Flushing Grouse - Ruffed Grouse Hunting Michigan - A Project Upland Original Film

Fritz and Ric Heller are not your usual ruffed grouse hunter. here we explore the overlooked world of grouse hunting with flushing dogs and semi-automatic shotguns in a film that will change the way you look at flushing dogs.
Both dedicated members of the Ruffed Grouse Society, they speak of their personal passion of recruitment, conservation and the future of grouse hunting. Fritz serves as president of the Le Grand Traverse Michigan Chapter where he has continued to push his dedication to forest conservation into action.
To find out more about the Ruffed Grouse Society check out: ruffedgrousesociety.org/
To learn more about ruffed grouse hunting check out: projectupland.com/category/ru...

[@ZGADOW]

I have a little mutt who works as my flushing dog. For a long time I thought I was disadvantaged compared to guys who run pointers , but I’ve been changing my mind this season. This help solidify it for me. I’m very happy with my flushing dog

[@mikemacd5486]

I like hearing the "good boys". I've been hunting for 20 yrs over a Lab and Weimaraner in Chippewa County MI. My first Black Lab Mogli (RIP) "Moe Biggs" aka "Bird Slayer" was an excellent flusher but wouldn't retrieve Woodys, he'd pin them down but never put them in his mouth for more than 5 seconds. My Weim Gunner (14yrs) "Ole Bird Dog" retrieves everything and naturally points, he was a lot of work in the house but his hunting/retrieving was effortless and instinctive. After having to put Biggs down I felt lost although I still had Gunner but it wasn't the same. Now I have Jake (nickname to be determined) is a 2 yr old Black lab who's improving. He was a late breed born in October so he didn't get out until Sept the following year. I think the value of buying a pure breed gun dog (not from a kennel) is unquantifiable. The amount of time you spend with him/her grooming them not only to be a bird dog but to be a family member and best friend is the most rewarding experience in hunting. I never feel like I've wasted my day on a bad day bird hunting the way I do sitting in a tree stand for hours. Upland bird hunting is absolutely my favorite pastime.

[@Abz176]

My lab, Doodle, got a long splinter of wood down the side of her eye socket while partridge hunting. Nothing is scarier than when your dog is injured and you are away from home. She loved chasing partridge and timber doodle.

[@ProjectUpland]

Always scary with them. They are a part of our families and they just want to hunt and hunt and hunt.

[@auto_5]

David K- your wording is worrisome. What ended up happening with the eye? I’m sorry to hear of the endeavor. Scary stuff.

[@auto_5]

Not to pester, but I would really love an update. That’s a cliffhanger for a dog lover!

[@Abz176]

@@auto_5 Hi, Doodle was a hell of a dog. Thank you for making me think of her. She was a tiny little girl, black as night, who never stopped moving. For the first year of her life all she did was bite me. She was always 100% on. She hated birds and wanted to kill everyone of them that she saw. It was her mission to kill them all, she got the nickname “she who flairs birds” because she couldn’t stop her head from swinging around as she looked for another bird to kill. Insanely birdy, but bat shit crazy. Crazy. We hunt a lot of thorn apple patches. My friend noticed something in the corner of her eye after a hunt. I pinned her down, and my friend pulled it out. I almost puked. Seriously, thinking of that next to my eye almost caused me to pass out. ChoCho, her eventual nickname when she got older, kept hunting that day. I put a little eye antibiotic in it, and we kept hunting. I know, I should have stopped and taken her to the vet. But, old ChoCho had an adventurous life. We were shooting ducks at the shore one morning and she had to get her crazy ass rescued by the hook and ladder truck, pumper truck, rescue squad, fire boat and an entire platoon of men. I have a lot of stories of that crazy old girl. But, ChoCho had a great life and she lived to 14. She road in the front seat and slept in the bed. She hunted just about every day she could. Even on her last days she was carried out to the marsh at sunset and sniffed the air. She is missed. :) I hope you are having a good season.

