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MHF US Northeast => Hunting New Hampshire => Topic started by: SHaRPS on Sep 27, 2022, 07:52:57 AM

Title: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Sep 27, 2022, 07:52:57 AM
Hope you are all having a great season or gearing up for it. Looks like my 2022 season officially starts in Pittsburg NH this year chasing grouse, woodcock, and snowshoes. No dog just solo kicking up brush and covering as much land as possible. Anyone else heading up this season? I'll be up there Oct 8-13 and hoping to cross paths with some type of edible critter. Always tough hunting solo and with no dog but I give it my best shot.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Sep 27, 2022, 09:35:17 AM
You know me. As usual, Ill be up there next week!
We don't use dogs either and usually do quite well with 3 or 4 of us bangin the brush. Ya never know though. 2020 was the best year I've had in 10 years, and last year was my worst in 10 years.
We'll see. I'll hit you up Mike
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Sep 27, 2022, 06:00:27 PM
You know me. As usual, Ill be up there next week!
We don't use dogs either and usually do quite well with 3 or 4 of us bangin the brush. Ya never know though. 2020 was the best year I've had in 10 years, and last year was my worst in 10 years.
We'll see. I'll hit you up Mike

Ok! I wont be there this weekend but I will the 8th. Shot you a PM as well.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Sep 27, 2022, 07:43:21 PM
I’ll be in Zone 7, Maine, if I tag a sport out and can’t find another I’ll slip over and show you fellas some holes off Cedar Stream
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Sep 28, 2022, 06:44:59 AM
I’ll be in Zone 7, Maine, if I tag a sport out and can’t find another I’ll slip over and show you fellas some holes off Cedar Stream

Sounds good Frank! The more the merrier
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Oct 03, 2022, 09:23:07 AM
I filled an M tag this weekend so I got some meat back in the freezer.
Ready for some thunder chickens now. And maybe some tasty snow bunnies
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Raquettedacker on Oct 03, 2022, 09:34:01 AM
Nice HF..👍
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 03, 2022, 09:36:35 AM
I filled an M tag this weekend so I got some meat back in the freezer.
Ready for some thunder chickens now. And maybe some tasty snow bunnies

Nice job buddy! I haven’t been out since I shot that 8 just been moose scouting. Got 1 Bunny and 2 partridge Saturday though while scouting
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Oct 03, 2022, 10:39:10 AM
Thanks. Well I had to get something in the freezer before I go on tour...lol
Pittsburg till the 11th. Then leave for Ohio the 22nd. Come back right in time for the opener of ML.
It's a tough life
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 03, 2022, 11:50:56 AM
I’m
Jealous!
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 03, 2022, 12:25:23 PM
Congrats to the both of you, Jason and Frank!

One thing that keep going through my head is how many great shots I had to make to drop 5 birds in 2019 (last time in Pittsburg). I only kicked up like 7 birds in 4 days and shot 5 of them on reaction shots. 2 of them
 flying from tree tops and 3 flying from the ground. Never saw a bunny and I think i kicked up 1 woodcock. I bring this up because I clearly was not in the thick of the birds. I am hoping to find them in decent numbers this year to give me more chances and take off the pressure a bit lol. I have a few days to hunt so I hope to get some chances. I as very surprised that I did not see any bunnies last time. I hope I run into at least one to make some traditional white gravy. I have been spending a ton of hours just looking at areas to try with google maps. Just me and my 20ga and GPS unit in the big woods. Its a bit intimidating but I love it.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 04, 2022, 09:28:24 AM
I was in Maine but in line with the burg and close to spitting distance and the birds were real shy, none in roads and they flushed anywhere near 40 yards. It’s not going to be easy
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 04, 2022, 01:22:43 PM
I was in Maine but in line with the burg and close to spitting distance and the birds were real shy, none in roads and they flushed anywhere near 40 yards. It’s not going to be easy

Well this is actually very helpful so thank you Frank. I normally shoot my 20ga with 3" 7.5 Fiocchi (1 1/4oz) shells but I may step it up to a #6. Little more distance and dropping power especially if the leaves are heavy. What choke do you guys typically use? If I bush whack I use my Benelli M2 20ga with a Mod choke for that 3rd shot. If its more of a road runner day I use my Stevens 555 20ga with a Mod and Imp Mod.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Oct 04, 2022, 02:05:10 PM
Congrats to the both of you, Jason and Frank!

