There are many hunting trips I remember.  One of them that I would like to share with you is a grouse hunt that I went on. 

My friend Joe and I decided to do some weekend hunting for grouse in Vials County.  In a small area in Land O Lakes Wisconsin. That was a weekend to remember. I lived in a 3-bedroom Mobil home and my aunt and uncle had a little house right next to my home with a shared driveway. The property belonged to them.

During the hunting seasons, the guys would come up to the house and we would do some serious hunting. We shared a variety of hunts.  Mostly Whitetail Deer, both Archery, and gun season. One archery season when Joe and Art Sr.  and Art Jr, showed up to the house, I  was excited  to get together with them again for our whitetail deer bow hunt. But to my surprise Joe had another idea. Instead of me tagging along on the bow hunt Joe asked me if I wanted to go grouse hunting the next morning. I had already planed on it because it was mentioned to me by Joe when he called me about a week before they arrived. But I had planned for the bow hunt first. Then if there was time we would squeak in some grouse hunting. But apparently Joe had other ideas. Not that it made a big difference to me. I would have plenty of time to hunt for whitetail deer and grouse.  At the time I lived there anyway. So I had more time then they did. Plus I was self employed so that allowed me my window of opportunity to hunt.
Since I had a small game license, and a 12 gauge and everything that was needed. I was ready. No need to guess what my response was to Joe when he asked me to go out grouse the next morning.  You know I said yes

 

 

OK he said, we’d leave about 6:30 A.M. The idea of that was so we could have an early breakfast and spot the grouse during day light hours. Because that time of the year it is dark in the early morning hours.  

In the morning we packed our guns,and bird shot, and Joe's hunting dog Brandy in the back of the cap on his small pickup truck. He left the sliding window open between the cap and the front of the truck.  So we could let the dog stick his head in by us now and then. He was a spaniel. A good bird dog. But he liked attention once in the while. I guess that was the reason for our window being left open. So we could communicate with the dog.  At any rate after a good breakfast and a hot cup of coffee at the local cafe we started driving to our hunting grounds. In which we had many of, in that area.  There was much public land, and both the Ottawa and Nicolet National forest could be our stomping grounds. Not to mention other acres of forestland we were allowed to hunt.  It was a little bit cloudy that morning, but not to bad.  We really didn't care. We were going hunting regardless. 

Brandy would stick his head in by us every now and then and sniff as if he knew he was going hunting and getting all excited about it.  An occasional sniff in my ear now and then seem to be the dogs way of saying to me, I'm still here.   Joe drove us down an old fire lane road where we had spotted grouse under pine trees before in that area, so we thought we would check it out.  The area we really were interested in going to with the dog was actually in back of us. To the North. We were heading south down Fire lane Road. 

That was the name of it, and it was a fire lane road. They're awesome for hunting off of. Driving right in the middle of a forest looking for our birds.  Our main game plan was to drive down a few of these roads or this one only and then head back North on it so we could get back to our other hunting grounds with the dog. There was a highland area on those grounds and smaller pines stretched through a huge field. Perfect for the dog to sniff out those birds and perfect for us to walk into.  Actually if the truth were known I believe that Joe and I were both a little excited about the hunt. We had seen grouse in both areas before so we were pretty confident of taking a few home.

 

As we drove on a bit looking out our windows I spotted one. There I said to Joe. Under that big pine. I see it he said. Then he asked me. You want it? No I said. It's on my side of the truck. Better pull up a bit and get out your side and take it. You sure? He asked. Yeah, I said. I'll get my chance. OK he said. Keep Brandy calm if you can. He reached in the back through the sliding window reaching for his shotgun. Then cracking his door a bit and removing his gun from the case. He put about 3 shells in it. He was quit and moved very cautious and slow. He put one leg out  and then stepped out the rest of the way with his new looking Remington 12 gauge. Loaded  with shells of bird shot . He snuck around to the back of the truck as I kept the dog as calm as I could.

