16ga.com ~ View topic - ~30 days to Grouse Opener & my Brit 16 will ride again!

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

The recent ammo drought which caused me to sideline my old Brummie double has seemingly passed so... accordingly my circa 1905 William Richards will re-emerge from it's now 2-year hibernation and join me on the trails this year once again. I will be taking several firearms up with me to my former father-in-law's place in Nowhere, MN (including a new to me hammergun!) but it's likely that my 16 will get the nod first. We've had fall-like weather here off & on for the past week and it's really got me contemplating my next tour through the grouse woods.

Every season is special, but... as you roll through your 60s they take-on a sweetness and a sense of heightened awareness of the "ephemeral" nature of these things. I've had several dear friends and folks depart for the happy hunting grounds in this past year (and I'm even sensing my own diminished-energies more-so than ever before). I'd normally rush-out and go crazy walking and dieting and fretting about it all but this year I'm just going to let it happen. I've certainly picked up the pace in my walks with the dog (and the cooler mornings and evenings make that all the better) but...no more frenzy left in me these days I'm afraid. I'm happily done with all that.

Bring on Grousmas, I am ready.

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Congratulations on breaking out that beloved gun! I will be in a similar situation hopefully next year as my WL Citori is with the smith for a stock repair, and he’s also going to fix my Flues which has been laid up for almost 20 years.

I have been fortunate enough this year to help out a fellow who offered me a guided grouse hunt in his neck of the woods. Him and his coworkers were mandated to stay at our location for a job that I knew wasn’t going to happen. He offered to share his spots if I got them out, and so I made some calls and it happened. My work schedule would prevent me going to my normal location, but his area starts a couple weeks earlier, so I’m happily getting some grouse hunting when I thought all was lost.

I succumbed to the gun lust and bought a 16 ga Sarasqueta sxs, 6 1/4 pounds. It was originally going to be my long hike gun and backup to the Citori but this year it will be the main gun for upland and I’ll use my Savage for waterfowl. I had Mike Orlen open up the chokes to IC/Cyl, then I put a Pachmeyer sporting pad on it to get the LOP to my liking. My first time at the club I shot a 23 with it, so now I’m shooting it as much as possible to bond with it.l before the opener.

I, too, am ready for Grousemas!

Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 229 Location: MN

Lloyd

I hope you have acquired enough shells of the proper gauges. From I what I saw near Bemidji/Walker this spring, the good ol days in MN are coming back in fall 2023.

Drumming counts were high

https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/wildlife/grouse/reports/ruffed/rgrouse_survey_2023.pdf

And the spring weather was perfect for MN Grouse production. A Moderate to late snow melt delayed nesting until the weather is a little warmer. This was followed by a warm and very dry spring with no cold wet spells.

Grouse broods were everywhere. Enjoy it.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

fourtown: Wow!

Lloyd3,
Outstanding old gun, pick up some RST SpredR shells for her. Bring on Grousmas for sure!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

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This 118-year old gun only eats RST these days. It's too-light and too-old to stand much more abuse.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

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Waiting patiently for this day to happen again...

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

Can't get my phone to transfer photography to my laptop for some reason, but I had a very good day here yesterday. Because of Covid 19 interrupting the supply chain for ammo ( & the cast-on somehow changing?) I hadn't shot my W. Richards here for some time (3-years?) but yesterday (& my favorite gunsmith) changed all that. Seeing very good numbers of birds here this year and confirmed that by limiting out before noon. I just love it when a light & lively 16 is the right choice!

Joined: 17 Oct 2019 Posts: 455 Location: New Jersey

What state ?

Swampy16,

Looks like you may not get an answer to that question!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

Swampy: I'm sorry, northern Minnesota!

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

The season is progressing nicely here. Walked 12k steps yesterday and saw lots of birds including my first spruce grouse of the year (don't see nearly as many as we used to, which is good [for purely selfish reasons] as they don't eat as well as ruffles do). Having killed several sprucie hens by accident, I try not to do so. The male birds are easy to identify, not so much for the hens.

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Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

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All is good in the world again...

Lloyd3,

Nice shooting buddy, congrats again and it looks like the old gun still does a great job!

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

Thanks Dave, yeah...it's been a great couple of weeks. Two to go.