• #3: What makes a “grouse” dog, anyways?

    December sadly marks the end of our upland season. With my wife away for work and one of our cars breaking down mid-month, hunting was limited. But for the days we chose to brave the cold, it became about savoring the moment—silent, frosted trails and the companionship of a bird dog working against winter’s edge. Continue reading

  • # 2: Two Grouse and a Gentle Reminder

    The 11th month brought colder temperatures and more grouse than I expected. Daytime highs hovered near 8°C, with most nights dipping into frost. Woodcock flights slipped south for warmer climes, leaving the odd straggler to probe half-frozen soil for one last Nova Scotian earthworm. Early in the month, we still searched for apple trees as Continue reading

  • #1: Where to begin…

    October started off warm and dry, and I quickly learned how tough that can make things. We walked a lot of miles with not much to show for it — I wasn’t sure if it was me, the dog, or just the conditions. Probably a bit of all three. Things turned around in the second Continue reading