Folks,
Just booked a three day hunt with Libby Camps in late October of this year for woodcock and grouse. I am really stoked about this hunt because I have always wanted to do a traditional New England upland hunt. I would love any feedback from those of you who have hunted with Libby as far as gear I might want to have, shotgun and ammo considerations and your experiences. Being primarily a quail and pheasant hunter in Texas and the Midwest, I am looking forward to hunting new country for new species... thanks in advance for your input!

Have fished at Libby's and hunted in the area but not with them. Nice camp and neat area. Would suggest small gauge (20 or 28 gauge) fast pointing shotgun (what you use for wild quail should do nicely) and good quality 7.5 size shot. Take lots of clothes that you can layer. Late October in Maine can be beautiful or really cold. As in most grouse hunting, you can really get into the thick stuff. I usually wear a Filson type jacket and brush pants in case in which I can break brush. Depending on the year, waterproof boots are a good idea but make sure they are comfortable. Lastly, I would never go into the Maine woods without a GPS and at least a pocket emergency kit. I have spent a very unpleasant 4 hours with my guide as he tried to get oriented before night fell. Those woods are deep and gorgeous. Think you will have a great time. Hope the birds cooperate.

I've hunted that area extensively and you'll find plenty of birds and have a great time. Libby is a great operation and in a wonderful area for birds.

As for it being a "Traditional New England upland hunt", not so much; that would be overgrown apple orchards and fields, lined with stone walls and cellars. Libby is in the Great North Woods in the timber lands. You'll be hunting old cuts and twitch trails. an open choked 20 is perfect but any open choked shotgun is fine. good waterproof (leather)boots, I use filson chaps to turn briars and Hunter Orange is required up there.

I could not agree more with bring a GPS. The logging roads all look alike and getting turned around is easier that you think. The North Maine Woods are a real wilderness--albeit easily accessible-- and better to be prepared for it.

You are in for a great time!

Thanks gentlemen!

A couple more observations- I've hunted Libby's for many years and have signed up again this year.
As has been pointed out the Maine Woods are vast and treacherous, as is the weather so a GPS is worthwhile. Layered clothing is advisable as is rain gear. I use Wellingtons - the woodcock are in swamps and muck and leather hunting boots get soaked. Brush pants are advisable or chaps if you prefer. In late Oct you will need long johns under the field pants unless they're wool.

Unless you're coming in by float plane you will probably enter the woods via Oxbow. You will have to check into the woods at a paper-company gate. Do not not arrive after dark - the road from the gate to Libbys is long, narrow, unmarked and treacherous. I make certain to arrive mid-afternoon. If logging is going on, make certain that you are alert and can pull over to the side fully - the logging trucks are HUGE and go by very fast and give no quarter.

Cover is very dense in general and I use either a SxS XXV or 16 or 20 ga SxSs and 7.5 shot. The birds flush fast and disappear very fast into the thickets. Open chokes or spreader loads.

You can also hunt the outlying regions - Matt will fly you out and pick you up.

There are several long tables in the lodge dining room (and a couple small ones) and you'll probably be seated with other hunters - that is part of the total experience. We've always met interesting people from all over the country and most of them have very nice doubleguns. The food is excellent. The cabins very comfortable and there is always a nice fire in the cabin stove waiting for you at the end of the day! Nice touch!
Libby's has an incredible rate of returning hunters - they do things very well indeed.

Make sure you bring everything you need - it's a hell of a long trip to anywhere you can buy something.

You will have a very nice time and most likely some very interesting hunting.

If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to try to answer them.

Do you guys consider 4 boxes of shotshells enough for a three day hunt?

Limit is 5 grouse/day. Four boxes ought to do it!

I am guessing by the late October date of your hunt the leaves will be off the trees. In that case 7 1/2 shot works fine. If hunting early in the year I will switch to # 5 or 6 shot as it seems to me to do better with the heavy cover and leaves on the trees.

Last year in Ontario on Sep 15, I was putting birds on the ground while my 2 buddies were struggling with 7 1/2 shot. They of course then wanted me to share shells, lucky I brought enough.

So to make a long story short I would pack an extra box of heaver shot than 7 1/2 just in case.

BigB

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So to make a long story short I would pack an extra box of heaver shot than 7 1/2 just in case.

Good tip!

Thanks to all again.

Russell, as you know, I have been chasing you around the world for years.

And now I find that you and I may meet, face-to-face, at Libby Camps, way up north in the Maine woods.

My wife and I will be there in late October, and early November, after whitetails, ruffed grouse and woodcock.

I will buy at the bar (or otherwise) and feel privileged.

