Today was opening day for grouse on the rock. I debated about taking the dog (I usually only take him ptarmigan hunting) because I figured he scare all the birds away before I got close enough for a shot. Felt bad about not taking him (listening to him whine while I'm getting my gear ready) so away we went. I was walking in an old moose path and the dog is ahead running through the woods like a maniac (typical since he just got out of the car and is full of energy). As he flys past a little knob I hear that chirp that you sometimes hear grouse make. So now I'm trying to get over the little hill before he flys back and puts them up. He makes it back again before me and I hear the wings flapping but fortunately one of them comes my way and I get him. No more luck there so I head further down the road and try another old path. Again the dog is running around off the path I'm on and he puts up 5. I managed to get 3. I don't think he really did anything that any old dog wouldn't do but I'm sure if he wasn't there tromping off the beaten path, I wouldn't have seen any of them.
