Grouse hunting Norway 2018
Almost endless, open, spacious highland areas, far away from any civilization, gently rolling hills with maximum knee-high heather and berry plants, colourful autumn colours in the sunlight – dreamlike conditions for British Pointing Dogs!
In September 2018 I was travelling north again. Following an invitation from my Scandinavian friends, grouse hunting in the Norwegian Highlands was on the programme. The hunting grounds are about 800-1000 metres high and make every bird hunter’s heart beat faster.
Grouse live in family groups and feed on heather and varieties of berries. Often you can find them in the lee of small hills, near some single high mountain birch with some protecting and wind-sheltering herbs or bushes. However, you only get hunting success if the dogs search in a very spacious and persistent way and manage to point and fix the birds in an experienced manner. It's really magical when these brown-white birds fly away in front of the pointing dog, against the background of wonderful autumnal Highland landscape. It is beyond words when a grouse is falling down on the shot and my own dog retrieves it to me with a proud walk.
At the same time we had the opportunity to hunt for Common snipe (gallinago gallinago) which reside in reed areas around the numerous mountain lakes before moving into the southern winter quarters. The highest nose performance and hunting experience of our setters was required to succeed. I was so happy to shoot my first snipe pointed by my English Setters in front of such a beautiful mountain panorama.
Deepest contentment and a pleasant quietness, when the tired two and four-legged companions rested in front of the open fire in the secluded hunting lodge after the long day's marches. A thoroughly natural experience that will be remembered forever.
