4                                            4357 Red Oak Rd,  Staples, MN  56479

                                     Lodge/Office – MN 218-894-3852,    Cell – 218-341-2826

www.doublegunbirdhunts.com Blog Page: www.doublegunbirdhunts.com/from-the-field

                            www.orvis.com/doublegun   email: steve@doublegunbirdhunts.com

The 2012 grouse season was bitter sweet, ok grouse numbers and the loss of Mack.  Almost identical to 2011, it started out very slow, unseasonal temps and dry conditions were difficult to hunt in. The birds were scarse and dogs having trouble handling birds due to the dryness. As October came we did have
some rain that helped, scenting conditions got better, and birds began to move.
As many of you commented the woods seemed dead. The food was scarse, and
because of that birds were scattered, no rhyme or reason to any behavior. Our
flush rates were almost identical to 2011 we had an average flush rate of 13
grouse per guide in 2012 compared to 14 in 2011. The woodcock flush rate
averaged the same in 2012 as in 2011 with 17 flushes per guide the success to
the harvest were young birds. We had many broods that were caught in places
where the hunter had the advantage, it showed in the harvest of 24%,  the highest it’s ever been.

We’ll have a new group of grouse dogs to hunt over next fall, it’s always exciting to see how
they will develop. The A team has changed and now with the loss of Mack it changes even more. We’ll miss him that’s for sure, but I know there will be some new up n comers that will bring their own speciality to the table. Those special ones like Mack, Lily, Drummer, Jack (2), Duke, Gabby and up n comers
like Zip, Trigger, Bobby and A new pup with high hopes we call  “Spade”. Great dogs just don’t come along
very often, I’ve been blessed to have these great dogs in my charge over the years, all bringing their own special traits. I owe much to all these great ones, and look forward to the younger ones yet to come.

Other high note’s from last fall was the great job Gayle and the girls did in the dining
room,  kitchen and with the lodges, the dinners have never been better or the lodges in such great shape. Another high note last fall was James, he did a good job for us and are looking forward to having him back next fall. He brings apassion for the sport and a nice string of his own bird dogs. I think he’ll
become a great asset.

Once again, to all of you who spend time with us at Little Moran we owe a great deal of gratitude, your friendship and faith in us over all these years is priceless. Through thick and thin you have been with us. The words are difficult to find. This fall will mark our 25^th year of the Grouse Camp, what a ride it’s been.

We’ve aquired some new ground that will give us access to many more acres of both private and public, land that has seen very little bird hunting. We can’t wait to show it to you.

Thanks again for being part of the Little Moran family, we look forward to your return.

Steve and Gayle
Grouse / Woodcock flush rates         2011and 2012
*************           2011          2012                                             2011      2012

Days Hunted   =           (28)           (28)                     Hunter days  =   (105)       (75)

Guided days  =              53             44                     Hunters per day =   4             3

GROUSE INFO             2011         2012                 WOODCOCK INFO   2011        2012

Grouse Flushed =          730           536               Woodcock Flushed  =   903        721

Grouse Shot =              127          119                           W/C  Shot   =    202       139

Flushes/guide =           14             13           W/C Flushes/day /guide =    17         17

Flushes/day/hunter =      3              4                  Flushes per hunter  =      4           4

Shot per day / guide  =   2              3                  Shot/per day/guide =       4           4

% of grouse shot/flush = 16%       23%          % of w/c shot per flush =  24%        24%

 2011-2012 Combined Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock

**************        2011       2012                                                     2011        2012
Combined Flushes =   1633       1257                 Birds shot per day/guide  =  6             7

Daily flushes /guide = 30             30                % shot birds to flush   =     20%        24%

Combined Kills =        329           258

********     2006             2007           2008             2009           2010              2011           2012

Days Hunted    37                  35               30               41               30                  28              28

Hunter Days    86                 111               94               93               96               105               75

Hunters/Day     2                    3                 3                 2                  3                  4                 3

Grouse Flushed  701          1198            1123            1123               831               730             536

Daily Flushes    18                  34                37               27               28       14 /guide       13/guide

Flushes/hunter/day  8             11                12               12                 8                  3                 4

Grouse Shot      84               146               167             127             109               127              119

Shot/Day           2                   4                  5                 3                 3                 2                  3/guide

% Shot/Flush   11%              12%           14%              11%             13%            16%             23%

2011 – 2012 Flush Rates Continued

**********        2006          2007             2008            2009          2010          2011           2012

W’cock Flushes    1023            896               777              706            805           903             721

Daily Flushes          27              30                 26                20             27            17 /guide     17/guide

Flush/Hunter/Day    12             10                   8                  8               8            3/guide        4/guide

W/C Shot             189             193               160              136            173          202               139

Shot/Day                5                 6                   5                 3                5             4                   4

% Shot/Flush        18%             21%              20%              19%          21%         20%           24%

Combined Flushes 1724         2094              1900             1829           1636        1633           1257

Daily Total               46              60                63                   45           54             30/guide      30/guide

Flushes/Hunter/Day  20              10                20                   20           17             15/guide      15/guide

Total Shot             273            339               327                 263         282           329              258

Shot/Day                 7               10                 11                     6          10            12                  9

Shot/Hunter            3                 3                 3                       2             3              3                  3

% Shot to Flushes  16%            16%            17%                 14%         17%          20%            24%
“It’s not just the taking of game, but how the game is taken”

For other grouse camp information
photo’s or other Double Gun Bird Hunt locations and updates please go to:  www.doublegunbirdhunts.com/from-the-field and www.orvis.com/doublegun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gayle and I are proud to be part of the National Membership Raffle for the Ruffed Grouse Society. We’re hoping it will be a great success. We are providing a 3 day quail hunt at our Kansas hunts where we are working with Busters Outfitters in Sun City KS.