One thing that keep going through my head is how many great shots I had to make to drop 5 birds in 2019 (last time in Pittsburg). I only kicked up like 7 birds in 4 days and shot 5 of them on reaction shots. 2 of them
 flying from tree tops and 3 flying from the ground. Never saw a bunny and I think i kicked up 1 woodcock. I bring this up because I clearly was not in the thick of the birds. I am hoping to find them in decent numbers this year to give me more chances and take off the pressure a bit lol. I have a few days to hunt so I hope to get some chances. I as very surprised that I did not see any bunnies last time. I hope I run into at least one to make some traditional white gravy. I have been spending a ton of hours just looking at areas to try with google maps. Just me and my 20ga and GPS unit in the big woods. Its a bit intimidating but I love it.
Don't feel bad, I've only got I snowshoe in the last 3 years, and that's covering TONS of ground. Whereas for many years I'd get atleast 3 every trip, usually in many of the same spots or areas. I like heavy spruce, but shot them in many other places as well.  Breeding Cycles, habitat change, I dunno what's going on. We Just keep puttin the boots to the ground.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Oct 04, 2022, 02:13:44 PM
Well this is actually very helpful so thank you Frank. I normally shoot my 20ga with 3" 7.5 Fiocchi (1 1/4oz) shells but I may step it up to a #6. Little more distance and dropping power especially if the leaves are heavy. What choke do you guys typically use? If I bush whack I use my Benelli M2 20ga with a Mod choke for that 3rd shot. If its more of a road runner day I use my Stevens 555 20ga with a Mod and Imp Mod.
I use 6s high brass for everything. It covers all my bases. I like to really each out and touch em. Majority of the time I'm shooting through thick cover so it works effectively.
 I'm old school, this is all out of a 16 gauge 1930s era Fox sxs. Improved and modified.
Are there more effective options, maybe. Do I have 20 other shot guns, yes. But I usually have little problem puttin em down. I enjoy the nostalgia of using a tool that my grandfather used since the 40s. If that gun could talk. Probably  thousands of birds taken over the years.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 04, 2022, 04:11:17 PM
Yep I ran 3” high brass 6’s this weekend, I like modified but ran a .410 this weekend and it’s a set Full choke, it devastated that rabbit, glad I got it all in the head
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 04, 2022, 04:11:58 PM
But yes Mike, I’d go 6’s with a modified
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 05, 2022, 06:43:36 AM
I use 6s high brass for everything. It covers all my bases. I like to really each out and touch em. Majority of the time I'm shooting through thick cover so it works effectively.
 I'm old school, this is all out of a 16 gauge 1930s era Fox sxs. Improved and modified.
Are there more effective options, maybe. Do I have 20 other shot guns, yes. But I usually have little problem puttin em down. I enjoy the nostalgia of using a tool that my grandfather used since the 40s. If that gun could talk. Probably  thousands of birds taken over the years.

I cannot argue with this Jason. If I had such a shotgun I can guarantee id be using it as well.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 05, 2022, 06:47:39 AM
But yes Mike, I’d go 6’s with a modified

This is the plan. Sometimes if I use my semi I will actually toss a 7.5 in the chamber followed by two 6s. Only advantage really is if I run into a woodcock. Speaking of, Jason have you been seeing these birds each year? It's getting better here in RI year after year.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 05, 2022, 01:10:09 PM
Everytime it rains I have Woodcock putting around in my yards for whatever they can find.

