[bwire]

Just got back from my first hunting trip to Maine. I was in the Jackman area and it was just myself and the two youngest dogs, Blitz and Champ. The locals reported that bird numbers are down but I think we did pretty good finding birds. On day one we (me and the dogs) moved 10 grouse and the closest I came to bagging one was when I hit the tail of one on a crossing shot. The next day I got two grouse and we put up 15 for the day. The last day was a short hunt and we moved 6 birds and I missed on two of them. The dogs worked well and had points, tracking, relocation and wild flushes. I wish I could have given them more retrieves. We didn't find any woodcock but other people who stayed at the same camp as me moved a decent number of woodcock. But they didn't see as many grouse as me. The cover was tough but I was happy with the dog work and getting some birds. I was satisfied with everything considering I went up by myself and hunted on my own the entire time.

Enjoy the pictures:

Blurry Retrieve

 

[RyanR]

Awesome. When exactly were you up? A friend of mine from PA was also up there in Jackman all last week (Oct. 2nd to 9th) with his German Wirehairs.

 

[bwire]

I went up on the 9th and hunted the 10,11 and 12th. I hunted a half day on the 12th and left later that day.

 

[timberdoodle]

beautiful & a very nice hunt report!

 

[RonM]

One of my best buddies moved to Jackman, invited me up several times to hunt,never went, he has passed, so I m,issed that offer. He once got an 800 lb. moose with a 6MM 100 grain bullet....1 shot..

 

[RyanR]

If you don't mind me asking, where'd you stay?

 

[bwire]

Bulldog Lodge/Camp

 

[RyanR]

Ah, haven't stayed there but heard of them. That includes meals there right? Do they have their own lands to bird hunt or is it all on the publicly accessible lands in the Jackman area? I stayed at Sally Mountain Cabins, did our own cooking, all public access land hunting.

 

[mybuzz]

Beautiful pics

 

[bwire]

Yes they cook you breakfast and supper and will give you a packed lunch to take with you. You just hunt at the public access land that surrounds the camp. There is plenty of land to hunt in the area.

 

[hunter-trapper21]

amazing pictures

 

[wingshot]

You just hunt at the public access land that surrounds the camp. There is plenty of land to hunt in the area.

That's an understatement, the entire area of northwest Maine looks like a giant grouse cover. The trick is to figure out what areas and what cover the birds are using.

 

[hihaven]

Thanks for the report! nice pictures, my brother and I are leaving on Oct 23 for a week in Jackman, hopefully we will get into some grouse and woodcock.

 

[LostAgain]

Congrats on a successful hunt

 

[Uplander23]

Great pics... Glad you got into some birds!

 

[RyanR]

I also understand they lease exclusive hunting rights to 50sq miles.

Did you mainly hunt by walking the trails & older logging roads, letting the dogs work the 30yds on either side or manhandle your way further into the cover? It's rough, and once you get in it many places seem like everything is some stage of decaying slash pile. Fun times huh? By the end of the day both you and you're dog are wore out.

I was up there for an entire week. Spent the first few days busting brush and fighting my further into the cover and up the hillsides full of decaying piles. Thank God we had made up casseroles ahead of time because there were a couple days I was to wore out to do anything more than reheat some dinner. Even the dog ate lying down, lol! The latter half of the week I stayed more on the trails and let the dog work the cover on either side. Still tired by the end of the day but not completely shot & wore out!

 

[grousen'at]

Great pictures! Seems like somewhere I need to look into hunting.

 

[bwire]

RyanR- Yes, I mainly hunted the edges of old logging roads and that is were I found the grouse. It was tough walking but it worked out.

 

[beagler]

Nice! Where are the hare? LOL

 

[Dave in Maine]

Congratulations - you hit "peak color" AND some of the best weather you could ask for. It doesn't get much better than that.