I think BigB was being modest, after more than 40 yrs of chasing Woodcock and Grouse in our New England woods IMHO I don't think it was the #5s or #6s but his shooting that was putting the birds on the ground. As mentioned the shooting is close avg Woodcock shot 15yrd or closer when the leaves are still on a 20yrd shoot on grouse is long unless you are hunting logging roads where the birds may give you a longer straight away. Let your natural shooting ability take over stay with the bird swing through regardless of the leaf cover, follow up you shots you would be surprised what you might find on the ground but then again a good dog is worth it's weight in gold. I shoot 1oz load of #8s all season long some times #9s early season these are soft birds and short distances.... But more importantly shoot what you have confidence in what ever the size of the shot or shot gun...For boots I wear high bean boots as our Woodcock covers can be wet or I'm crossing streams my hunting buddy wears rubber boots and smart wool socks, if he burys them in water he just pours them out and keeps on hunting. chaps or brush pants a good wicking t-shirt and a canvas shirt and vest should do it. if it's cold i'll throw a wool shirt over my canvas shirt...Don't leave the truck warm and comfortable cause 30 min later you might be shedding clothes.... you'll figure it out....Enjoy our New England woods good hunting and hot barrels

Just a quick ps after my long winded reply... my advice comes from shooting in our new england side hill coverts and alder bottoms after reading Atticus' reply if you are going to be hunting in the big Maine woods, and you can ask Libby that question. your shots may be longer 20-35 yrds so the advice of 7 1/2s is sound as you good use a little extra energy again ask Libby and they'll let you know...

Thanks all!

Mike, I truly look forward to finally meeting you as well. But I feel it is I chasing you around the world... as I have stated before, seems we both have acquired similar tastes in our adventures!

BTW, our hunt begins on or around the 24th...

If you road hunt in the Maine North Woods you'll get 30 yard shots. In the cover I have never had such a long shot on grouse or woodcock. 15-20 yards usual; often less especially if some leaves are still up.

Libbys doesn't have a bar so better bring your own.

Russell, our deer dates are set, but we are still fiddling around with our bird dates - trying to decide whether to hunt them before or after hunting for Mr. Whitetail. But it looks like we just might be there at the same time, at least for a while. I will definitely let you know.

Oxon, I have been known to bring my own, even half way around the world.

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...I have been known to bring my own, even half way around the world.

The drive to the package store in Ashland will only seem like halfway around the world. And I dont recall the selection being that great.

I wish I was heading up that way this fall but it looks like the NEK in Vermont for me again this October. Not a bad alternative.

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Libbys doesn't have a bar so better bring your own.

Best advice received so far!!! Must have a proper single malt to toast each day's adventure!

Atticus, NEK ought to be just as good for the birds, right? Sad to say, I'm sure you're right that the local packy won't stock my favorite spirituous beverage. (And bwana, it's made in Scotland, to be sure! ) I will remedy that, as I always do, by hauling my own supply in a well-padded case. I generally take better care of that packing job than I do my firearms!

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Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Atticus, NEK ought to be just as good for the birds, right? Sad to say, I'm sure you're right that the local packy won't stock my favorite spirituous beverage. (And bwana, it's made in Scotland, to be sure! ) I will remedy that, as I always do, by hauling my own supply in a well-padded case. I generally take better care of that packing job than I do my firearms!

Forgive the foolish question, but NEK is not an outfitter, correct? I've been googling New England upland outfitters for this or maybe next year and I can't seem to find an NEK. I understand it's the "North East Kingdom" of VT, but wasn't sure if there was a hidden jewel of an outfitter in that territory that I've yet to discover.

Mike,

Plenty of birds in VT. Last year was good but 2010 was unbelievable!

Brandon,

NEK is not an outfitter, at least not that I know of. As you found, NEK is an abbreviation for North East Kingdom located in Vermont.

If you are looking for an outfitter up that way, I have heard good things about Quimby Country in Averill, VT.

That said, throughout Northern New England a guide is not really needed. If you have a dog of your own, pick an area--NEK in VT, Coos County in NH or Aroostook county in Maine, rent a camp, buy a gazetteer and hit the ground. Libby has some very nice outpost camps--albeit rustic.

All these places have vast areas with public access for hunting and good/great populations of grouse.

Thanks for the response, Atticus. It would only be my second time hunting upland beyond a single dog-less day in the field with a friend and his father at a gun club when I was about 14. I'm on the lookout for a fully outfitted hunt (dogs, guide, lodging, meals). I'll have to check out Quimby. Thanks again for clearing up the NEK confusion for me!

I`ve never hunted in Maine but around here,if I remember correctly, woodcock are more common in late September.I would use 6 shot because the bush is dense and bring along knee high rubber boots.