North Dakota trip 2014

Headed out to North Dakota for a 3 day 4 night hunt with 4 guys total.  We had a ton of fun, dog work was excellent.   Ended up with 27 roosters and 3 sharptails.

North Dakota Photos

Pheasant fest 2013

Went back to willow creek kennels for a late seaso hunt with a couple buddies.   Had a great time.  Dogs did great considering it was hovering at zero degrees.     Lots of points and lots of fun.   

First deer recover

Took ruger out Saturday and recovered his first deer.  A buddy shot one and needed some help.   Ruger found it still alive but unable to move.   We arrows it again and recovered it 

Also went to duck ponds both days but not ducks around.      

The end of the year

The year ended with a terrible wet windy November 4th.    The month of October we had more rain then I can remember.   I think we ended up with well over 55 ducks.    One of the best duck years I have had.    Woodcock were tough this year too.   

I weeny out Friday and shot 2 ducks and a rooster pheasant.    Saturday was Becky's birthday.   We shot 5 woodcocks    Dogs pointed all of them.   Went with my dad too.   Had probsby 10 points on the day.  Best day of the year.   No grouse 

Sunday I went out and got blanked.  Ruger had 2 points.   Monday I braved the storm and got soaked.  Saw 8 woodcocks and no points.    

Weekend Update

I went out Thurs and Friday Nights after work.  Shot a limit of woodcocks each time.  Starting to bump them all in the new slash by the cabin. Ruger had a couple points,  Scout did too.  Also got 1 grouse.

Saturday I hunted with Riley and we shot 5 by the cabin.  Flushed 2 grouse only.  Sunday we got 1 grouse from the truck.

Also ended up hunting ducks most of these nights.  Still shooting woodducks.  I think we are at roughly 50 ducks down for the year.  Ruger is still doing awesome.  Amazing tracking ability.

A little bitter and better

Went out after work yesterday.   Ruger pointed woodcock perfectly.   Had a couple other points kn woodcocks.  Saw roughly 10.  Most in the new slash behind cabin.  Also shot 1 grouse out of 3.    Hunted 2 hours 

Weekend Update

It was a rainy wet weekend.  Saturday we ended up with 5 woodcocks off point from mostly Scout.  Ruger had a couple as well.  2 grouse from the mobile dodge dakota blind.

Sunday morning I got into the woodcocks heavy for the first time.  We scratched down 5 in 40 minutes.   Had about 25 flushes.  Went back at night but it was raining pretty steady and only saw 2 more.  

A sign of hope

Went to cabin and walked for 2 hours.   Finally saw  8 woodcocks.  Ruger pointed first one and bagged it.  No points after so I never shot 

Woodcock finally

Finally saw what think are migratory woodcocks coming down.  Went out by mason and race into a couple pockets of them.  Scratched down 4 with the help of my dad.  Scout pointed 2 or 3.  Ruger pointed 2.  Also ran into 2 grouse.  Grouse seem go be way down    Hunted 3 hours before the packer game 

Weekend update

Took Friday off.  Went to brule and saw only 4 woodcocks.   Then ruger got into another porcupine by the white river delta diner area.  Ran him into to vet and got 60 quills pulled.

Went out sat morning and shot 2 divers then1 l grouse at cabin.    No woodcocks around yet.  

Blanked

Went out today to the cabin.   If was almost 80 degrees and bright sun.   Walked to river along ridge and back through slash.  Never saw a bird.   First blank of the season. 

On another note.  The leaves are still green.  No frost yet.   Ruger is up to 35 duck retrieves for the year.  Hopefull this weekend will become cold and push down some woodcocks.   

Grouse down

Went out for a half day.    Shot a grouse and missed 1 other.  Only 3 flushes.    No woodcocks.  Hot and dry in woods.    Bugs everywhere.   

