About Terry
Where are you from?
My home is near Zimmerman, in Central Minnesota.
How long have you been hunting/guiding?
I shot my first Grouse 10 miles NE of PGC when I was 16, started as a volunteer guide for the National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt out of Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1983, and started guiding for PGC in 2012. That earns me the title of “Old Fart” in camp.
What do you enjoy most about guiding at Pineridge?
I try to turn each day of guiding at Pineridge into a lesson on hunting Grouse and Woodcock, watching the dogs working the birds, recognizing good cover over just woods, and just being able to walk through the thick covers we find our birds in.
Q&A
How did you get started hunting grouse?
I hunted whatever was available as soon as I was allowed to carry a gun. My Brother had a hunting dog, I had a car, and he had a drivers license. So if he wanted to go hunting, he had to take me with…..or walk
What keeps you coming back to the Northwoods each season?
I love seeing new covers, walking new places. The north woods are changing all the time, new covers get old, and old covers get cut and become new covers again. And there is no more challenging birds to hunt that our Grouse and Woodcock over a dog that I trained myself
What makes a great grouse dog in your opinion?
A great Grouse dog is born with the inherent caution and pointing instinct needed to stick a Grouse. All we can add is the experience and cooperation/obedience to what God gave a special dog to make a “Great” Grouse dog
Early season or late season—and why?
Mid-October is the time to be in the woods. Woodcock are plentiful, there are Young and dumb Grouse around that don’t know their neighborhood yet, and the leaves are dropping. If you want a challenge though, November is the time to be in the woods. Grouse have wisened up and have learned their territory well. Pretty hard to sneak up on them, no easy shots. Drop down to #6 shot and tighten up your chokes.
What’s one mistake you see hunters make in grouse cover?
When the dog goes on point, get there direct and quickly, and NO TALKING! Walk to the front of the dog and keep going, right on past the dog.
Describe a perfect day at Pineridge.
A cool day, good dog work, A couple birds in the bag in the morning, fresh fried Grouse and Woodcock for lunch, and a repeat in the afternoon.
Favorite gun to carry in the grouse woods?
✎ _Call me an oddity, but my preferred gun in the woods is my UGC Venus 12 bore. Yep, a 12 bore with 28” barrels, 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and finally a gun that fits me. Lighter that the 20 bore Lefever, and swings much smoother. You will hear me say often, and ounce of lead is an ounce of lead.
Coffee at dawn or bourbon by the fire?
I prefer orange juice at breakfast, Mountain Dew for lunch, and a beer or a glass of Zenus’ wine for dinner.
A hunt you’ll never forget?
Guiding John Siggins over my Drahthaar Fannie and working the swamp edges wherever they led. John got the first Grouse, then we took turns shooting a couple more with several misses in-between, and a couple Woodcock mixed in. Just a great day overall, including wet feet and fresh blood.
One piece of advice for someone new to grouse hunting?
Have your Guide teach you how to walk through the woods
Best bird dog name you’ve heard?
Lu Lu Lemon
What makes Pineridge different?
Hunting, not shooting, Wild birds on public land