Aspen Thicket Grouse Dogs

Aspen Thicket Grouse Dogs Bird dog training and hunting guide for Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock in the Upper Peninsula The dogs primarily hunt here in the U.P. of Michigan.

We are small family run kennel located in the heart of Upper Peninsula grouse country. Our specialty is training young dogs how to hunt grouse by using a philosophy of Genetics, Exposure and Patience. In addition, we occasionally breed high quality and healthy German Shorthaired Pointers. Our dogs are proven in the grouse woods and you will not be disappointed! All of the dogs hunt September - Dec

ember, nearly 40-50 days of hunting each fall. and northern WI on Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock. On occasion, we head out west and hunt them on wild pheasants and prairie grouse. In addition, our seasoned dogs are woodcock banding dogs in the State of Michigan. We would be happy to help you and your dog with basic introduction (very important - birds and gunfire), foundation work, field bird work, and wild bird work. We offer full day guided hunts in the U.P. You can hunt over our dogs or yours. Full day of guided hunting trip includes transportation to/from arranged meeting location, bag lunch, and plenty of memories. Our rates for dog training and guided hunts are very reasonable, and we have many references are available upon request.

It's cold here...real cold, and it has been for a week.Unfortunately, there is very little snow cover for the grouse.Let...
01/05/2025

It's cold here...real cold, and it has been for a week.

Unfortunately, there is very little snow cover for the grouse.

Let's hope.for some snow or a warm up.

I hope this gives you confidence on a relatively intimidating, yet easy task.Also, get a heads up on a couple of seminar...
01/05/2025

I hope this gives you confidence on a relatively intimidating, yet easy task.

Also, get a heads up on a couple of seminars and the 3rd Annual Bonasa Bonanza!

01/01/2025

Happy New Year to all of our Aspen Thicket family! May 2025 bring you joy, prosperity, and everything you've been wishing for! Here’s to embracing all the amazing moments this year has in store for us! Read more here: https://wix.to/oT4mBLM

Happy New Year to all of our Aspen Thicket family!Here is to hope that 2025 becomes your best year ever!As for us, we look forward to providing you quality information to make you a better grouse hunter.Stay tuned for information and registration for the 3rd Annual Bonasa Bonanza, as well as our mul...

Ev and I went out today and took Georgia.This might be her last hunt due to retirement, so I figured it would be good fo...
12/31/2024

Ev and I went out today and took Georgia.

This might be her last hunt due to retirement, so I figured it would be good for Ev to come along.

He took her to the woods the first time when he was around 16 months old and she was 8 weeks old.

He shot his first grouse over her at 8 years old.

We didn't get one over her today...but I got some dust in my eyes.

Did you get any good bird hunting gear for Christmas?Evan raked in a pair of Pyke Gear gloves.
12/31/2024

Did you get any good bird hunting gear for Christmas?

Evan raked in a pair of Pyke Gear gloves.

12/30/2024

The answer to yesterday's trivia is "True."

Although grouse can survive on a really broad diet, winter survival is primarily focused on aspen as the primary food source, with a few other food sources in areas where there is little aspen, such as hazel.

12/29/2024

Sunday Trivia, once again coming to you from the Guillion classic "Grouse of the North Shore."

It relates to food sources during the winter.

They (Ruffed Grouse) do best when they have a winter-long abundance of ONE food source: aspen flower buds. But they can persist fairly well when hazel catkins, willow buds, and perhaps birch and ironwood catkins are available.

True or False?

My mom is visiting and isn't feeling well so I decided to stay home instead of take a dog or two out for a late season h...
12/29/2024

My mom is visiting and isn't feeling well so I decided to stay home instead of take a dog or two out for a late season hunt today.

The retired dogs are glad I stayed home...

Beautiful day today!Wouldn't be Christmas without a Christmas grouse.Gabby had the find on our conditioning and training...
12/25/2024

Beautiful day today!

Wouldn't be Christmas without a Christmas grouse.

Gabby had the find on our conditioning and training loop today.

And yes, I was too lazy to get out of the rig...

Hoping everyone of our families has a great Christmas!
12/24/2024

Hoping everyone of our families has a great Christmas!

Going on vacation?Drop your dogs off at the Bird Dog B and B...Asher, Ezra, and Mira love running the bird loop!
12/24/2024

Going on vacation?

Drop your dogs off at the Bird Dog B and B...

Asher, Ezra, and Mira love running the bird loop!

From the kennel through the adjoining State land, the grouse were out mid-day today during our run off the SxS.
12/24/2024

From the kennel through the adjoining State land, the grouse were out mid-day today during our run off the SxS.

12/24/2024

Hos many folks are incorporating ruffed grouse into their Christmas Eve dinner?

If you are, share the recipe and spread the love.

The extent of my morning.Had planned to head south either ice fishing or possibly a last grouse hunt, but my well pressu...
12/22/2024

The extent of my morning.

Had planned to head south either ice fishing or possibly a last grouse hunt, but my well pressure tank had other ideas.

So I took out the boarding dogs and our dogs for a nice run.

12/22/2024

The answer to the trivia question was "true."

Source was a study done by Godon Guillion and the information was published in "Grouse of the North Shore."

It is a great read if you haven't read it yet...might be hard to find as it's been years since I looked for a copy.

Address

Gwinn, MI

Telephone

(906) 458-1287

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Aspen Thicket Grouse Dogs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Aspen Thicket Grouse Dogs:

Videos

#grousehunter #ruffedgrouse #grousedogs

Finally can run em now that rifle season is closed...

Film by Ron of a retrieve by his dog Otto on a shot that I have no idea how I made it with such a short window, but yet I wiffed on 4 other grouse gimmes today (they showed me belly...ugh, not gonna sleep tonight).

Drummer appears to be having a successful rehab. 🤞

Me, trying to get back to the truck after Gidget drug me along for 10 miles by her and 5 for me...I didn't have patience for the all the woodcock we were finding on the way out 125 yards off the trail.

Scout breaks at the flush with a swing and a miss

Drummer working on his foot rehab...

Shortcuts

Share

Category