November Grouse

By Paul Fuller

Although October is often thought of as the absolute prime month for grouse and woodcock hunting, November should not be overlooked. For your author, the big advantage of November is less foliage.  You can see the birds in flight much easier than in October.  Every year, I hear of more upland hunters extending their grouse hunts into November. 

     Let’s begin with the little russet colored feller.  Perhaps it’s due to climate change, however, I’m seeing woodcock in the Northeast a little later every year.  Last year, in Southeast New Hampshire, woodcock were strong right until the last day of the season…November 14th. I suspect the late birds were primarily flight birds with our resident birds having already departed for warmer weather.  One way of telling if they’re resident or flight birds is how they fly when flushed.  A resident bird will have more energy and fly a little faster and farther than a flight bird.  A flight bird may already have covered two hundred plus miles in his journey south. 

Scent Conditions

         For both woodcock and grouse, I feel scenting conditions may be better in November.  I have no historical evidence of this, but, November always seems to be damper.  Moisture is required for good scenting conditions for bird dogs.  And, good scenting conditions make for better dog work and more enjoyable hunts.  Yes, you could encounter a snow storm in November, however, that means keeping your eye on the weather forecast.  For example, I would not want to be caught in a snowstorm in the North Maine Woods.  If you do venture into the North  Maine Woods in November, I highly recommend either a satellite telephone or Garmin InReach.  Either method of contacting emergency service could save your life.  

Nutrition

     Let’s get back to my favorite upland bird…the ruffed grouse.  Once the leaves are off the trees, the ruffed grouse seeks safety in conifers. For food, it’s almost completely buds of the aspen and black cherry.  Both are available throughout the winter and offer high nutrition for the grouse.  That nutrition keeps them healthy throughout the winter and in prime condition for breeding in the spring. Which is very important for successful breeding. 

    I want to address hunting ethics in November.  I know I’ve been criticized before when I write about fair chase.  I think the king of game birds deserves fair chase hunting.  When the birds are budding, it’s easy to shoot them off a limb.  Two years ago, I met two hunters who that morning had shot their limits, off limbs, in one tree.  That’s not hunting, it’s simply shooting.  Hunting is matching your wits against your prey.  Simply shooting a bird off a limb, or from the road, takes no skill or wits.  

     Have a great November upland hunting.

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