Grouse and woodcock

[Karpteach]

I am in the process of getting another pointer. I haven’t hunted Geouse and Woodcock in over 20 years. How are NYS numbers in upland birds. I know that there is a pendulum of good years and bad years. Where is NY in this pendulum.

 

[hooked]

Very low in ontario county, almost no sightings.

 

[Robin]

Use to hunt them off Marrowback Road years ago but things have grown in and habitat has changed. Best eating game bird bar none, Ruffled Grouse.
Robin

 

[Phauxtoe]

here is Rockland i have seen SO many woodchuck this year its amazing!
(please note - However, not in Any place a person can hunt!)

there was even one sitting on the Palisades Parkway road shoulder, i kinda want to go drive over him...

The Smarter part of my brain won that one!

 

[Saltwater60]

By me in alleghany county there is a good amount of grouse.

 

[Yeti]

Acid rain seems to have took out alot of the cover here,that is what urban development didn't clear.Small game is a thing of the past anymore.

 

[SmallGameAddict]

Where I live here in Oswego county ( I am in the Southern Zone, but no more than 10 minutes South or West of the Northern Zone) on the Lake Plains, there are grouse galore. We have the larger St. Lawrence subspecies, gray color phase. One whole grouse breast is the size of a whole domestic chicken breast, PLENTY for one portion. In fact, on the other side of my driveway, maybe 15 yards from my LR windows, just inside the brush, is a log on which a male sits and drums, day on and day out, almost 24/7, year round. It has greened up now, but I've often thought of making a short vid of him. He chases numerous ladies around in my yard sometimes. I have participated in the DEC Grouse Hunting Log program for years. I love the turkey flavor of the meat.

Also, in February, 12-13 of them pile into the top of an Iron Wood (officially Hop Hornbeam) tree about 20 yards from my sliding glass door, about the last 15-30 minutes of daylight each day, eating the new buds. My guess is they are loaded with sugar, cheap easy calories to stay warm. I used to hunt them the most during January thaw, prime time, easy pickins, all leaves down, hard snow and ice on the ground to see them on the ground thru the brush, no leaves on trees for them to fly out of sight so quickly, but I no longer do. I want to leave some seed for the following year.

 

[whauburger]

Pheasant hunt the pup.

 

[Doc8404]

here is Rockland i have seen SO many woodchuck this year its amazing!
(please note - However, not in Any place a person can hunt!)

there was even one sitting on the Palisades Parkway road shoulder, i kinda want to go drive over him...

The Smarter part of my brain won that one!

WTF? Woodchuck? That ain’t a bird

 

[nortatoga]

Watch out for the Grizzlychickens!!

 

[1911guy]

Northern Oneida county: Population on the upswing has been reported to me. I haven't been looking for them lately.

 

[Criticalt]

Here in Southern Chautauqua Co grouse are coming back.
Also pheasants......which I got a big male last November.......with my GF car.......broke the car......bird walked away.

 

[Criticalt]

Hit him at 60mph, pulled him out, brushed him off and he walked away.

 

[pjzwtl]

Chenengo county state lands that are managed for timber generally have good grouse hunting like the 5 streams state forest in German. Woodcock are migratory so year to year it depends if you hit the right spot when their coming through it’s a blast and most wetland areas will have woodcock stopping in on their way south.
I unfortunately had to put my gun dog down this spring so my wing shooting days are over for the most part.

 

[Karpteach]

Chenengo county state lands that are managed for timber generally have good grouse hunting like the 5 streams state forest in German. Woodcock are migratory so year to year it depends if you hit the right spot when their coming through it’s a blast and most wetland areas will have woodcock stopping in on their way south.
I unfortunately had to put my gun dog down this spring so my wing shooting days are over for the most part.

I’m sorry to hear about your hunting partner. There’s nothing like a good dog.