Author Topic: grouse watch (Read 1306 times)

ScatterGunner · « **on:** September 29, 2005, 01:49:44 PM »

#2 is (was) in the bag. clean. 1/2 oz of #9's and he folded up like an accordian at 9 yards after flushing him from the side of a fallen tree.

i paced off nine giant steps from where i shot to where he dropped, that's where the 9 yards came from.

sg

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2005, 02:02:47 PM »

SC, you surely are the consummate grouse hunter. How you maintain your timing and accuracy after criss-crossing this country on a regular basis is in itself a testament to your outstanding wingshooting ability. Enjoy the well earned lunch. Have you cooked any Partridge breasts with the beans in the Bean Pots yet? I have not gotten up north yet but the recipes will be enroute, sometime.... :grin:

P.S. - was your dog "Stink" in on this endeavor?....

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2005, 01:10:08 PM »

hi andy -

i'm just a lucky shot !

as we speak, one of your bean pots is downstairs soaking a fresh load of beans for tomorrows' dinner. then i add the molasses, bacon, tomato sauce, and more bacon, and who knows what else.

what helps most me is shooting skeet low gun. my scores aren't straights and i rarely shoot straight, but it keeps me on my toes !

any word on the low cost transfer ?

sg

edit: and yes stink was with me, he is with me somewhere around 24 hours a day !

MSP Ret · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2005, 03:00:02 AM »

Those beans sound great!!! Have you tried partridge breasts cooked in the pot with the beans yet? If not I will get the recipie and get it to you. Available time is tough now but should loosen up in a couple of months.
The dealer in Maine will accept guns from another dealer (FFL) for their customers , BUT I have to drive there to pick up the gun and must pick it in up in person, no "straw" purchases....At $3.00 a gallon for gas, my pickup at 15 mpg and just about 400 miles from my house on the Cape to the store in Maine ( and 400 more retuning) it has to be limited to when I'm in Maine or planning a trip there. Also no SB2 to be found (a SB1 is in the works for the next month or 2 though, derending when I get up north)....<><.... :grin:

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2005, 01:06:37 PM »

msp -

the beans where great, but bird meat yet, just a bit of bacon.

i think 800 miles for a receiver is out of hand ! i'll just order one some handi and then send it out for the 7.62x39 barrel. unless, do they sell the 7.62x39 outright ?

sg

MSP Ret · « **Reply #5 on:** October 08, 2005, 06:14:54 AM »

Unknown on a complete gun in 7.62x39, it has never interested me so I am really unfamiliar with it. With the exception of the 7x57 I just seem to shy away from the metric designations. Lets see, 14 degrees celcius, should I wear shorts or a winter parka?....<><.... :-D

snakeman · « **Reply #6 on:** October 08, 2005, 08:43:29 AM »

sg,
Can you miss anything with that .410? Good to see that you are getting some birds. I have to wait untill the second weekend in Nov. before I get to hunt any birds. Starting that weekend the quail better watch it.

snakeman

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2005, 11:03:48 AM »

#3 was in the bag , now it's in the bean pot.

i went out to hunt lunch and stumbled across a male and female, i think she was looking for her child support payment, i could tell the male was angry with her, all he did was ruff and grouse at her

.

the female ran, and the male launched (i'll take wrong answers for $1000 Alex) and 11/16 oz of #7 1/2's quickly ended his last powered flight. i couldn't reload fast enough to invite the female over for dinner, she was gone into the brush.

i am taking MSPRET's advise and putting in it bean pot. it'll be ready around 9:00pm tonight.

sg

DaveH · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2005, 11:18:07 AM »

Hey ScatterGunner,
Me and the Girlfriend will be taking my daughter and her boyfriend grouse hunting in Western Maryland this weekend. I have a remington 870 pump for the boy to use so he is good to go. My question is my daughter wants to use my NEF 28 ga. She is a well trained hunter and a good wing shooter do you think the 28 with a load of Winchester HS
7 1/2 shot will do good by her ? Last time she was up for a visit we went out dove hunting and she did good with the 28 that actually when she fell in love with the little 28 ga.

