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 Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Bay, Belle and Gracie 
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
I'm just a happy homeboy from Exeter, NH. I haven't traveled a whole lot but when I do there has been no place like home. I'm proud to be native NH.

Walking behind Belle on a ruffed grouse hunt yesterday morning in Exeter and not flushing any birds my mind wandered to where in the USA could I relocate that offered the same or better than what coastal NH has to offer?

Here on the coast we have no neighbors to our east other than the salty variety. Travel an hour north, south or west and you have the choice of cities or big woods and mountains. So where would I be happy?

I didn't need a FB page to answer that question. So where you ask?

Wisconsin

Second to NH my choice would be the eastern part of that state. No neighbors to the east unless you count salmon and trout in Lake Michigan. Lots of hunting and fishing opportunities and Milwaukee and Green Bay for the big city fix.

That was my daydream. And I'm sticking with it. :)

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Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:54 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
12-06-15
Being the last day of deer season I was thankful when we pulled into the vacant parking area. Not that we did want to share the deer, we were there to partridge hunt with Belle.

Our two and a half hour hunt went far beyond expectation. We moved a lot of birds. Of those Belle flushed three doubles and a couple singles. The others flushed wild.

At no time was I offered a shot.

The highlight of my hunt was watching a grouse glide out of range across the skyline, sun to my back shining against it's silhouette. Followed closely by watching Belle cut scent and run hard right just as I turned left at the road junction. I saw her third double flush of ruffs and I couldn't do anything about it.

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Thank you Cory for the pictures and for inviting Belle and I. Lets do it again soon.

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Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:54 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
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Location: Seacoast NH
Post I love this dog
Pittsburg, NH 12-12-15

Six hours hunting. Flushed five partridge. all wild, shot one bird. Every good looking cover along the roads were trampled like a pheasant release site. Probably had something to do with the dozens of cabins for rent in Pittsburg.

Miss Dirty Belly Belle

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Clarksville, NH 12-13-15
Off the beaten path. Two hour hunt. Flushed six partridge, eight shots, one bird. Every shot was into the sun just popping up over the ridge.
That is my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

Note to self. Change chokes from skeet and IC to mod and full. Lots of shot opportunities further than a forest of trees full of leaves.

Loggers are upland bird hunters best friends.

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Sunday belonged to Belle. Did I mention "I love this dog!"

Image

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Tue Dec 15, 2015 4:55 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
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Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
Maine on Saturday, eleven encounters. Saw seven. Shot at two. Ate McDonald's for dinner.

Highlight of the day was flushing two triples here. Six birds flushed in ten minutes.

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One weekend left in the season. I call rematch.

Sunday in NH
Hunting above the big lake with your best deer hunting buds?

Priceless.

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Fourteen encounters. We probably saw half. Three shots and only the Sears Ted Williams shotgun got the job done.

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Mark radioed he saw the bird go down but not sure where. It took me about twenty minutes to get Belle to the crime scene.

The bird was a runner. Belle was faster. I let her savor the moment. Hence serious loss of feathers.

It was a an adult male. Biggest partridge over Belle this year.

The beagles were bawling on hare in Maine Saturday. I enjoyed the music.

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Mon Dec 21, 2015 5:02 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
There is just something about following my dog and taking my gun for a walk chasing the King of fall game birds I can't describe in words.

Please take two minutes and walk in my footsteps with the Ruffed Grouse Society

http://projectupland.com/

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Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Wed Dec 23, 2015 3:30 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Grouse, God and Biily Goat Pond
12-26-15
Having moved quite a few birds last week above NH's Big Lake I had a week to study topo maps and Google Earth for a much anticipated return trip. The forester who originally told me about this piece suggested more than a few times that we visit the wilderness pond. I asked him what direction it was from the parking area.

He answered "head south and point your nose uphill". Man he wasn't kidding.

We parked the Ford's at 1,175 feet at 0730 and began our trek up on the old logging and skidder trails left from the pre 2008 chopping. It was Google Earth that supplied the historical data map. A map of our planned destination was safely tucked in my back pocket.

