WINGSHOOTING
Experience the upland hunting of yesteryear on thousands of private and public acres in the Catskill Mountains. Hunt wild grouse and woodcock along old bluestone walls, abandoned farms and apple orchards, and recently timbered land of upstate New York. Follow the bells of our expertly trained English Setters to flush rates that often exceed expectations. These are not leisurely hunts and not for the faint of heart! Our cover is thick and you can expect to walk miles in a day's hunt. That said, there's nothing quite like upland hunting in the Catskills. Once you experience the "King of the Game Birds" you will be hooked!
Season Dates & Species
Wild Ruffed Grouse: September 20th through February 28th
Wild Woodcock: October 1st through November 14th
Rates
Full Day for One or Two Hunters: $650
A full day begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 4:30. A full day hunt includes a field lunch.
Half Day for One or Two Hunters: $550
A half day runs four hours. You have your choice of a morning hunt (8-12) or an afternoon hunt (1-5). Beverages are included.
*We pair one guide per one or two hunters. We have multiple guides available to accommodate larger groups.
Single day and half day bookings are welcome although we recommend at least a two day hunt. Because we hunt only wild birds, daily numbers will fluctuate. Multiple day hunts will give you a better sampling of the hunting in our area.
Included
Included in every hunt: one guide for every two hunters, dogs, the use of Beretta double shotguns, RST ammunition, beverages, and bird processing.
Full day hunts include a field lunch.
Dogs
We run English Setters. We encourage our clients to bring their own dogs. It's a great opportunity to get your gun dog on wild birds! Both pointing and flushing dogs can be successful in our cover.
What to Bring
Supportive, waterproof, comfortable boots are the most important piece of gear. We suggest wearing brier pants. Please have a field jacket with blaze orange, shooting glasses, and hearing protection. Be prepared for changing weather conditions: wear layers and pack rain gear.
Clients are encouraged to bring their favorite shotgun. We offer Beretta doubles for client use at no additional charge. We also include RST ammunition. For clients using their own equipment, we recommend double shotguns in either 20 or 28 gauge along with ammunition in 7 1/2 shot. For safety reasons, all semi-automatic guns require prior approval.
All hunters will need a valid New York State Hunting License. Woodcock hunters must also register with the Migratory Bird Harvest Program (HIP).
Terrain and Weather
Our hunts are generally on rolling, uneven terrain in thick cover. These are challenging hunts and busting through heavy brush is not uncommon.
Weather can vary drastically throughout the season. We hunt rain or shine or snow! We recommend dressing in layers and packing rain gear and cold weather gear.
Cancellation Policy
A 50% deposit is required at the time of booking. If you cancel your reservation more than 30 days prior to your reservation, your deposit will be fully refunded minus credit card fees, if applicable. Cancellation within 30 days of your reservation will result in the loss of your deposit. If you cancel within one week of your reservation, your credit card will be charged for the full amount of the trip.
Lodging
Lodging is additional and separate. Please see our list of local accommodations.
Reviews
Great Hunting Trip
Exceeded Expectations
Exceeded Expectations
"I recently spent two days in the field with Rick and his dogs. This was my second year with CC&C and it was really great. Rick and the dogs got us into grouse and woodcock in incredibly thick cover. The dogs exploded through thick trees, brush and every type of thorn imaginable! If only they could point and shoot for me! I highly recommend CC&C for great authentic hunts. " - WTMG
Exceeded Expectations
Exceeded Expectations
Exceeded Expectations
"2 days of grouse hunting with Rick. I never imagined the Catskills producing the number of points and flushes we experienced. It was a thrill watching my young setter work the cover and learn how to handle wild birds. Rick was tremendous in helping me bring out the best in my young dog. I also experienced Rick’s excellent setters at work. I highly recommend Catskill Casts & Coverts. Rick is a first rate guide and a great guy to boot! Thank you Amber and Rick for a memorable hunt. I’ll see you next year." - Eric Fohl
Great hunt!
Exceeded Expectations
Full day grouse hunt
"Catskill Casts and Coverts is the real deal. Amber was very helpful and professional with getting our four day hunt booked and our accommodations setup. Rick worked hard to put us on birds. Each day we had a solid number of flushes and with a little luck were able to put a few birds in the bag. If you like to hunt grouse and woodcock, give them a call." - B Barnes
Full day grouse hunt
November One Day Grouse Hunting
Full day grouse hunt
"I took my very green 5 month old GWP pup on a grouse hunt with Rick last weekend and I had a terrific time. The area we hunted was full of birds and Rick certainly knew how to get me on them. Rick's breadth of knowledge of grouse terrain and forest management, along with his willingness to field my endless question about handling my first bird dog, provided me with an on-the-hunt bootcamp on how to approach finding wild birds on my own. I drove up from NYC, and in booking the hunt, Amber was very helpful and responsive in working with my short-notice schedule changes. I'm hooked on wild birds and look forward to returning to hunt with Rick, hopefully with better shooting on my end the next time around."
-Alejandro A
November One Day Grouse Hunting
November One Day Grouse Hunting
November One Day Grouse Hunting
"Two friends and I spent a day grouse hunting with Rick recently. All three of us had a great day. Rick is a true professional. We saw a lot of birds thanks to Rick’s hard work, knowledge and patience. He answered every question we had with enthusiasm. The two dogs he brought were awesome and he handled them with great skill. I would recommend a trip with Rick if you have any interest in grouse hunting. You will not regret your decision. PS: he makes an outstanding lunch also." - Ed Doran
Exccellent Trip!
November One Day Grouse Hunting
November One Day Grouse Hunting
"We had an excellent few days hunting alongside Rick and his great dogs! Beautiful country, a lot of birds, and a very memorable trip. Highly recommend to anyone who wants a fun and challenging hunt." - nalguire
See more reviews at
Catskill Casts & Coverts
3663 County Highway 35 ~ Sidney Center, New York 13839
Rick Watson ~ (724) 504-4921 ~ rick@catskillcc.com
Amber Newman ~ (607) 435-3449 ~ amber@catskillcc.com