Had some vacation time last week. I took my setter Lucy up to WV to hunt with a buddy. He has the grouse dialed in up there. We flushed 5 birds, and he knocked this one down with his 16ga and it hit the ground running. Lucy made one helluva retrieve on this bird over the side of a mountain. Made me proud.

Couple days later we went down to western ky with another buddy where he has the quail figured out. We found 2 coveys of birds and a couple of woodcock. 2 coveys may not sound like much. But I’m in Kentucky and these days wild birds are hard to come by. His GSP is a hunting machine. I still wouldn’t give up my setter for one though lol.

Looks like a great time. Sure are pretty birds, both types you got. And great eating.

Very nice!!

Formative years were in Tenn and Va, where the quail were quite common and vocal. Seems a rather silent environment when I visit now.

Well done! Those Appalachian Grouse are damn hard to come by....

Minute- sad ain’t it?

Knight-you ain’t a kidding. You work for every single one of them.

The boy and I have been out four times in the last two weeks here in Western NC. Tired legs and a worn out half frozen dog is all we've come up with so far. Most challenging bird hunt I've been on by far.

Very nicely done!!