We moved one partridge on our climb up the northern hillside. When we reached the top I was looking forward to peeking over to the south side to see the sun and hopefully finding birds who had the same thoughts. My altimeter said we were approaching 1,900 feet when we made it up to the crest of the ridge.

The cover changed from hardwood whips to spruce, fir and juniper at the top.

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From our vantage point we still could not see the pond. So up, over and down we went. And wouldn't you know it, as we were greeted by the sunny southern slope three partridge were not happy with our advance and flushed wild down the hill in the direction of the pond. It made losing altitude a little better to grasp as we would eventually have to climb back out of this hidden hollow.

We were in God's Country and a place I convinced myself no other grouse hunters had tread this fall. It might have been the seven grouse we moved that allowed me those thoughts. The only two that flushed within range went up directly in line with a spruce tree and I never saw them.

What a beautiful place. We named it Billy Goat Pond from my previous description on how rugged and steep it was to get there.

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The blue below is the view we had of NH's Lake Winnipesaukee before we started our decent back to the trucks.

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In all we moved eighteen ruffed grouse in our travels today. Most flushed wild beyond seeing or shotgun range. But there was no denying the sound of those wings on each of our close encounters.

A big thank you to my friend Jay for coming along. This land of granite is full of ankle breaking opportunities. There is a huge sense of well being when you don't explore alone in such wild places.

Jay took the only game today. This was the second snowshoe hare Belle jumped today.

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An article in the fall 2015 issue of the Ruffed Grouse Societies magazine by Andrew Wayment, "The Heartbeat of the Woods" touched me. The author's wife who had never heard the drumming of a male grouse in the springtime referred to it as a "Heartbeat".

And we all know that without a heartbeat nothing is alive.

The article quoted Aldo Leopold, for in his words.......

"Everybody knows....that the autumn landscape in the north woods is the land, plus a red maple, plus a ruffed grouse.
In terms of conventional physics the grouse represents only a millionth of either the mass or the energy of an acre.
Yet subtract the grouse and the whole thing is dead..."

For me deer are a game animal that feed my flesh. Spring gobblers remind me that life is renewable. Yet the whirl of wings of Ol' Ruff signals a healthy forest and brings peace to my soul.

That ends Belle and Birds 2015. We thank you for following along!

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Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Sun Dec 27, 2015 1:02 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Belle and Birds 2015 is Now Officially Over
12-31-15
I just couldn't let it lie. After those last few fabulous trips to the Lakes Region and hearing whirling wings in my sleep I had to give it one more shot, literally.

So I begged, borrowed and stole a half day off work this afternoon and headed to the Swamp.

Image

As soon as we passed the hulk of the rusting construction equipment out of view to the left Belle put a partridge to flight. I should have paid more attention. Twice I saw her stop and test the air. Subtle but definitely a sniff as she worked into the woods to my right.

I heard the wings before I saw the bird. And damn I shot behind it. :(

Always following up each shot just in case we popped out here.

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This pond was actually a fear of mine before we went because that ice is nowhere near safe. Belle had intentions but a stern no got her turned back into the woods where we proceeded to flush that bird a second time.

Of course it went out wild in front of us and glided across the blueberry swamp. There was no chance for a shot but I swear I saw a middle toe erect and pointed right in our direction.

I can tell you the deer hunters didn't put a dent in this piece. After getting flipped off by our flying quarry we bumped a few deer. Belle is officially deer proof.

The deer had this mound torn up. The greens looked like partridge berry.

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The 45 degree afternoon softened up the snow and I saw numerous partridge tracks in the thickest parts the piece had to offer. And snowshoe hare tracks? All I can say is WOW. They live there.

By late afternoon our Belle and Birds 2015 journey came full circle. It was our last walk back to the Ford in this years partridge season. It was sad yet joyous as I got to hunt some beautiful NH and ME autumn and winter woods with my best canine friend.

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Live long and prosper my winged friends. You haven't see the last of Belle and Coalman.

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Your eye in the Northeast sky
Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Fri Jan 01, 2016 11:29 am
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
01-19-16
I've hunted, trapped and participated in every season of critters the NH woods has to offer.

