Mercedes, our yellow lab, retriving a live partridge.

No shot fired.

In the past decade, the family farm has been consolidated into a larger operation or has died out. Newer farming techniques, lack of operating capital, low milk prices, and the tired, worn out, older farmer, not willing to learn new tricks such as computer skills for optimum milk production, all contributed to this dilemma. With these dying farms there are old pastures growing up into brush and woodland. Ideal habitat for wildlife. This has been going on actually since the turn of the century. It is not uncommon to be hiking through the woods, miles from nowhere and stumble on an old stone foundation or pasture wall. The clear cut, although scorned by those that don’t understand it, is a blessing to both flora and fauna, providing there is adequate erosion control. One year after cutting, the ground will be covered with new vegetation and in five years you can barely walk through it. This provides food year round for moose, deer, bear, turkeys, rabbits and the ruffed grouse.
The Ruffed Grouse, or as locally called the partridge and the woodcock love these types
of lands. The overgrown pasture with sun warmed stone walls and yearling poplars, apple trees and hardwoods emerging and the backwoods clear cut with wild blackberry, mountain ash, and hundreds of different seed bearing trees and grasses all offer ideal conditions for these birds.
Hunting these birds is not for the weak hearted or lethargic hunter. When a bird goes up it is not like a pheasant where it flys straight up and then off. These birds explode into the air at whatever angle they need to get away from you. Your heart almost rips out of your chest and the bird is gone. But there is usually two or three near by. Now you are ready for the next one and you creep through the woods, the dog is birdy and up go two more. You shoot, maybe your lucky and get one but usually the bird wins. A good day produces about 6 or 7 birds and 4 to 6 miles on foot. We havn't had a good day in a while. Wet and cold springs have decimated the population.
Mercedes usually does the flushing and retrieving. We have a new pup in trainning to be an upland retriever called Smokey. Schooner our older lab is collecting his 401K in retirement. We bring him along. With out a dog you cut your chances of a successful hunt by 2/3. If you wish to use your dog that’s great. If your unsure of your dog I’ll take Mercedes but keep her at a heal. If you can guarantee the performance of your dog Schooner, Mercedes or Smokey would much rather snore by the stove and save calories. The cost of the day is $150.00 for two and $50.00 additional each person over two. Box lunches and picnics of varying price ranges are available by advanced notice.

Stay Tuned

More to come