A friend who hunts dogless has put one bird in the freezer. Where I'm hunting--with one well experienced dog and another that's gaining more experience--we're simply not finding grouse. We are starting to find more woodcock, but not all that many of them either. Right now I'm working at giving the dogs more time in the woods. And giving us a chance to find places where my hunting guests (who will arrive in a week plus) might see some birds. I've had a few nice points on woodcock where I thought I might get a shot. But as others have said, it's still pretty thick. Some strong winds and cold weather have brought down leaves and the ferns are turning brown. Starting to look more and more like better hunting conditions.

We may relocate one of our hunts to the UP. I have a friend up there with a cabin. If he's finding more birds than I am, I have no problem heading north rather than having him head south.