Then again, you’ve been over my place Mike. I’m in the woods
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Oct 05, 2022, 04:46:03 PM
This is the plan. Sometimes if I use my semi I will actually toss a 7.5 in the chamber followed by two 6s. Only advantage really is if I run into a woodcock. Speaking of, Jason have you been seeing these birds each year? It's getting better here in RI year after year.
Oh yeah we see them mud bats. More so in certain cover. Honestly I don't really target them specifically  anymore. Fun to shoot but not much meat on them and I like tridge meat wayyy better than that darker meat.
Plus, me running 6s doesn't fare well for woodcock when they flush at 10 ft...lol gotta let em get out a ways
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 18, 2022, 07:35:52 AM
Well that vaca was over in a flash. First and foremost, it was an absolute pleasure meeting you, Jason. I had a blast with you and Kevin all day. It was a few years in the making but hands down you guys are exactly what I would consider a friend. Thank you Jason for logging me around and tossing me in the bush like we have done this 100 times in the past. Also, please tell Kevin to take it easy with the garlic. 🙏.

My total count was 3 grouse, 1 snowshoe hare and a grey squirell which for the record, I have never seen up there in the 20 years I've been up there. I did see 3 rabbits total, missed 1 and finally had one in a shooting lane and took him home for dinner. Did not see any woodcock. The grouse were far and few between this year and when I did bump them, they were way out of sight. All things considered the trip was a total success. Met you guys, did some solo pounding and ran into a moose, hung out with the wife for our anniversary and took the kids to santas village and had them outdoors most of the time. Came back home to opening day small game and hammered pheasant, quail, doves and woodcock with the pointers. Onto the next adventure. Thanks again J!

Forgot to mention that I also spent 2 hours fly fishing and caught 2 rainbows. First fish for me up there so that was a small bonus.

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Title: Re: North woods
Post by: tubeslinger on Oct 18, 2022, 08:12:04 AM
Looks like it was a great trip. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 18, 2022, 08:17:10 AM
Awesome fellas! Those food dishes look amazing! Great post!
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: lv2hunt on Oct 18, 2022, 08:39:06 AM
Great job getting out there and getting it done!!
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 18, 2022, 08:47:23 AM
Awesome fellas! Those food dishes look amazing! Great post!

Thanks man. Missed you up there but I know you were busy chasing what I was stepping into...
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Title: Re: North woods
Post by: aquaassassin on Oct 18, 2022, 09:56:31 AM
Haha yeah we had to get 8 moose down in 6 days, we did it but it wasn’t easy.
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: Huntnfish603 on Oct 18, 2022, 05:05:06 PM
Nice North country wrapup Mike! It was an absolute pleasure to get to finally hookup and hit the woods together. We really pounded some ground that day and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Glad to hear you found some success the other days you flew solo.Birds were really really tough this year and we all earned every one  that's for sure Mike.  Good score with the bunny too, you witnessed my swing and a miss at the one doing 40 from your direction lol .  Good to see better numbers for the snowshoes though compared to last few years. 
my crews wrapup - Tough is all I can say. So as some others have mentioned, birds just didn't seem abundant or very skittish in general.
I personally took only 3 shots in the first 3 days combined. I even had 2 days with no birds taken. First time that's happened since I was 15 I think. The last day was the best after the hard frost we had more action in one morning than the previous 3 days combined. A positive for the area, I jumped and saw more deer than I ever have up there, makes me think I should have taken the bow for the week instead of shotgun.
We logged 61 hours in the woods over 6 days, total birds taken 15 between 3 of us. Wowza
But I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world!
Title: Re: North woods
Post by: SHaRPS on Oct 31, 2022, 02:31:38 PM
You and I both, Jason. Long ride for me but I love it up there. If I had a solid crew to hunt with each year I would 100% make the ride on my own so I could hunt hard. If you ever need someone to split costs with, let me know.
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