Thanks, guys it was one of those hunts, 4 birds flushed within 10 yards of me (and are still alive!)...one flew into laurel, one I was on him, but shot into a tree, one flushed downhill off a ridge, and one I just flat missed. The bird taken was the hardest one, a 35 yard rocket crosser down and away. Lots to think about until next season. The greatest joy was hearing my girls squealing on the phone when I called home to tell them, "grouse for dinner!"

Owen