Took kids out Tuesday night.   Ducks were still around.   Ruger did great retrieving all 5 

Opening weekend

Didn't get to get out on the opener.  Had to run the fat fire festival race.  Ended up hunting Monday night.   If was hot.  Ruger got sprayed by a skunk.  Pushed 3 woodcocks in the slash.    Ruger pushed them all.   Went by box stand and ruger's beeper wern off.   I went in it stopped and went off again.   I walked in and he was looking in a tree.   A bird flushed from my side.  I missed with not barrels.  Reloaded and the spotted one in another tree.  As I shot it, another took off and I swing 180' and nailed it.  My first double in a long time.  

First Weekend in November

I went out twice this weekend.  First time I went to the cabin and moved 3 birds.  Walked the big loop looking for deer sign.   
Sunday I went out with a friend over by Washburn.  We hunted 3 hours and moved 9 birds.   Ruger had 3 great points, i missed my shots.   Woodcock season closed and i haven't seen one in over a week.  

Big update

On Thursday the 25th.  Started out in a Brule and hunted for 2 hours with Bryce.  Saw 6 grouse, and 4 woodcocks.  Shot 3 and 3.  Woodcocks over points.  
Friday i was off to Brainerd and pheasant hunted at Willow Creek Kennels.  Justin, Riley, Bryce and I had a great time.

Cam back Sat, sat 4 grouse at Brule Cabin.  Woodcocks are gone.  Moved my stand on Sunday and saw no birds.  

Took the whole day off Tuesday and went down to Clam Lake area with 2 buddies.  We moved 13 grouse and 3 woodcocks in a full day of hunting.  Only shot 1 grouse and 1 woodcock.  Ruger pointed a grouse and 2 woodcocks.  Scout stayed home.

Went hunting 3 times last weekend. 
Friday I scouted for deer with Ruger.  He bumped a couple woodcocks by the cabin, and 1 grouse.
Saturday i went with 2 buddies up to Brule.   We had our limit of 9 woodcocks within 2 hours.  7 over points by Ruger and Scout.  No grouse.
Sunday i went to mason and shot 4 woodcocks.  Only Ruger came with.  Scout is still recovering from Lymes disease scare.

Big update.

Last weekend I went out a couple time.  On Sat it was windy, cold, and damp.  Never saw a bird by the cabin.   Jumped some ducks though.   Sunday i went out to Ylitello's and bumped only 1 grouse, but i got it.  Monday, i went out again , and saw 2 grouse, and 2 woodcocks by the cabin.  Got 1 grouse.

Took the day off work and went hunting with Stuart on Wednesday.  We went up to Brule.  Hunted from 1-5.   Shot 7 grouse, and 6 woodcocks.  A great time.

Getting better

Went out after work thursday night.   Brought Scout and Ruger.  Scout had 2 nice points, 1 on a grouse, 1 on a woodcock.   Ended up with 2 grouse, and 3 woodcocks.   Saw 6 total grouse, more than a dozen woodcocks. 

2nd weekend

Duck hunting opened up Saturday.  Ended up shooting 3 greenheads off the county line pond with Jason and Zachary.  Shot 1 drake wooddock off brevak pond.  

Afternoon with Blaise and his dog Doris.  Ruger bumped some birds, pointed some more, and Doris did awesome.  Ended up with only 3 woodcocks, but saw about a dozen.  1 grouse siting.  Very windy and dry.

Sunday  I walked the entire loop at the cabin and didn't come up with much.   No points, very few woodcocks, and tired dogs.  Hot and dry.  About 60 degrees.  

Also went pond jumping with Larry and scratched 2 grouse, 1 on road, 1 on brevak pond.  No ducks.

2nd Day out

Went out after work to hit the woods. 

Saw 3 grouse at Y's   No shot.  Ruger pushed each of them. 

Went to cabin and pushed 3 more grouse.  Ruger pointed 1,  I missed with both barrels.  Saw a couple woodcocks too.   Woods are still thick and green.