About Mark
Where are you from?
Currently living in New Richmond, WI but grew up in Michigan’s UP near Marquette.
How long have you been hunting/guiding?
I have been hunting since I was 14 years old. Guiding since 2022
What do you enjoy most about guiding at Pineridge?
Camp life at Pineridge is as good as it gets.
Q&A
How did you get started hunting grouse?
I started hunting grouse with my dad. We had a springer spaniel that really wasn’t worth much, but we had fun.
What keeps you coming back to the Northwoods each season?
There is something special about the grouse woods in the fall. The smells, sounds, the sound of the bell, the people you meet, all make up the best season of the year.
What makes a great grouse dog in your opinion
A grouse dog has to be independent, trustworthy, and fit. Independent in that they don’t need to constantly be close to you, Trustworthy in that when they are on point you can trust that they aren’t going to blow it before you can get there, and fit so that they can keep up the pace for the time they’re hunting. Missing any one of these items diminishes the hunt.
Early season or late season, and why?
I love hunting in the snow. It’s all about late season for me. Having said that, there is something special about hunting in shirt sleeves that is hard to top.
What’s one mistake you see hunters make in grouse cover?
The biggest mistake I see people making is not trusting the dog. When a dog goes on point most people will walk another 10 yards and if a bird hasn’t flushed they give up. A steady dog may point from 20+ yards away. Keep walking until you cannot see the dog anymore, then walk a few yards further.
Describe a perfect day at Pineridge
Throughout the season I believe there are different days that are perfect at Pineridge. The obvious is getting up early, getting dogs ready, having breakfast, going on a successful morning hunt, shore lunch on the tailgate, then a successful afternoon hunt, back to Pineridge for supper, and a whiskey by the fire. Sometimes I enjoy something different though. Sometimes I look for the difficult day where the weather isn’t cooperating, or the bids are pushed dark and deep. These are the days that build character,and turn people into real grouse hunters.
Favorite gun to carry in the grouse woods?
My favorite gun right now is a light, nimble, side by side shotgun with double triggers and forgiving chokes. I personally prefer the sub-guages. These days I find myself carrying either a 410, or a 28 gauge. When I get into a slump my 20 gauge is never far away.
Coffee at dawn or bourbon by the fire?
I never developed a taste for coffee, but I definitely prefer a glass of BirdDog Peach Whiskey by the fire after a long day.
A hunt you’ll never forget?
Last season I guided a group where one of the guys shot an, on the wing, double of grouse with one shot. That has to rank up there for me.
One piece of advice for someone new to grouse hunting
When walking into a point don’t walk right up the dog’s behind, get 10-15 yards to the side and walk much further than you think is prudent. Also you have to be fast, don’t wait for the perfect shot, it will never come.
Best bird dog name you’ve heard?
When it comes to bird dog names everyone has their own thoughts and tendencies. I personally have seen some really great bird dogs with unremarkable names, and some that were mediocre at best with names that are certain to have taken some serious thought. To each his own in my mind.
What makes Pineridge different?
Pineridge is a place where everyone is the same. Everyone has been humbled by a tough day of hunting and birds that seem to defy physics. Everyone has similar interests and can congregate around the sport. Subjects that divide us these days are shied away from, not because we don’t have our own opinions, but because the birds don’t care about your opinion.