doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Bird hunting season

Grouse hunting season opens Sept 15th for me and that's just a little over 3 months away but I gotta tell you, I can't hardly wait. I know we need the off season for new cover to be born, birds to breed, insects to come, chicks to be reared and all those sorts of things, but golly, I can hardly wait for fall! Anybody else in the same boat?

Pheasant season opens up here in October. We had a nice hatch here and anticipation is driving me nuts. Oh well I can think about which double I'm going to use on opening day. My neighbor already claimed my Model 24 Winchester fence(less) post for the day. For some reason he loves that thing.

Yes. We are waiting patiently for Grouse season on the 15th. A lot us in the family are using 16ga 2.5 SxS this year. Along with some 12 bore oldies too. The best part is getting out with the family.

I've been waiting with anticipation for the chukar and pheasant season to open, thinking the hatch just might be a good one based on the weather we had been having, but the past 2-3 days it's been pouring, cold rain, so it might ruin what otherwise could have been a good hatch. Just have to wait and see.

Gee it snowed up to 8" in some of the mtns around here-fine grouse habitat. Not sure what that much snow would do to newly hatched grouse.

Buzz my wife, five Brittanys, and I are going to spend September in Montana. Just so happens that Partridge and Sharptailed grouse opens September 1. I found my pulse racing as I made reservations and researched the dates for the NSTRA Endurance Classic field trial and found it to be held in Lewistown again this year.

Already debating myself on what guns to take.

I found myself smiling as I typed this.

Sept/Oct (for dove) and Nov (for quail) cant get here fast enough!!!!!!

The woods are recovering nicely from the prescribed fires, insects abound, and Mr. Bob can be heard throughout the countryside. Just yesterday, I was calling to 4 different birds from one spot and had one within 20ft.. Haven't seen any chicks yet but they're there.

Plus, there's dog training, habitat work, clays shooting with hunting guns, etc.

Yes, fall can't get here quick enough, but prepping for it is pretty fun too!

Best of luck at the NSTRA trial Mike. With a bit of luck, I'll be in Montana about a month later pretty much just enjoying Montana. I agree with everyone that things perk up a bit when I think about the Fall.

Too bad the guys headed to Montana cant cross paths. I am also headed up there Mid September for a while.I say a while since living in Mexico has changed my attitude on planning...No more schedules. The only things firm are the Annual elk hunt with my boys and the Kansas Pheasant opener...And I will be US "Homeless" so flexibility reigns...Flash's schedule is also open...

Yes Mike, Montana sounds wonderful. I understand there is a lot of public hunting in that state with lots of birds. When the Ruffed Grouse are low, I am going to give that a try. As to which gun to take, hmmmm, I am confronted with the same dilemma. I have hunted with a Browning superposed 20b for years and made the statement once to my hunting buddy 'I will never need a better gun than this'. Well, I have harvested numerous birds with that gun but since making that utilitarian and somewhat ridiculous statement, I have acquired several English guns. Specifically, I have a 12b H.J. Hussey I am very fond of and am planning on that being my go to gun and save the Browning for 'bad weather'. I like 1 ounce loads in the Hussey and the gun only weighs an ounce more than the 20b Browning superposed!! I really love the grace and 'feel' of the English guns. They are just wonderful IMHO.

I hear you all. The anticipation of another bird season reminds me when I was a young boy waiting for Christmas. Since I retired last year, I have 75 days blocked out for upland birds beginning Sept. 1st for prairie chickens in Nebraska. Then we will head up to eastern Montana, staying with a special friend of ours, going after grey partridge and sharptails. I plan to then head west to the Yaak Valley for three species of forest grouse. Then eastward to the UP for ruffed grouse and woodcock, arriving home sometime in October. Four hunts are then planned after that, not including quail shooting a few times next year in Florida and Georgia. What bliss it is being afield with good friends, dogs and fine doubles and bourbon out of a tin cup tastes best.

Which guns to take? That is always a pleasant problem. As many of you do, I have a particular fondness for English doubles including 20 bores, along with two inch and two and one half inch 12's. I always take one of the English guns or two with a lesser gun for back up for inclement weather.