Post by et1 on Jun 28, 2014 13:31:10 GMT -5
During my years of hunting there have been many adventures and collection of fond memories. One that I still laugh over is an encounter with a grouse.
It was late in the Fall when scouring a small bush lot that usually held a few grouse. While stealthily moving through the area I caught a glimpse of movement and sure enough there was a grouse on the ground underneath a toppled pine tree. My shotgun came up and the bird flushed only I didn’t fire. That stupid bird banged his head against the fallen trunk and hit the ground flopping around.
As I watched to my amazement the bird managed to upright itself and again flushed upwards. My shotgun again went to my shoulder needlessly as I witnessed a repeat performance of head banging against the trunk and the bird falling back to the ground but this time not moving. Figured he more than likely broke his neck as I heard a loud thud with the second head to trunk contact.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud after witnessing that 2nd event. Momentarily my thought drifted of how I was going to share this story with a friend of mine who always bragged about his skill for shooting grouse. I was looking forward to seeing how he would top my story of how a grouse was so scared of me he committed suicide before I could even fire a shot.
As my attention returned to the downed bird. I couldn’t believe he was up again preparing to flush. Figuring he had boxed himself in among the branches a repeat performance was about to happen so I didn’t even shoulder my shotgun. To my amazement that lucky pecker head found an opening in the branches and made an escape leaving me with egg on my face.
Well there goes my bird without firing a shot.
There goes my suicide from fright story that would have been fun teasing my friend.
There goes my pride of being a successful grouse hunter as I became angry at myself for making such a stupid mistake (assumption).
The only thought that consoled me was that I gave that bird one heck of a headache for a day.
This hunt happened over 40-yrs ago and today have never forgot the lesson that bird taught me of shouldering a shotgun in readiness.
Ed
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
