Hare & Grouse habitat and hunting yesterday!!

[Gunner]

Headed north from central PA to tug Hill area for Hare and possibly grouse.

One beagle accompanying me.

Got in the woods ( 3 feet plus snow) with snowshoes on and sank in 15 -28" in the beautiful snow .

We found an older (hours old ) covered up track but couldn't see it much after a few yds .

Hare were hunkered down under the pine boughs .

After an hour of searching/sinking we headed to a no snow forest near Parrish. Found some likely looking cover for hare...but alas no sign ..sad face me..

Just before dark I found a small  clearcut.

Walking in a grouse erupts abruptly away from me 

I take a long shot but it's heading down over a small bank.

Missed apparently.

Flushed another on the way out but the bird was gone in an instant.

Nice day in the 40" plus snow and then bare ground discovering new areas.

I only seen a few people deer hunting.

There's a lot of smaller  forests in new York compared to Pa and their mostly big woods.

I'll be back soon !!

Sorry bout' the Upside down pics ! Format stinks sometimes ugh 

 

Edited December 2 by Gunner
Added snow depth

[airedale]

Man I have to give you credit for giving it a try. I have found that it takes a few days for game animals to settle into a new pattern after the heavy snows first come. Like you said they will hunker down and little by little they will come out of cover and get back into a somewhat normal for them routine. I did not start hunting Hare until after the Northern zone Deer season ended, mostly from mid December through February. The snow settles and gives you a much better base for both you and you dog for getting around and walking. I look forward to hearing how you do this season. 

As soon as Deer season ends I will be out with my Airedale pup and see what we can turn up.

Al

Edited December 2 by airedale

[Gunner]

I don't disturb deer hunters. I was in close proximity of a few when the grouse flew up. I was in an open field. 

I could have pushed one out to them. 

As I was leaving a deer hunter stopped and chatted. He wasn't mad. 

Good guys out there in the woods mostly.  I try to share the land and stay away from other dog hunters .

I may come up north this coming Sunday again. That snow should have a crust by then. 

[Daveboone]

You were in my neck of the woods....I spent most of the fall tromping Happy Valley and surrounding areas.

I headed up to my camp further north (East of Mannsville, Winona State forest area), for a long awaited week of deer hunting...I always take the last week of the season. I had to walk in to my cabin...about a 1/2 mile, as it is on an unplowed road. And my snow shoes were at the camp. GRRRR

There were recent deer track, but they had to plow through the snow. I went out on stand, but called it quits this a.m.. I was concerned about leaving my vehicle out on the main road (there is a wide plowed area for parking), but the snow was still coming down, and if I shot something....how the hell am I getting it out through 3 feet of light fluffy snow? I was lucky enough to get a deer up there during ML season, so I am ok with that.

I am always happy to see the small game hunters. I used to be one of them, and hope to do more again. They may just move a deer around for me. It used to be that there was no sunday deer hunting to allow the small game hunters a chance, but there are darn few out anymore.

[Gunner]

I see very few small game hunters. Probably one a season when I get up your way. In tug Hill I mean.

I was thinking of heading to Winona State Forest but on Sunday that snowsquall of 3 inches in an hour sent me southward ! 

I just looked at the weather for this Sunday/Monday.

Sunday looks good but noon time Monday maybe rain.

I may trek again and look for hare. ( The drive is most boring with 285 miles on route  81 ) But once in the woods and finding tracks then my beagle barks ..it's worth it .