Thanks

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2005, 11:34:47 AM »

hi dave -

a 28 gauge will be plenty for grouse, dove, that is really a nice all around shot gun. the 3/4oz of #7 1/2's are perfect, #8's will work too.

the HS refers to their new High Strength Shell, which is a AA target load that runs at 1300 FPS. it is kinda hot for small birds, but at worst you'll have a bit more meat damage if you get on the bird fast. hunting loads run around 1100 to 1200 fps, but if you have them shoot them !

sounds like a good day out, we'll need to hear the field reports !
sg

Critter · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:21:28 PM »

I use my 28 ga NEF on all kinds of small and upland game and it always does it's part when I do mine. 3/4 oz of 7 1/2's would be just right like scattergunner said.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:27:21 PM »

Great news on aother .410 Grouse SC, I really enjoyed the story. Let us know how the beanpot "Patridge" (grouse) turns out!!!....<><.... :grin:

MSP Ret · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2005, 12:28:53 PM »

Great news on aother .410 Grouse SC, I really enjoyed the story. Let us know how the beanpot "Partridge" (grouse) turns out!!! (you put the breasts in, not the whole bird right?)....<><.... :grin:

jeff223 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:10:51 PM »

seen very few partridge around Michigan for the last few years.i guess the numbers are way down.dont even hear them drumming like i once did

MSP RET i have a question for you?i wanted to ask you if you ever ate fried clams?i have family out in Woster Mass. and when i go there i eat fried clams :grin: i can get them here in Michigan but they arnt that good.out east they are real big and tasty.i also like steamed clams :grin:

MSP Ret · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2005, 01:43:02 PM »

Yes, fried clams are really great, but fried Wellfleet Oysters are WONDERFUL!!! I like steamers also (steamed clams), usually as a side dish to a boiled lobster dinner or clambake, even just with a pitcher of cold beer alone they are nice!!
Just today, about 2 hours ago, I gave away my drysuit (for coldwater scuba diving) to a younger fellow I know who is diving a lot more than me now, he goes out at least once a week. If I have to go out in the winter I can get by with my 1/4" wet suit. It''s a bit chilly when you first hit that ice cold sea water but you soon warm up. I would not take any money for it, he is a great guy and a friend of the family as well, besides that, a few years ago he gave me a great buy on an ocean kayak, AND he said he was going to drop off some lobsters on a fairly regular basis, once a month would be fine with me!!!....<><.... :grin:

jeff223 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 12, 2005, 02:01:22 PM »

yes steamers.i remember now,i couldnt remember what they called them

making my mouth water :lol:

ONE HOLE 4570 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 12, 2005, 03:19:01 PM »

MSP RET,

Now you have gone & hit a salivatory nerve(drullin all over myself) It's been a long time sience I had any of the above metioned items. Grew up on that stuff living in NS. We use to have a lobster feed at least every other weekend & the fried clams & chips(french fries) at hockey games were the best!! Last time I got lobster here they had lost 1/2 their body mass. Use to be brave & take the pegs out of the claws (before rubber bands) & play with them, boy did that make my grandmother mad. OH I'll just drull into my comp & try not to short it out :cry: . Need to find some fresh ones :lol:

DaveH · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2005, 12:48:08 PM »

MSP RET,

Hey you should try some of our fine Chesapeake Bay Oysters, they are the finest in the world. I have had the chance to try oysters from all over the world, but nothing beats a home grown Chesapeake Bay Oyster. Everytime I get some I have to crack open a few and eat them raw.

ScatterGunner
Thanks for the info. I have some Remington dove loads 7 1/2's for the 28 ga. left from dove season so I'll pack them also. I'll be sure to post a field report as soon as we get back.

Markus · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2005, 01:49:54 PM »

To take Dave's recommendation a step further if you can find oysters from Chincoteague Va. they are truly the best of the best.

DaveH · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2005, 02:51:00 PM »

Agreed Markus I haven't had any from Chincoteague in many years but they were as good as you said they are !!!!!!!......
Hopefully I'll get down to Ocean City maryalnd this year to get some of those fine oysters.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2005, 04:13:55 PM »

Dave, those sound great and I would love to sit down to a plate full some day, but our own Cape Cod "Wellfleet Oysters", only from that particular part of the Cape of course, are world renown also. Of course, there is something to be said for getting a bad oyster every once and again :roll: :bye: , once is enough actually!!!....<><.... :grin:

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2005, 04:24:26 PM »

bean pot report -

ok, previously to wednesdays hunt, i put a pound of pink beans on the stove and boiled it for 2 hours, adding water as needed and then soaked them overnight. in accordance with MSPRET's advice, i removed the feathers, entrails, bones, beak, lead, and other inedible body parts from the grouses' breast meat before chopping it up and putting it in the bean pot.

seasonings included a handful of molasses, a small can of of tomato sauce, 1/2 cup raw sugar, one chopped shallot, 4 strips of bacon, and a teaspoon of kosher salt. 3 cups of water tossed in and then whole thing was placed in a 350 degree oven for 6 hours.

not bad !!! a nice meal !

next time i will add a bit more bacon !

sg

MSP Ret · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2005, 04:32:51 PM »

You are turning into quite a gourmet cook SC, you will have to make it up to the Maine camp some year. We will of course allow you some time to hunt after the cooking is done, and of course the cook NEVER has to clean up!!!....<><.... :grin:

DaveH · « **Reply #23 on:** October 15, 2005, 12:06:00 PM »

Ok here the field report on our grouse hunt. We hit the woods right a day break. Man We walk for about three hours in some of the roughest under growth I've seen in a long while. Just as we were about to give up we flushed two birds my daughter darn near stepped on one of them. I couldn't get a shot off I was to busy laughing at her. Those things sound like a 747 taking off scared the !@#$ out of her. We made one more pass long a small creek bed and flush some more birds. I got one and the GF got one. After that we swicthed to squirrel hunting and the four of us ended up with 7 squirrels.