He then took a few more slow steps toward the pine where the bird was laying. I was almost holding my breath. Come on Joe. I thought. Before he fly’s away. Then suddenly I heard. Whoosh, as if a small helicopter was taking off. Then I heard boom. I quick glanced in the direction of the shot as I heard Joe's gun go off.  He fired in the direction of grouse. Joe walked over and picked up one bird. The dog was going crazy and trying to get away from me as I'm holding him by the collar and trying to keep him. Calm.

 

Joe barely got back to the truck with his bird before he said. There was more then one there. I know I replied. I heard them fly off. I didn't  see them laying there.  He said kind of excited.  Neither did I. I exclaimed. Well he said as he put his gun away and laid his bird in the front with us. Lets drive up the road a bit more. Your turn he said loudly laughing.  Yes it is I said. Brandy was going crazy. He wanted to jump in the front with us by that bird. I laid the grouse by my feet on the floor. It was a ruffled grouse.  We have spotted both Pin tails and Ruffled grouse in those areas before we hunted them there.

Time to get some more.  We then drove on for  awhile before we saw a few more resting under a pine.  Again they were on my side.  I looked at Joe for a second and he looked at me kind of laughing. It's your call he said. You want them or you want me to take them. I'll try it I said.  Joe tried to keep Brandy calm as I snuck out. Trying to move slowly and quietly.  I barley got my bird shot in my gun and took a couple of steps toward them when they decided to take off.  I quick took aim on one restless grouse before it was out of sight and fired.  That one is mine! I told Joe.   At least I got one out of that batch.  I put it next to Joe's ruffled grouse on the floor. Mine was also a ruffled grouse. His bird appeared to be a bit larger then mine.  It made no difference to me. So far we each had one for the freezer.  

 

Drive onward I told him.  See if we can find some more.  As we drove Joe said I wonder if their feeding on Pine needles.  I didn't know they would eat pine needles. I said. Yeah they will. He said. We'll know that when we breast them out.  Well cut them open and look to see what we can find.  As we drove on for awhile longer we were not having the luck we had when we first arrived down Fire lane Road.  Just like that things were slowing down in the hunting Field.  Maybe if we park and get the dog out I said. Joe said. I really want to take him back by those high lines.  But I'm just curious to see what we can do here 1st. OK I said.   After about 45 minutes of driving slow on Fire Lane road. Joe said I think I'll turn around up here and we'll head back.

 

On the way back on Fire Lane we did spot a good size Doe looking at us. Now why can't we see that when were bow hunting? I asked.  We can Joe said. We just can't shoot them as he laughed. Speak for yourself I said. Joe looked at me and said. I haven't seen your deer yet  this year.   The season is not over yet I replied. He then said not for me either. So don't be so quick to judge. Then he laughed again. So did I.  You see anything yet I asked him.  Yeah he said.  A deer.  I had to laugh. All right smart guy. How about any grouse.  Yeah he said. their laying by your feet. I could not help but laugh. OK I said good enough. As I was looking out the passenger window looking for more grouse. Before I realized it we were already at the end of Fire Lane Road and driving to the high lines to do some more hunting.

 

We were there in minutes. He pulled in off the road a bit and parked. Ready? He asked.  Oh Yeah I said. Let’s do this. So we got out locked up the truck. Open up the back and let Brandy out to get some of that restless feeling out of his system and let him run it out for a moment. We took out our guns and loaded them.  Joe yelled for Brandy a couple of times. He would dart at us and then run back through the Field and disappear in the trees then come running back at us again. It was funny to watch. Where is the bird Brandy?  Where is the bird? Joe asked. As he padded the dog fast as he would dart by us. That dog is happy now I said. Yeah Joe said with a grin. Let’s go get those birds. All right I said. We started walking right toward Brandy as he was sniffing excitedly on the ground. Where is the Bird? Joe would say to the dog. Go get the bird.  Brandy took us for a walk west of our truck into the forest then he turned right and started walking us near the Wisconsin River.  About four miles Northeast of where we were hunting is where the Wisconsin River feeds in from Lac view dessert Lake.  That is the rivers starting point before it begins its long journey of water flow. At any rate there was Brandy and there was us following.  Take us to the bird boy I said. Then the dog turned left and kept sniffing and moving. We were now facing south. Come on boy Joe said. Find the bird.  Brandy stopped and pointed. I was surprised. I was not aware that Joe had him trained that well. Then Brandy excitedly ran foreword to the cluster of trees and shrubs when He stopped and looked for a moment. Then Joe and I both saw them.  A bunch of grouse. We both had enough sense to shoot. He took two of them on the right I got one on the left.  The others manage to get away in flight. We both fired at those birds but missed.  Of course when they’re flying over the top of big pines, it's not always easy. There were a lot of smaller pines in that field. But there were some large ones as well. Brandy ran up on our birds sniffing and grabbing one. Joe and I picked up the other two. Bring me the bird Brandy. Bring me the bird. Come on boy. Brandy ran the bird to Joe, but did not want to let go of it. Joe finally got the bird away from the dog. Good boy, he said. As he patted the dog on the head.