[@Bmankind]

this is absolutely amazing, unfortunately a lot of people out there do not understand hunting, even though it is innate in all of us. our ancestors hunted, and relied on hunting to survive, if it was not for hunting we would not be here today. these videos are so wonderful, and inspiring please keep them coming. I hope that dog will recover soon

[@ProjectUpland]

The dog is back in action and ok! Oldest human tradition!

[@shug2795]

Super footage of birds in flight!

[@joshb.6166]

I would rephrase "Without a user, these places will be exploited and forgotten."

[@Gummbeh]

Fine work!

[@lohem25]

All the feels in this one - excellent work!

[@ProjectUpland]

Those Heller brothers sure are passionate and Adam the filmmaker did one hell of a job telling that story.

[@auto_5]

Right? Man. I always worry about my girl getting her eye jabbed out/punctured with how aggressive and driven she is in the grouse woods and pheasant fields-all the crazy cover she missiles through…. Not to mention all the thinking about the day we have to say goodbye…. I know it’s not realistic nor healthy to dwell on these things, but I definitely do!

[@jamesdavis8771]

The coolest video! Fellas keep it up! Get the grouse movement going!!!👍🏾

[@ProjectUpland]

The Heller brothers are great spokesperson and made out jobs easy!

[@hillbillyhansforlife2763]

Good to see the consummate sportsman boys doin it up!

[@benwarner8995]

Just amazing clear footage of grouse on the wing. My first birddog was a flusher as well and we did really good on grouse. They for sure have their advantages. Good looking labs the guy has.

[@ProjectUpland]

Those are some amazing flushes. How close the action is is just wild. As pointer folks we sure do see a different angle than this.

[@lesbosma4813]

Good job guys Keep it up !

[@IRISHDEMAND]

Great video!! I have a Goldador Sadie that I’m getting into grouse hunting here in WV, keep up the great work!

[@2barbreak]

well done!

[@nathanalexander4832]

Wow Just wow

[@shug2795]

Good dogs and not-so-good ones come in a variety of breeds, colors, sizes. Grouse hunting with pointing dogs is my favorite. Pheasant hunting with flushers is my preferred way to go. Admittedly, I don't do a lot of late season waterfowling but if I did, a Lab/Chessie/Golden is built for it.

[@christopherreily1895]

Look at the love in the eyes of this dog at 4:59. I grew up with GSPs and English Pointers but am a lab guy now. I love all dogs (especially sporting dogs) but labs are just special.

[@keithzastrow]

Fantastic video but I will always use a Brittany for my upland bird hunting. To me they are they perfect breed for hunting all 3 of grouse, woodcock and pheasant and I say that having cousins who have labs who I have hunted behind numerous times.

[@pauldeakins9190]

Just starting in the sport and appreciate the storytelling. I have to ask though...what is the Flannel hat that they were wearing between hunts...very cool.

[@dougstewart8502]

All about the grouse king bird. What about woodcock boys?

[@mbrokaw19891]

The issue isn’t getting people into the sport. The issue is accessible land where people will have some sort of success.

[@trevorknapp5467]

I live in northern MI as well, looking to get involved and into upland hunting!

[@grob25]

Please target Washington State. We have a lot of birds up here and no advocacy. I joined Ruffed Grouse Society but, there is no one else up here involved in the grouse population.

[@auto_5]

I feel for you and those in other less-hunted states. Tradition falling away and replaced with ignorant, misguided notions of doing what’s “right” for the habitat and it’s inhabitants. Saddening.

[@grob25]

@@auto_5 Washington has some of the most pretentious PhD biologist on staff that you can imagine.

[@auto_5]

Norris dalton I can believe it, sadly. I bet California and Oregon, to a lesser extent, do as well.

[@onestar624]

I am an upland hunter from Chicagoland and looking to extend my season by including some grouse hunting. What part of Michigan would I have to travel to, to see some birds. I also run labs so this video really appealed to my sense of exploration of taking on a whole new world of upland hunting. Thanks for the awesome content!

