awe inspiring. Briar was called back and she pinned the bird. The Pheasant erupted in front of us, but lucky for him, he was out of season. We watched the animal fly down the line of egar hunters. The tail on that cockbird was as long as my arm. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, to watch a beautiful rooster fly away without a shot!

We pushed on after a ton of laughs as Ace got stuck on the other side of Lake John, without a way out. Soon after Ace made his journey back from across the lake, Dallas, Jesse's English Pointer, locked up on another brace of grouse. He was backed by Ticket and the flush happened with two birds going down with one shot. Unfortunately the second bird was not located, so we hope that he has recovered. Jesse gladly held his first PA ruff!

Next Dallas went on point again not far from there and Jesse was hot. He hit his second PA Woodcock. The push continued with a running bird in front of Ticket and Briar. The bird flushed at a power line edge, where Steve was walking. No shot was taken, as Steve couldn't ID the bird. Couldn't blame him, as a new hunter for hesitating.

As we discussed Steve's hesitation, Jesse and Dallas forced a wild flush from a hardy woodcock. I quickly ran down the trail for an open shot. I fired twice and saw a small change in the bird's flight path. After a small protest from Adam, Briar, Ticket, Steve and myself pursed the bird. It was located shortly by Briar, who pinned it in some swamp oak. The bird only had suffered two pellet wounds in its wing. He will be soon mounted for my trophy room. We ended the day with roosters cackling all around us as we cracked LAGERS in celebration of a fine day afield. Till next time, happy huntin'

Russ

Steady Point Upland Guide Service
Morgantown, PA

The moments that time stands still!

I think of many years ago, walking through my favorite covert in Sullivan County. A twisted mess of barberries and Georgia pines. My faithful German Shorthair, Ticket, slowly ploding through the muck of the moist, moss covered earth. Then in one swirling movement, he was on point at my feet.

An explosion of wings and wistling, soared past my nose, nearly knocking off my hat. Out of instinct I snapped up my E.R. Amiantino, over and under and fired. What had flushed and fallen will never be forgoten. My first American Woodcock.

There have been many since then, but that day will be etched in my mind, until the day the Lord calls me home. I'm writing this because, slowly the date of October 17 is coming. The first day for hunting the elusive American Woodcock.

I scouted one of "secret spots" on state land. I know it sounds odd, but this is a section of public land that sees little presure for woodcock, thus its perfect for me. It lays only 10 mins away from my home, here in Berks County. I recently did a training session with one of my female German Shorthairs there, in hopes that a resident woodcock was around or maybe a holdover pheasant. No Dice! But a good day of training to say the least. It took about 10 mins for Briar to shake the winter cobwebs from her little doggie brain, but after that she was a pleasure to work, when I could see her. See the milkweed, multifloral rose and scrub oak were very thick and made it very difficult to admire her work. I did enjoy seeing her addapt to the surroundings, as she bounded and looked for the next birdy looking hideaway. A few more weeks here in PA and we'll be out on the prowl looking for the American Woodcock and what ever tricks he has up his sleeves. I just hope the North Wind doesn't blow too hard, too fast. Until next time, Hunt safe and hunt hard.

Russ
Steady Point Upland Guide Service