I know there has been much said about the numbers for grouse being down in the Great Lake States last year, Michigan included.
I went over our results of flush rates from last year (2018) and compared those numbers to our ten years of previous hunt statistics. Our numbers for grouse flushes were up about 10-15% last year when compared to our past ten year average. I would not call this an outlier statistic because we (I) spent about a five weeks in Michigan over 4 different trips, beginning on opening day and into the middle of December. The only difference last year, regarding flush rates, was that our December numbers were down quite a bit. December is usually our best month for flushing grouse if the weather cooperates.
I will say that our woodcock numbers were down by over 25% and I contribute this to not being in the field during the peak of the migration period - if that even happened where and when we were afield.
We have always had good years in Michigan and I describe "good" as having grouse flush rates at greater than 2 flushes per hour. Last year we averaged just above 3 flushes per hour on grouse. Woodcock was less than 2 per hour. Our long term average is about three grouse flushes per hour. I count all of our hours afield, even if we might have a very slow day. I do not count reflushes.
I do use a ESS who I would rate as a rather good dog for finding birds, both grouse and woodcock. He is a rather close working dog since he is somewhat insecure and likes to keep me in his visual sights - most of the time.
Here are a few lessons I have learned over the years - hunting Michigan with a close working dog.
1. Get as far off the road or trail as possible. I rarely see hunters more than 1/4 mile off a trail or road.
2. Have multiple coverts in within a rather large geographic area. Our range is about 50 miles in any direction from where we are staying. We hunt many coverts in any particular days time. Don't spend a lot of time is non-productive areas.
3. Look for new areas every year and diminish hunting any area where birds used to be prevalent in the past but are few now.
4. Hunt areas where the locals hunt. If you see out of state plates that can be a sign of too much pressure. Personally, I find that The Pigeon River area and any of the GEMS sites to be too heavily hunted.
5. Hunt the entire day. I know the experts say that grouse are most likely to be found in the morning and late afternoon. I have not found this to be the case, in general. Last year, for example, we had most flushes at mid day.
6. Keep quiet, really quiet, and hunt slow.
Well, that is my three cents worth. Of course, knowing how to spot good looking habitat is taken as a given with these suggestions and having a good, close working pup is a must.
Good luck to all this season.
