Up here is the northeast the leaves have turned a scarlet red or brillant yellow. The orange color isn't too bad either. Bella and Cooper walk to the edge of the porch and raise their noses to the breeze. They smell fall as much as we see it. Many states have already started their grouse and pheasant seasons and this might come as old news to some, but for those of us who need to “call in sick,” make sure you coordinate properly.
- Maine: Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse (Partridge), and Bobwhite Quail opened Oct. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. The bag limits are 2 pheasant daily (Possession Limit - 4 ) and for ruffed grouse and bobwhite quail the daily bag limit is 4 (Possession Limit – 8).
- Wisconsin: Ruffed grouse opens in a zoned fashion. Zone A starts Sept. 13 and runs through Jan. 31, 2009; in Zone B hunting starts Oct. 18 through Dec. 8. If your fancy is sharp-tailed grouse you can start hunting Oct. 18 and go through Nov. 9. Bobwhite quail (as if there is any other kind) starts statewide on Oct. 18 at noon and goes through Dec. 10. And Hungarian partridge opens statewide on Oct. 18 at noon through Dec. 31 except in Clark, Marathon, and Taylor counties where it is closed.
- Vermont: Old ruff can be hunted starting Sept. 27 and you can finish Dec. 31. Daily bag limit is 4 birds.
- Minnesota: Sharp-tailed grouse season runs Sept. 9 through Nov. 11, while grouse season opens the same day as sharptailed but end later on Jan. 4, 2009. A note on drumming surveys from MN indicates that the upward trend in Bonasa umbellus (that be ruffed grouse for our non-Latin speaking readers) and Tympanuchus phasianellus (sharp-tailed grouse) 1.4 drums per stop or dps. This is up from last year’s drum rate of
1.3 dps. Those is the scientific community would then say this is consistent with a positive trend since 2005. Which translates into: There is some good bird hunting in MN.
- West Virginia: Ruffed grouse opens Oct. 18 and runs through Feb. 28, 2009. Daily bag limit is 4 birds. Bobwhite Quail opens Nov. 1 and goes through Jan. 3, 2009.
- Massacusetts: Ruffed grouse season opened this past Oct. 8 and goes through Nov. 29.
- New Hampshire: This past Oct. 1 ruffed grouse season opened and it will close Dec. 31; woodcock opend on Oct. 6 and ends Nov. 4. Remember to take part in the Ruffed Grouse Wing and Tail Survey, and the Small Game Survey. If you hunt ruffed grouse, woodcock, rabbits, hares or squirrel, you could win a gun in the Small Game Survey. The survey asks hunters to report when and where they hunt and which small game species they see. The survey data provides abundance and distribution of the above mentioned species and by participating you help the state do its job better. You also receive a copy of the report for participating. For participating in the Ruffed Grouse Wing and Tail Survey you can also win a gun. The NH Fish and Game Department is asking grouse hunters who hunt north of Route 112 (Kangamacus) to take part in a ruffed grouse Wing and Tail Survey. The data will provide important information for managing the species. Here is the 2007-2008 Small Game Summary Report.
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