Ultimate Upland Hunting Shotgun? | Northwoods Grouse Hunt
Nov 08, 2024
Ultimate Upland Shotgun Showdown
This year, we were invited by our friend Ben from OnX to attend the 42nd annual National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt hosted by the Ruffed Grouse Society and the American Woodcock Society. So we packed up the rig, grabbed the Upland Gun Company 28 gauge side-by-side, and headed to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Turns out, Ben also has a custom 28 gauge from UGC. But his is an over-under. So which one of these shotguns is the ultimate grouse machine? Let's find out!
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The Shotguns
On one side, we have Ben from OnX, a passionate upland hunter and "over-under type of guy". His custom 28 gauge beauty has 30-inch barrels, a single trigger, and detailed engraving, topped off with grade-four Turkish walnut. Ben’s gun has a wood butt plate, ejectors, and interchangeable choke tubes, making it as functional as it is beautiful.
In contrast, my shotgun is a classic side-by-side. I wanted this to be more of a traditional style of upland shotgun. I went with a straight English stock, double triggers, splintered forend, fine checkering, and color case-hardened finish. I opted for the 28/20 gauge combo set, so my shotgun comes in a bit heavier than Bens's due to the extra barrel metal on the 28ga to fit the 20 gauge receiver. If you'd like to learn more about this shotgun, we've done a full in-depth review that you can watch (HERE)
Into the Northwoods
With our guns in hand, we ventured to the Northwoods of Minnesota to put them through their paces during the 42nd annual National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt. Northern Minnesota is breathtaking in the fall. The golden leaves stand in sharp contrast to the evergreen trees, and the crisp scent of autumn fills the air. Grouse hunting here is not only about the thrill of the hunt; it’s about connecting with nature and the camaraderie that comes from time spent in the woods with good dogs, and great company.
Hunting grouse isn’t easy. These birds are elusive, often hiding in thick brush, making it challenging to get a clear shot. It was clear that Ben’s experience paid off. He was quick, moving on sound alone and pulling the trigger before I could even shoulder my gun. However, with each shot, I learned more about how my side-by-side responded in the field and more of what I'd need to do to see more success.
Early in the year, this part of Minnesota saw an abundance of rain. However, the latter part of the year was much more dry than years prior. With this in mind, we knew we needed to find moisture. And just as we found wet ground, I was able to down my first bird on the day: a woodcock. This bird popped up through thick brush. I had to swivel left and pretty much shoot immediately amidst the giant cover in front of me. I was stoked to have a bird in the bag. As the day went on, we walked more and more spots. Halfway through, and I hadn't even shouldered the gun on a grouse. So far, Ben was the only one with a grouse in the bag. He was in the right place at the right time: Every time!
As time went on, good shot opportunities unfortunately were less and less. We had found some really good cover, but as Ben noted in the video, "The woodcock are finicky and flushing early" This made shots even harder.
Regardless, we still rounded out the hunt with a good handful of birds. I was only able to shoot a couple of woodcock. The one opportunity I had at a grouse required me to shoot directly upward. Unfortunately, the only result from this was half of a small tree on top of me which I had shot clean off. Regardless. the beautiful nature and great company were success enough for me.
How OnX Can Elevate Your Grouse Hunt
Ben was glad to share his inside-and-out knowledge of the OnX hunting app throughout the hunt. Before heading into the woods, Ben used OnX to scout potential hunting spots. By identifying areas with recent timber cuts and access to water, he could pinpoint locations likely to hold grouse and woodcock. In the field, OnX’s navigation and tracking tools allowed us to mark spots where we flushed birds, creating a detailed map for future hunts. He also shared with us a couple pro tips: "Use the timber cuts layer under the trees crops and soil category because grouse need early successional habitat and higher stem density." "Another good layer is the young aspen forest layer. This will show you all the aspen that is between 5 and 15 years old across the country. I'll use this with the timber cuts layer to find potential spots adjacent to water."
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SxS vs. O/U In The Grouse Woods
Halfway through the hunt, Ben and I switched guns intending to gain some insight as to which platform delivered the ultimate grouse experience. What I appreciated about Ben's over-under was the weight. You'll be walking long days through tough terrain in the grouse woods, and shotgun weight will play a factor over time. I also realized that I was more used to the function and feel of Ben's over-under as I've had much more O/U experience than I have side-by-side. However, when it came to class, tradition, and that "grouse aesthetic" I believe that the side-by-side takes the crown.
So what's the ultimate grouse gun? That answer comes down to what gun fits your needs and what gun reflects your personal style best. So if you're looking for your ultimate grouse gun, you can't go wrong with a custom Upland Gun Company shotgun. Both of these shotguns were the ultimate option for us, as every little custom detail reflects the owner's personal style. But more importantly, each of our guns was custom-stocked to fit. UGC does a great job of emphasizing gun fit, as every custom gun requires a professional fitting. With UGC, you're getting a custom gun that fits you properly at a very reasonable price - I can't think of a more ultimate shotgun than this! If you like to learn more about Upland Gun Company, check out the links below!
UGC Gun Fitting Process: (Click Here)
Who Is UGC?: (Click Here)
Review of my Custom Shotgun from UGC: (Click Here)
This trip was awesome. Huge shoutout to Ben and OnX for making this happen. We cant wait for the next opportunity to bust through the woods with a 28ga!
