Three weekends ago my friend Andy and I explored some tax forfeited public land and state forest land for what many sports news articles have said was to be a good year for the ruffed grouse population. This was the first time either of us had been on this land, so it was something we both looked forward to. Exploring new woods means seeing some of God’s creation for the very first time...the way the hills flow, the trees branch out, and the wetlands rapidly appear (I have wet foot to prove this one!!). It was AWESOME. This was also the first time in 9 years I did not have my yellow lab Remington with me in the woods when I was shouldering a shotgun. But his departure is another story for another day. We saw no grouse, chased one squirrel to its den tree, and had a great nature walk. It was at this time I gradually became educated as well. As we were walking through the edge of the before mentioned wetland, Andy pointed to a small tree (really a shrub) and said, “Be on the lookout, grouse love these” as he was holding out these small berries. I honestly never saw them before…most of my past grouse hunting experience was around poplar and pines.
The next weekend, my wife and I took our daughter Rachel (2 ½) and 12 week old black lab Winchester (Winnie) out to our land to grab pictures from the trail cameras, maybe surprise a squirrel or grouse, and to just get out in the snowy woods. We had just received 1-2 inches and it was still not completely melted, this is the PERFECT condition to quickly see the deer movement and activities. Rachel had a complete blast trotting around in the woods, riding on the ATV, and looking (hands cupped around her eyes) for deer and turkeys. Another great surprise was the way Winnie moved through the woods. She’s going to be a very good hunter…as long as I keep working with her and getting her out that is. If you have ever had a hunting companion, you know what I am talking about. The nose is to the ground, quickly turning on a dime because they caught scent of an animal, tail back…not really wagging, yet excited just the same. It was great. We also took this opportunity to look at the neighboring property as they are considering selling their 40 acres and we of course are considering buying it. You can never have too much of God’s creation to enjoy during our time on earth. Some people invest in mutual funds and have paper in safes, I like to invest in land and use it. Rate of return is about the same, but land is much more rewarding.
After our time in the woods, I sat down on my couch and opened up the outdoor section of the sports pages to read this week’s articles. The article which caught my eye second was “Think maroon when hunting ruffed grouse” (the first was the large picture of a yellow lab with a pheasant in his mouth). The article was about grey dogwood shrubs. As I read this, I thought back to when Andy mentioned that shrub and the grouse’s fixation with them. I was sold…time to plant grey dogwoods on my property for the grouse and my falls will be filled with fun.
Then last weekend as I was sitting in my two-man wrap around Gorilla ladder stand looking over my food plot I saw a grouse fly down and land in the corner of the clearing in the bushes. MAROON BUSHES!!! Wait a minute, I thought to myself, I have seen grouse there a ton of times (never with a shotgun) and it is because of that BUSH! Well I got down after my morning hunt and walked over to check out this miraculous shrub. It had maroon leaves alright, but upon researching tonight, it was not a grey dogwood. A dogwood has a round berry which is white. This shrub had dangly mini grape cluster type seeds/fruit. If anybody knows what this shrub is called, comment below or email me. I will add a picture in a few weeks (when I am back up there) I am VERY curious and have not been able to find it online. Well needless to say, I plan on planting more of these shrubs AND grey dogwoods on my property. I love grouse…not just to hunt and eat, but to listen to their drumming in the spring and to be surprised during my walks in the wild…nothing like a good flush on a quiet still hunt to get your heart pumping. Overall, I had 3 good weekends of getting away from the asphalt and concrete and enjoying God’s great creations with friends, family, and in solitude…the trifecta.
-----------------UPDATE (11/1/2009)-----------------
I took a good look at the bush I was talking about on the edge of my food plot and I was wrong. It is a common useless bush. I have a picture of the seeds (not posted), but once I noticed they were not gone I had to be incorrect. I then noticed them all over the place on transitions from lowland to poplar thickets or clearings. Nothing special. Just pure coincidence of the grouse and that lone bush. Just goes to show you even the most knowledgeable can be deceived if their desires overrule their common sense. :)
-----------------UPDATE (11/1/2009)-----------------
I took a good look at the bush I was talking about on the edge of my food plot and I was wrong. It is a common useless bush. I have a picture of the seeds (not posted), but once I noticed they were not gone I had to be incorrect. I then noticed them all over the place on transitions from lowland to poplar thickets or clearings. Nothing special. Just pure coincidence of the grouse and that lone bush. Just goes to show you even the most knowledgeable can be deceived if their desires overrule their common sense. :)
