2007 UP Michigan trip

Crystal kennels · Post by **Crystal kennels** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:46 pm

Looks like a bunch of us went up there in the last few weeks. It was an 18 hour drive each way for us. We took 5 dogs and had great dog work on all of them. Our area was hunted hard before we got there but all in all 30-40 Woodcock were moved each day but 1. We were disappointed in the #'s of Grouse we moved.. as the previous year was up to 40-50 flushes per day. Will post some pictures:

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[img]<a%20href="http://photobucket.com"%20target="_blank"><img%20src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z261/Crystalkennels/Michigan/JoshbackingIndy.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Photo%20Sharing%20and%20Video%20Hosting%20at%20Photobucket"></a>[/img]

[img]<a%20href="http://photobucket.com"%20target="_blank"><img%20src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z261/Crystalkennels/Michigan/Josh4.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Photo%20Sharing%20and%20Video%20Hosting%20at%20Photobucket"></a>[/img]

[img]<a%20href="http://photobucket.com"%20target="_blank"><img%20src="http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z261/Crystalkennels/Michigan/Joshman.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Photo%20Sharing%20and%20Video%20Hosting%20at%20Photobucket"></a>[/img]

DGFavor · Post by **DGFavor** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:11 am

Holy cow! That's awesome man! You grouse guys are out there - someone's gonna put an eye out!

KY Grouse Hunter · Post by **KY Grouse Hunter** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 6:50 am

Being a big Grouse hunter myslef... tell me a little about hunting up there. What National or State forest are up there to hunt? Where do you stay? And what about bird numbers up there? Great Pictures and good looking dogs.

Crystal kennels · Post by **Crystal kennels** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:56 pm

We were near Ralph, MI which is between Crystal Falls and Iron Mountain. We are looking into Ontario for next year....anyone been there and if so...any suggestions? 18 hours each way was just too far and pulling the dog trailer we got 12 miles per gallon....UGH........ We ran into far more Woodcock than Grouse in the UP but it had been hunted hard before we got there. We have lots of Woodock cover here at home and do real well on them each year.....we went for the Grouse. The Grouse here are real spooky and not as plentiful...........

Judy

KY Grouse Hunter · Post by **KY Grouse Hunter** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:23 pm

I think that has been the general story for Ruffs this season so far.

M1Tanker · Post by **M1Tanker** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:57 pm

I live about 30 miles NE of Ralph and I can confirm that the grouse, for one reason or another, have learned to run, run, run, and run this year.

I have a 6 year old GSP that handles grouse like magic...and he has been duped more than once this year.

Glad to hear you hit some woodcock as I haven't seen a flight yet this year.

rosiesdad · Post by **rosiesdad** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:54 am

Shhh, Careful, thems some of my stopin grounds... Glad you saw some birds. Thats a long ride for a few Woodcock though.
Youre right about that area being pounded by hunters. Several years ago it was listed in Outdoor Life as one of the 5 best bird hunting destinations in the world. (IMHO it dont come close to those expectations). But it got a ton of tourist dollars going up there, and besides wood cutting there isnt much supporting the local economy.
That is no place to get lost either, one day for a ride, a buddy and I took off and followed roads looking for habitat, we spent 2 1/2 hrs riding and never crossed a gravel road (all dirt logging roads).

snips · Post by **snips** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:34 am

Lookin good Judy! Is that Indy pointing all the birds

? I would not hit anything if I had to shoot in that stuff!

Crystal kennels · Post by **Crystal kennels** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:27 pm

Hey Brenda...... if you look close on some pictures there's male plumbing........ lol..... Indy and Josh in these pictures I posted.....both Mom and son work terrific together. We did take Kia and Abbey also....they did great but I had to concentrate on them and shooting so no real good pictures really.........

littleking · Post by **littleking** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 7:03 pm

check out MIO, MI, much close and GREAT grouse and woodcock populations