Two grouse and seven squirrel. And we had a great time in the woods with loved ones just can't ask for better then that.

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #24 on:** October 19, 2005, 06:07:26 PM »

stink and i went out to hunt lunch around 1:45pm est today.

i kicked up a grouse after 1/2 hour or so and he ran into a rather large patch of sorghum we've been planting for a while. a few walks through the stuff and the bird launched, 1 shot, #7 1/2 11/16oz federal factory load. cha-ching !

on the way back, at the top of the hill, we (stink) caught a pheasant cock ducking into some heavy brush. now stink is not a true hunting dog, the only thing he usually hunts for is an easier way of life or a plate of bacon and eggs after a tough nights sleep. he went into the scrub and drove the bird out of the rough and chased it while it ran. i followed him back down the hill, the bird ended up in some tall grass in a small clearing, stink sniffed and barked his heart out but we couldn't flush the bird.

we don't have pheasants around here normally, last week i released a bunch of them that were raised at one of the many pheasant farm in the central new york region.

grouse tonight, pheasant tomorrow !

sg

snakeman · « **Reply #25 on:** October 20, 2005, 02:10:56 PM »

ScatterGunner,
How well do the pheasants survive after being raised in a pen. I have read several articles saying that they don't live to long but I have never talked to anyone that has done it. I don't have to worry about it because we have so many of them around but was just curious.

snakeman

RemingtonMagnum · « **Reply #26 on:** October 22, 2005, 03:33:43 PM »

Hi Folks

Someone please share the Bean and Bird receipt with me???

Send to ochocodj@bellsouth.net

Don Jackson Remington Magnum

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #27 on:** October 23, 2005, 03:12:43 PM »

snake -

i've heard the same thing about farm raised birds too. i released 16 birds this year, 45 last year, and bunch more over the years. to date, i have never seen any that winter over. most likely from predation from hawks, coyotes,etc. let's face it, they do taste good.

it's been about a week and i still hear a few peeks and clucks out back. it would be nice to have them winter over, but it hasn't worked here yet.

ok, here is my recipe for beans and birds, now, MSPRET promised me a real "Up to Camp" recipe from Maine but he's been so busy i've had to 'wing' this one. it isn't bad. just make sure you soak your beans !

1 bag dry pink beans

boil these beans for about 4 hours, add water as needed. drain and rinse. then soak for at least a day. drain and rinse again. you can never soak your beans enough, boil them and soak them for as long as you can otherwise they will be hard.

add to bean pot:

1 - 2 grouse breast, chopped
1/2 cup molasses
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup bbq sauce
1/2 cup brown or raw sugar
1 tbsp kosher salt
1 shallot, chopped fine
4 - 6 strips bacon, chopped
2, or more, cups water
the previously soaked beans

make sure that the water covers the beans. cover and cook at 325 for 4 - 6 hours. stir once an hour.

this recipe works, it's not a genuine bean pot recipe from the land where bean pots grow wild but it does taste pretty good. add more bacon if you like it.

sg

MSP Ret · « **Reply #28 on:** October 23, 2005, 04:14:05 PM »

I'm still on it SC, I just spent a couple of hours in front of the fireplace with my wife and a bottle of Merlot, she just returned from a Christian womens retreat in NH that she attended with my daughter. My wife does not drink much, none tonight, the fire is going out and the wine is gone. I am thinking of how much the 13+ months of construction has taken away from my "later years" and retirement, it's not a good thing, but should be over soon, I hope!!!
As soon as I can get up north to the camp I promise to get a real authentic "Bean pot Partridge" recipe for you....<><.... :grin:

It's more like

lately with missing ANOTHER hunting season because of construction but one must keep up appearances!!! :grin:

snakeman · « **Reply #29 on:** October 23, 2005, 06:39:34 PM »

SG,
I would guess that you are right about the predators. I wonder if lack of food has anything to do with it as well. I wonder if they might fair better or be able to last all winter if you threw out some chicken scratch or something like that. Then again, now that I think about it, a wild pheasant only has a life span of 1 year.

snakeman