Man, not bad I said. What’s the limit?  I couldn't remember. Or actually I was unsure.   Joe was unsure himself.  Five I think he said. I laughed. Wow! I said. You don't know?  I thought it was five per day for each guy he said.  It may only be three.  He laughed himself.  Usually I read the hunting regulations for the county that you’re in, but I thought that Joe did.  I thought when he had asked me to go grouse hunting with him, that he was aware of the limit of birds we could take.  Maybe it's three he said again, kind of laughing.  If it is I said. Then you’re at your limit.  You can still get one more he said.  Let’s do it I said. Then I happen to think.  Hey Joe. I said. Do you have the regulation book with you?  No he replied. I think its sitting in the house on the table in the dinning room.  We'll look for it in the truck when we get back, but I think it's at home.  OK. I said. I'll try and get us one more.  Brandy had started sniffing and running the ground.  He headed west in the direction the grouse flew, and then he turned and started heading north.  We lost him a couple of times in the forest and shrubs but he had bells on his neck.  I’m not sure if that was good or bad, because when we lost site of him we heard a flock of birds fly away before Brandy got to them.  We never did see those birds.

Soon the dog lead us in a darker section of woods down by the Wisconsin River.  He stopped and pointed. Joe and I both stopped. Now the dog was pointing northwest.  Into a clump of trees.  I remember some of those trees had a red tint to the bark on them.  A couple of birds were resting low.  Joe brought his 12 gage up and aim as I did. I thought for a split second. Hey you may be at your limit buddy. One of those is mine.  The grouse were getting nervous and ready to fly. Brandy was getting ready to dart toward them.  I wasted no time. I fired at my bird.  Joe did not fire. My bird was down. It almost got airborne but did not quite make it. All right I said. Three for three. Joe kind of smiled. I was just staying ready in case you missed. Well, I didn't I said.  Brandy was on the bird but I managed to get it away from him right away.   Let’s head back to the truck Joe said. We'll look up those regulations and see what the limit per day is around here.  We finally got back to the truck with our birds and our bird dog. We unloaded our guns and packed them away.  We put brandy in the back and went back to clean our birds and see what they were feeding on.  To our surprise two had pine needles in them. Three had clover in them.  The other bird.  Had some red substance. Must have been some kind of berries.  So no special diet for these grouse. Just feeding on whatever.  Then Joe looked up the regulations and laughed.  Now what?  I asked.  We could have each got two more he said.   That is per day. Want to go again tomorrow?  He asked. Yeah. I believe so I said.

We were both getting kind of hunger. So after cleaning the birds, we decided to have a late lunch almost supper. So we fixed us up some grub. But that evening I ate one of my birds anyway.  Season to perfection and it was good.  As for the next morning hunt. We did not do as well. Two birds on Fire Lane Road. Both taken by Joe.  Thanks to Brandy. Because Joe did park it there that time, and we let the dog out.  We drove on a bit down Fire Lane the second day.  But nothing. Then we went back to the high lines again. But did not see one bird.  Neither did the dog.  It was cooler that day and more overcast. Not much sun.  As for the first day it was kind of cloudy but the sun still came shinning through from time to time.  I do not know if that had an effect on our hunt on Sunday.  But as far as Saturday went. It was great.  A good weekend of grouse hunting. Ruffled grouse and  two Pin Tailed out of eight birds. Not to bad. 

 Dean Romano

 

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