Some of the Best Bird Covers in the Northeast
If you've ever wanted to experience real New England bird hunting the way it's supposed to be done — walking behind steady dogs through thick cover, shotgun ready, waiting for that explosive flush — this is it. Northern Maine has some of the finest ruffed grouse and American woodcock habitat left in the country, and we've been hunting these covers for over 40 years.
Up here, we've still got the mix of young hardwood cuts, alder runs, and regenerating clearcuts that grouse and woodcock need. The big timber companies keep cutting, and that keeps creating new habitat. You won't find strip malls and subdivisions eating up the covers — just miles and miles of wild country.
Bob has been hunting birds and training dogs since he was a kid, and he knows these covers like nobody else. He trains his own pointers and setters, and every dog that goes to the field has been brought up right — steady to wing and shot, with good noses and the kind of drive that keeps them working thick brush all day long.
The Birds
Ruffed Grouse (Partridge)
The king of upland birds in New England. Ruffed grouse are year-round residents up here, living in the thick stuff — young poplar and birch cuts, edges where hardwoods meet softwoods, and the dense undergrowth along old logging roads. They're tough birds to hit. When a grouse flushes in heavy cover, you've got about a half second to get your gun up and find the bird through the branches. That's what makes it so good. A limit of grouse over a good dog is one of the finest things in all of bird hunting.
American Woodcock
Woodcock are migratory, and when they come through Maine in October, the hunting can be outstanding. These little long-billed birds hold tight in wet alder thickets and young growth, and they give the dogs plenty of scenting. A good flight of woodcock can turn an average day into something you talk about for years. Timing matters — we keep an eye on weather fronts and migration patterns, and when the birds are in, we know where to find them.
2026 Upland Bird Season Dates
Ruffed Grouse
Dates: September 26, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Limits: Daily bag 4, possession 8
Woodcock
Dates: TBD – TBD
Federal migratory bird dates set later, typically October
Pheasant
Dates: September 26, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Limits: Daily bag 2, possession 4
No hunting on Sundays in Maine. Woodcock dates set by federal migratory bird regulations.
What to Expect
Hunting Over Dogs
Every hunt is over trained pointers and setters that Bob has raised and developed himself. These dogs know their job — they find birds, point them, and hold steady while you walk in for the flush.
Classic Shotgunning
Most of our hunters carry 20-gauge or 28-gauge shotguns. In thick cover, a light, fast-handling gun is worth its weight in gold. Bring what you shoot best — that matters more than anything.
Lodging & Meals
Stay right at camp. Comfortable lodging, home-cooked meals, and everything you need. Wake up, eat breakfast, grab your gun, and head out. No long drives to the covers — we hunt right from camp.
Small Groups
We keep groups small so every hunter gets real attention and real shooting. Two or three guns behind a brace of dogs in good cover is about as good as it gets.
All Experience Levels
Whether you've been chasing grouse for 30 years or you've never hunted behind a pointing dog, we'll put you on birds. There's nothing like watching someone shoot their first grouse over a stylish point.
Combine Your Trip
Bird season overlaps with deer and rabbit. Plenty of hunters spend the morning behind the bird dogs and the afternoon in a deer stand, or run beagles on rabbits between bird hunts. Make a week of it.
Ready to Hunt Birds in Maine?
Give Bob a call to talk about dates, ask questions, or book your hunt. He'd rather talk on the phone than type, so don't be shy.