None of mine are too pretty to hunt....then they all get a little touch up in February.
Funny how bird hunting works. Two of my buddies are really dedicated NY grouse hunters, but with opposite styles. One is a Springer guy and hunts coverts all over the state. One day he leaves home and drives 150 miles in one direction, 150 miles the opposite direction a couple days later, then . The other is a Setter guy with a permanent camp in the southern tier and hunts every square inch of just a couple of counties. Both have kept journals for 30 years. They agreed that last year was the absolute rock bottom for woodcock...worst in 30 years. This year, the Springer guy said woodcock was "pretty good," the Setter guy says it was his best in 30 years! something like 130 flushes. Both of them said grouse was so-so.
I've flushed 11 woodcock in 2 seasons. Killed more grouse last year than I had woodcock flushes. Overall, grouse have been steady for me for the last 3 seasons while woodcock have declined dramatically. I'm sure there are plenty of NY hunters that will tell you the opposite.