[@auto_5]

You’d want to go somewhere in the upper peninsula(the UP). Some might say it’s just northern Wisconsin… lol. Relax guys, I’m a Minnesotan… 😂 But seriously the UP of Michigan and the entire northern third of WI(closer 4 u) is almost all great grouse hunting territory. Good luck and GO FLUSHERS

[@auto_5]

I am curious what upland birds exactly you hunt around Chicago? I’d guess maybe some pheasants, and possibly bobwhite quail and/or Hungarian(grey) partridge? Thanks for any response!

[@YaacoubKari]

Superr!! Nice video and very interesting channel 👍 i sub'd

[@pisom4314]

im coming up to menominee county to grouse/wood cock hunt week after next!! I have GSPs thanks for sharing with us!! are there good numbers this year?? looks like you had a great day hunting other then the dogs eye!! my first/oldest female lost her eye to cancer 2 years ago.. she still hunts good BUT doesn't make the shot bird as well as she used to!!

[@hermit6208]

Oh, yeah maybe you could let us know what happened to the dog with the injured eye? I mean, what is this, a cliffhanger? Beautiful video, as always. But damn, most of us are dog lovers, and to not have some closure is torturous.

[@ProjectUpland]

The dog is doing great and back to hunting. Cliffhanger for sure!

[@auto_5]

Northwoods Collective - that is great to hear! Answers my previous posts. BUT- did the dog lose its eye or the function of it? Thanks

[@andrewchong1154]

Rexspecs are great eye protection for your dog. My dog loves hers and it was pretty easy to train her to wear them.... if we wear it, shouldnt they? Its never the 10000 times you dont need them.

[@auto_5]

I tried their goggles and they seemed to fit my female lab perfectly and had them adjusted nice and snug, but she still kept ending up with grass lodged in the perimeter. Maybe it’s worth sucking up the labor involved. I always worry about my girl hurting/disabling herself permanently via stick or porcupine, as aggressive and driven as she is… She’s covering 10x more ground than I am, I’m sure, and usually through much nastier cover!

[@nathanbatts6577]

Anyone know what coat Fritz is wearing in this video? Looks waterproof….

[@Blohowiak72]

I’ve hunted with poor flushers and poor pointers and good flushers and good pointers. I’ll take a versatile pointing breed all day long. Just my preference. #pudelpointer

[@PMulligan22]

I see you are using an a400 action. Is that 12 or 20? Trying to decide on new gun

[@Aaron-mn8gw]

12ga

[@jdomara86]

Why is it that upland guys never smile?? Is grouse hunting fun? I don’t understand the need to project such a hardcore persona. Awesome camera work! Just not sure if I would want to hunt with guys who take it so seriously.

[@benwilson7948]

All your videos are very cinematographic but lack any actual content - I would like to see more educational/storytelling/informational content mixed with the pretty shots. I'm often left with more questions than answers.

[@ProjectUpland]

Thanks Ben we always appreciate honest feedback. We are in the business of letting other people tell their stories on film and have never ventured into the world of educational/informative content other than some habitat and conservation films we have done for non-profits. Our website is full of more informative, how to, education type content and we have discussed adding video to that aspect of Project Upland in the future when resources become available. You can also check out some more narrative storytelling in our magazine which usually takes these films even further. In this case the Winter issue has a story called "The Flusher March" which is the perspective of someone who hunts over pointers for ruffed grouse exploring the differences and stereotypes about flushing dogs. Thanks again!

[@alexandercluster3003]

I worry so much about exactly what happened in this video. With the way they barrel though cover its amazing eye injuries arent more common. Dogs are like kids all you do is worry about them. Unfortunately it wouldn’t be the same if they weren’t there.

[@fancymcentire5710]

grouse in indiana are now endangered , indiana has terrible management also the water quality of rivers and steams worst in the nation, DNR big fail in indiana ! went quail hunting walked 10 miles on state land and saw nothing.

[@allenhughes12]

I hunt with my 6yo Boykin girl.