We found a fresh logging trail from earlier in the year, and decided it looked like it would hold birds. It was about a 1 mile loop of evergreens and aspens. Being that it was a windy day, I figured that the birds would be seeking refuge in the evergreens. My hunch was correct and about halfway through the loop, Inga locked up on point and soon after 4 grouse flushed out of the top of an evergreen tree. They flushed in the most difficult direction, as grouse always do, and offered no shots. The rest of the loop produced no more flushes, and we were soon on our way to another spot.
Once we got hunting the new spot, I flushed a timberdoodle and nailed it with the first shot out of my brand new Citori 525 Field. We continued walking through the thick stuff and took a quick break. Dad was commenting about the lack of woodcock and simultaneously flushed one right at his feet. He hit it hard and Inga made a very good find. We kept walking and due to the high winds, saw many wild grouse flushes.
Later on, we saw a large red-phase grouse flush across the trail, so naturally we went in pursuit. The grouse flushed into extremely thick cover. We got about 50 yards into the covert, and flushed a grouse about 15 yards ahead of me. I took a shot and dropped it. Upon finding and marveling at the grouse, I found it was a beautiful male, one of the biggest my father and I had ever seen. Both Dad and I were so happy and tired that we decided to call it a day. Inga had a couple points and retrieves, and overall it was another day I will never soon forget.
