This is what I saw when I started out in the morning
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc202/mnturkey/IMG_5026.jpg)
For those of you who might wonder or want to feel what that is like go to your freezer and sit in it, your freezer is 20 degrees warmer then the air.
The dog and I spent about 7 hours out and the warmest it got was about -7 degrees or so.
We flushed 12 grouse and I had shots at 5 of them, I missed 4 of them, I also heard 2 more.
The one I got was by a wind blown fallen down popple tree with the leaves still on, the dog went right in to the leaves and branches, his tail going nuts, the bird got up with a rush and a loud noise going behind another tree so I did not have a shot right away, I waited a brief second and when I could see him again I shot. I saw him drop down and did not know for sure if I had hit him(the way the day had gone missing 4 birds already) but went to look and maybe flush him again. We got to the spot and all of a sudden the dog pointed at a stump, I could not see anything, I told the young pup to go get it. He went around and the bird started to run, Coaql chased him and finally caught him and brought him back to me.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc202/mnturkey/IMG_5024.jpg)
After the hunt I let the pup relax a bit and warm up.
(http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc202/mnturkey/IMG_5020.jpg)
It was a cold day but a good time.
The dogs look like they are beat.
Living in the south sometimes I miss the snow, but I sure don't miss temps that low!
Looks like you had a good time, and you shot about average for a grouse hunt too ;D
Nicely done.. Those grouse are my favorite thing to hunt, 'cepting for turkeys..Beautiful pics of the dogs.. I have shot many in my life, but they are getting harder to hit every year. I think that evolution has turned the afterburners on!! :D But then again, what used to be a routine kill on a partidge, is now a senior moment of glory.. Getting old is not all that it is cracked up to be..
Congrats on the hunt and I hope that you all have warmed up..
Mike