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Posts Tagged ‘Grouse’

First Grouse

November 25th, 2001 Comments off

I took Ruby to a field trial in Michigan recently. The trial was interesting and I think she did fine. Met some nice folks and her trainer was there running dogs as well. I borrowed a horse for part of the trial and learned I’m certainly no horseman. But I managed through.

Field Trials

After the trial four of us went up to north central Michigan, southwest of Traverse City a bit in Wexford County (as I recall.) I was a great trip, good group of guys and the Brits were a lot of fun to watch.

It was Ruby’s first time on grouse and she really acquitted herself well, running with the vets, honoring points, finding birds, holding her point. One set of dogs ran with Swiss Bells and while it was certainly traditional and also soothing to hear the bells jangling, im not sure I’m comfortable enough yet to give up the beeper on her collar. It’s probably more me than her. Well actually it’s the fear of what my wife would do if I lost her for a while!

hunting dog

I’ve not been on public ground groomed for grouse. It’s pretty interesting how they manage it in some areas – four corners are cut in cycles so that one is almost old growth, one is what I think most would consider prime, one quadrant is younger growth approaching prime, and one is pretty much young growth. At least that’s how I understood it.

Ruby found a porcupine and luckily didn’t tangle with it. I am glad she didn’t end up with a snout full of quills!

We saw quite a few birds and Ruby had a solid handful of finds and points.