Dogs have always been a part of my life.

The second two installments of Project Upland were release by the Ruffed Grouse Society yesterday. By far the best mini series of videos of any wild game I have ever chased.

You want to know who I am? Why I love hunting behind well trained dogs?

Please take a break and watch these new releases. I am not afraid to say my eyes water as I relive this past season with Belle. Even though these clips are visual I can smell the earth, feel the flush and remember stroking those soft feathers in my hand.

The "Experience" hits close to home. Can you tell me why?

Project Upland - Film Series

http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/proj ... xaUa2jD9ZQ

Please enjoy who Coalman really is.

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Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:33 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
01-21-16
Pink Floyd, Time
A Grouse Hunters Song

Crank it Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL3AgkwbYgo

"Time"


Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field
The tolling of the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
To hear the softly spoken magic spell

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Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:35 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
01-23-16
Tracks in the Snow. Signs on the Poles

For the past week when I let Belle out to do her morning business she lifts her nose in the air and tests the prevailing W-NW wind. She starts with a throaty growl, then the fur on her back lifts like a mohawk, she scrapes her paws on the ground and ends up barking at the woods. Her message is clear, stay off my turf.

At first I though it might be she was getting a whiff of the winter flock of wild turkeys that roam the back forty but after a text from my neighbor yesterday morning I'm starting to see what she is agitated with.

Through the open winter woods our neighbors wife saw turkeys flying into trees when they should have been flying down. Not but a minute later out from behind their shed steps a full grown mature coyote. No doubt with a turkey dinner on it's mind.

Since our weather last weekend the powder snow has been giving up the secret travels of our backyard wildlife. Last Sunday an unusual set of tracks walked through our yard. I knew right away they were made by an opossum. I followed the tracks backwards. It has a den under one of our other neighbors shed.

Thursday a new set of tracks showed up out back. The gray fox are still in the hood. Those tracks and scent, sent Belle into a tizzy. She doesn't particularly care for her canine relatives.

But the picture below says all is well in predator land. From the size of the track and the lope I'm putting my money on large male fisher.

And you wonder why we see signs on telephone poles looking for lost cats.

Image

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Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:37 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
03-06-16
Opened up camp today. Warmest winter on record. We drove right in.

We were first on the mountain this winter.

Image

There has been a partridge along an old stone wall for many years now. Not so much the same individual but from the same location. Put cameras on two logs last spring. Only got raccoon's.

Found another prospect.

Looking downhill.

Image

Looking uphill.

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It didn't hurt there were grouse tracks nearby.

A partridge flushed wild as we approached our neighbors pasture.

Image

It is going to be 65 degrees Wednesday.

I call Mud Season!

Dad would be proud.

Stand by!

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Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:41 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
Posts: 1305
Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
03-13-16
Thank you Dave Anderson, a writer, a naturalist, the Society for the Protection of NH Forests education and volunteer director and most of all a friend for your well written article appearing today, 03-13-16, in NH Sunday News titled "A Popular Tradition".

Belle also thanks you for choosing her to visually portray the important message of young forest management.

Section F, front page. You made our day!

http://www.unionleader.com/article/2016 ... 1/0/SEARCH

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Your eye in the Northeast sky
Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:42 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
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Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
We are going to start calling her "Hollywood".

https://www.forestsociety.org/forest...plar-tradition

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Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:43 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
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Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
03-20-16
Found these two following us.

Image

Told us as long as the sun was shining they always had our back.

One very happy grouse dog shaking off cabin fever.

Image

It was a beautiful day in the partridge woods trying to touch a cloud.

Earliest ice out on Lake Winnipesaukee EVER!

Image

Thanks for coming!

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Coalman's Online Blog http://coalmansblog.com


Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:44 pm
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King of Spring

Joined: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:09 pm
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Location: Seacoast NH
Post Re: Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations of Great Bay Babe & Be
"The Road to Tinkhamtown"

I think we found ours. Where is yours?

Thank you Mr Ford.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum ... own.77744/

Image

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Tue Apr 19, 2016 4:44 pm
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