I've just returned last week from my annual grouse/wookcock hunting trip in Michigan's northern peninsula. I saw fewer birds this year compared to the previous one, no doubt due to the excessively wet spring and summer. Minnesota had reported a 50% increase of drumming reports and I had hoped for an increase as well. It seems as though I was seeing some smaller birds from a second hatch, if that's possible.
Anyway, I still had a great time and thankfully managed some birds. In addition to the usual GEMS sites, I came across an area managed by the Michigan DNR specificaly for woodcock which looked good. I love October!
Karl