 Ruffed Grouse Society

451 McCormick Road – Coraopolis, PA 15108 or call 888-564-6747 or buy online at ruffedgrousesociety.org

 Name ________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

City_________________________State _____ Zip ____________

Phone ________________________________________________

 Tickets @ $20.00 Each = $__________ Total Enclosed _ CHECK (Payable to RGS)

_ CREDIT CARD CC # ___________________________________ Exp. ________

 Billing Address _________________________________________

 City_________________________State _____ Zip ____________

 Signature _____________________________________________

 

2012-2013 National Raffle

FOUR PRIZES − WINNER’S CHOICE

ORVIS UPLANDER DELUXE SHOTGUN, LIMITED EDITION

• Over-and-under 20-gauge, 28″ barrels

 • Hand-engraved woodcock and grouse with traditional English-style scroll and bouquet engraving on receiver, side plates and fore-end iron.

• Deluxe grade Turkish Circassian walnut stock and forearm

• Long tang trigger guard

• Solid, tapered top rib and high-luster deep blue finish

• Comes with a velvet-lined leather case

Only 10 will be made |Retail value: $7,995  Orvis Company, Donor

 

 SOUTH DAKOTA PHEASANT HUNT

 • Two people, 3 days /4 nights in the 2013-2014 season.

 • Hunt pheasants on Orvis endorsed wingshooting grounds at Pine Shadows Daybreak lodge near Frederick, South Dakota. Meals, lodging, ammunition, dogs, guides and bird cleaning are included. Hunt over 6,000 acres of private land with huntsmen and Orvis Endorsed Pine Shadows English springer spaniels.

• Airfare up to $1,000 included, upon arrival, transportation to and from airport and hunting grounds will be provided.

Visit www.pineshadows.com/Daybreak.htm for more information.

 Package value: over $7,000

 Pine Shadows Daybreak, Hunt Donor

 

KANSAS QUAIL HUNT

Double Gun Bird Hunts / Little Moran Hunt Club  www.doublegunbirdhunts.com

Steve Grossman – Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Guide

 • Two people, 3 days/4 nights in the 2013-2014 season.

 • Hunt wild Bobwhite Quail over English Setters with certified Orvis Wingshooting Guide Steve Grossman near Medicine Lodge, Kansas. You’ll have access to over 22,000 acres – including open prairie, river bottoms and draws of cedar.Two hunters per guide, double guns only and fresh dogs will be on the ground all day long. All meals provided.

• Airfare up to $1,000 is included.

Visit www.doublegunbirdhunts.com  www.orvis.com/doublegun for more information.

 Package value: $5,800.00

 Double Gun Bird Hunts – Steve and Gayle Grossman, Hunt Donor

 

 2013 NATIONAL GROUSE AND WOODCOCK HUNT

 • Two people, 3 days/4 nights from October 8-11, 2013.

 • This deluxe, guided hunt includes lodging (double occupancy) at the Sawmill Inn in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Enjoy an outdoor festival at the local gun club and two full days of grouse and woodcock hunting. Experienced guides and trained bird dogs provided. All meals, bird cleaning and many extras included.

 • Airfare up to $1,000 is included. Transportation to and from hunting areas will be provided.

 The value of this package is $3,450.00.

 The winner of this package has the option of waiving the hunt in lieu of $2,500 cash – your choice!

Donation for each ticket is $20.00. Up to 10,000 tickets to be sold.

Four winners to be drawn on June 28, 2013 at RGS Headquarters in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. This raffle is winner’s choice. First person drawn chooses from all four prizes, second person chooses from remaining prizes and so on. Winners responsible for applicable taxes. All raffle participants will receive a free issue of Orvis News.

Ruffed Grouse Society

2012 – 2013 National Raffle Prizes

 • Offered as “Winner’s Choice” – (1st ticket drawn selects first, 2nd ticket drawn selects from the remaining prizes, etc.)

• Orvis Uplander Deluxe S/S 20-Gauge Shotgun

• South Dakota Pheasant Hunt

• Kansas Quail Hunt – Steve Grossman Double Gun Bird Hunts (www.doublegunbirdhunts.com)

• National Grouse & Woodcock Hunt for Two – Grand Rapids, MN or $2500 Cash

• Drawing Date: June 28, 2013

• Ticket price is $20

• Tickets are packaged in books of 5

• Each book consists of 6 pages: 5 National Raffle tickets plus 1 Seller’s Raffle ticket for the Seller to enter into a Special Sellers’ Raffle once all 5 National Raffle tickets are sold.

 Ordering and Payment

• Chapters order books ($100 face value) for $65 each

• Individual RGS members order tickets through their chapter

• No refunds for unsold tickets

• Chapters have the option to pay at the time of order, or request RGS to issue an invoice to the chapter placing the order.

Chapter Sales Opportunities

• In addition to selling tickets at banquets, chapters are encouraged to sell tickets at other events throughout the year

• Chapters are encouraged to distribute books to members to sell at the workplace, home, to friends, relatives, etc.

• At the discretion of each chapter, they may sell tickets at face value or offer bundled prices such as 1/$20, 3/$50, 5/$80

Special Sellers’ Raffle

• Prize will be a Webley & Scott 20-gauge shotgun

• Individual sellers may enter their own name, or the name of their chapter which, if won, may be used as a no-cost auction item at a future chapter banquet.