I never hunted many of the closer-to-home auger benches over the years. I lived in an area where that type mining hadn't really taken place, and I wouldn't hunt in the auger bench coverts that my buddies had shown me. I did manage to find one such spot near my wife's family where we went on Sunday after church. Come from church, change clothes, load a dog or two and off we would go for dinner. After a wonderful meal, I would head out for a short hunt. 

 This particular auger bench had yellow poplar all around, patches of beech stands, a few conifers, and dogwood (particularly under the auger where the excess dirt and rock were pushed or dumped). Then there were the multi-floral roses and blackberry briars, sawbriars and occasional greenbriar patches . Best of all, there was “the salad” as I called it. That was the assortment of green plants that grouse love. I chose this particular auger because it was mostly north facing slopes. That means dampness in both the darker hollows and sunny points. These “highwalls” as they are called (the rock face created by the mining against the upward sloping banks) also are places grouse can be found. Grouse come there to pick gravel for their craw very much like a chicken would. Many times grapevines would hang over the highwalls and grouse could forage there too. Always there were a few evergreens in patches and scattered. 

My journal entry for a hunt made with our Wingshot Beau daughter named Wingshot Cassey (“KC”) reads like this: "This day KC was a hunting machine. KC covered every thing, every where!  She was actually running a bit wide for this covert, but I managed to keep her attuned to me. This spot was probably more suited for dogs like Toby and our beloved Bleu.  The auger bench was only 15-25 yds. wide but did have cover above and below. KC, coming from flat country and being bred to be such an athlete, she could roll. 

 KC does no working of ground scent . Yes she winds birds but never puts her head to the ground like a beagle. She simply works high headed and then BAM! she is on point.

 This day was no exception. Some days scent just doesn’t rise and the head may be lower but I feel dogs that work high headed have fewer unproductives or bumps on grouse. KC had a good hunt : three nice staunch points and no mistakes (if only her shooter had done his job!)

The third bird she pointed dropped a leg at the shot, but flew on as no second shot was presented.  We had a good mark, and KC found it again. When I flushed it this time, the grouse flew toward some houses down the hollow so I held my shot. I know it died there for I found blood where it had lifted that second time. Nothing I could do but collect KC and head for the truck. Nice job KC! 4 birds moved for  5 flushes   3 pts. -KC    1-4 shooting”

 We lost KC just a few days before this writing at age 14.5 years old. She was the dam of our Dixie. KC would retrieve any where or any thing , had tremendous drive, yet never barked and always lay around until it was time to hunt. Thank you, KC.