Richard swinging on a bird over a Blaze point.
I should spend more time handling the Setters and watching other people gun over them. This was something I quickly realized as I watched close friends take birds over my own dogs in the uplands. And that’s exactly what I set out to do during the 2019 Grouse and Woodcock season.
Blaze working a running Grouse in deadfall.
Personal connections are what it’s all about. Katie and I had been to Pheasant Fest during the winter of 2019 and met several amazing people, all passionate about upland bird conservation, bird dogs and the outdoors. One of those individuals was Michael Pearce. He mentioned to me that one of the items on his “bucket list” was to shoot a Ruffed Grouse over the point of an English Setter. I paused only for a second before exclaiming, “I think I can help you out with that!”
Michael admiring a Timberdoodle taken over a Blaze point.
We made a connection. After a lengthy conversation about shared outdoor pursuits, the verbal easy-flow was obvious and our plan was set. We would keep in touch until the magical month of October and set out to bring down the King.
Michael covers another Blaze find.
Katie and I eagerly awaited the third weekend of October. Weeks before their arrival, I had committed to scouting new covers to make sure we got into plenty of birds. Michael and his good friend Richard showed up late on a Friday evening and we set out early the following morning.
Tailgate buddies.
The King was very cagey these three days, often running out from under a point and flushing out of gun range and while we got some very fine dog work on him, and some good looking shots, we did not bring him to bag. Some might see that as a “fail.” And I may have been disappointed ten years ago. But those gentleman took a limit of Woodcock each day over points. And what was more valuable than all the upland game birds ever bagged, was the chance to walk beside and hunt with them - two true ambassadors of the outdoor lifestyle. Their respect for the wild birds they harvested and the work of my dogs and especially for the public lands we hunted, was powerfully evident. They carried trash out of each cover. When they took a bird, they tirelessly looked to recover it and admired and regarded each one as a trophy.
The future of our sport depends on bringing in new upland hunters, but it also depends on people like Michael and Richard - people with decades of experience, willing to share it with anyone. So please allow me to extend a sincere invitation, in the true spirit of these two gentlemen who have helped so many people take their first deer or shoot their first turkey. If you’ve never hunted upland birds before but have an interest in learning, please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to make it happen. If you’re located too far from me, I’ll attempt to connect you with experienced folks in your area. There’s quite a network of amazing people in the upland world. Merry Christmas from the Alder Fork.