First field trial fo Stitch — first win!

Stitch wins puppy stake at New England Bird Dog Club's August 2021 Field Trial
Stitch wins puppy stake at New England Bird Dog Club’s August 2021 Field Trial

Our Pointer Stitch ran in her first field trail on Saturday — and had her first win!

She ran in the puppy stake at the New England Bird Dog Club’s annual quail trial up in Dummer, NH.

Thank you to Craig Doherty of Wild Apple Kennels in Dummer, NH, who has been training Stitch the beginning of August and who ran her on Sat. Craig will be running Stitch in two more trials in a few weeks. I hope she get just as lucky.

Stitch has field trials in he dad is Open Range Terminator, the 2020 Oklahoma Open Shooting Champion. Her mom is Open Range Ice Breaker.

New England Bird Dog Club August 2021 Field Trial
New England Bird Dog Club August 2021 Field Trial

Here’s a video of Stitch working on pigeons up at Craig’s place last week.

Let’s get this season going…

 

Best time of year
Best time of year

October’s here — finally. And even though Maine’s state biologists predict a mediocre grouse season and the foliage colors are sure to be muted, I’m looking forward to the fall.

I’ll be hunting the last two weeks of the month for sure, and then any other days & weekends I can fit in.

After a disappointing 2015, I’m shifting away from central Maine. There are birds there, but I’m having a harder time finding them. I also have less free time to look for them, too. And when you have limited time to hunt, one birdless day’s is a big deal — and not something I want to experience again.

Anyway, here are some pics of hunts and memories from seasons past. I hope you enjoy them.

A good day. The gun is a 16g Heym O/U, made in the 1920s...
A good day. The gun is a 16g Heym O/U, made in the 1920s…
Poplars in the AM sun
Poplars in the AM sun
Puck pointing a grouse at the objective
Success! Puck pointing a grouse at the objective.
Pure Puck
Pure Puck
Point! Now what do you do?
Puck, back in her prime

Welcome to the best time of the year …

Fall 2013 Season Preview
Fall 2015 Season Preview

Today is the second day of fall – and one day into the best time of the year. Here’s a bit of what I’m looking forward to: Fresh apples, pumpkins, poplar leaves shimmering like gold coins, wool jackets — and of course — bird hunting.

Maine & NH’s grouse season opens in October 1, and the woodcock should start moving through northern New England after Columbus Day. I’ll be in Maine for two weeks this year, and I’m hoping for a great season. Lexi is ready to go, and I’ve heard the bird numbers are looking good.

Fall 2013 Season Preview
Fall 2015 Season Preview
Fall brook trout
Fall brook trout
Fall colors
Fall colors
Fall 2013 Season Preview
Fall 2015 Season Preview
Fall 2013 Season Preview
Fall 2015 Season Preview

Free workshop, all about grouse & woodcock hunting…..

Puck retrieving a grouse
Puck retrieving a grouse

If we want upland hunting to survive, we need to bring more people into the sport. Without them, our numbers will dwindle, along with the public support and political clout it takes to  encourage hunting and the proper habitat management it requires.

So if you know anyone who would like to get out in the field this fall, this free workshop on Sat, August, 17th, sounds like a great introduction to our sport. I’m going to try and be there. I encourage you to join me.

Free Workshop on Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse Hunting…

HOLDERNESS, N.H. — Get set for the fall grouse and woodcock season at a free workshop on Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Hunting on Saturday, August 17, 2013, from 9 a.m. to noon at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness. Pre-registration is required. To sign up, call 603-536-3954.

The workshop covers the basic skills needed for the pursuit of these challenging birds. Participants also will learn about grouse behavior, hunting safety issues, hunting with or without dogs, gaining permission to hunt/landowner relations, clothing choices, shotgun and ammunition options, creature comforts for an enjoyable hunt and recipes for grouse.

Ruffed Grouse SocietyThe session will be led by grouse hunting enthusiasts/Hunter Education instructors Sean Williamson and Dan Keleher. In addition, Andrew Weik, the Northeast biologist for the Ruffed Grouse Society, will give a presentation on ruffed grouse and woodcock and their habitat needs.

Read more about the workshop here