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Guided Maine Upland Bird Hunting (Grouse & Woodcock)

Grouse and woodcock over good cover in the North Woods, including the coverts most hunters drive right past, guided by a Registered Maine Guide.

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Registered Maine Guides
30+ Years in the Maine Woods
Licensed, Insured & MPGA Members

Maine Upland Bird Hunting

Hunt the King of Gamebirds

There is a magic to the Maine woods in October: crisp air, blazing foliage and coverts alive with the flush of grouse. We hunt abandoned apple orchards, overgrown logging roads, alder runs and young aspen stands, and our guides know which covers are holding birds.

Our two quarry:

  • Ruffed grouse (partridge)
  • American woodcock

When the flight birds arrive in October the action picks up sharply, and those dates go early.

Guided Maine upland bird hunting for grouse and woodcock
Upland bird hunting in the Maine woods

The hunt

Full Day Upland Hunt

Starts at$550

  • Duration: 8 hours
  • Lunch: Midday field lunch
  • Season: October is the classic month
Book Your Hunt

Hunt Essentials

What’s Included and What You’ll Hunt

A full day lets us cover the ground needed to find the birds, from walking logging roads for grouse to working the alder runs for woodcock. Your upland hunt includes:

  • Guided by a Registered Maine Guide
  • A full 8-hour day in the coverts
  • Covers known to hold birds
  • A midday field lunch
  • Bag limits, shooting hours and boundaries handled
  • Orchards, logging roads and alder runs

Your Main Target

Ruffed Grouse+ American woodcock

Native, wild and incredibly fast, grouse explode with a thunder of wings and often put a tree between you and the shot. Maine produces some of the highest grouse flush rates in the country, and in October the flight woodcock arrive in the alder runs.

Camera icon - Thibodeau Outdoor Adventures, Registered Maine Guide service in Oakland, Maine

Live Action

UPLAND BIRD HUNTING

Hunt the North Maine Woods

Step into the boots of a Maine hunter. Watch exclusive footage from our 2022 season to see exactly how we target Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock along the logging roads of Northern Maine. Experience the terrain, the pace, and the thrill of the flush.

Book Your October Hunt

The flight birds don't stay forever, and neither do our open dates. If you are ready to experience the finest Maine Guided Upland Bird Hunting in New England, contact us today.

What our clients say

Tony put us on the birds last fall. Great views, great company, great action. Would recommend if you are looking to get out there!

Christopher E

Make a Memory

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Join Us On Your Next Guided Hunt

Start Your Adventure Today

Let’s Plan Your Ultimate Hunt

    Tell us what you are after and when you are hoping to go. We will check the calendar and come back to you by email or phone.

    Which trip are you interested in? (required)

    Choose as many as you like.

    Add trip details (optional)

    All optional. Fill in as much or as little as you like — or leave it blank and we will work it out with you.

    When are you hoping to go?

    Grouse and pheasant run 26 Sept - 31 Dec 2026; woodcock 26 Sept - 17 Nov 2026.

    Give us a single date, a range, or a few options that could work. This form does not reserve dates — we will check availability and confirm with you.

    We usually reply within 24 hours. Prefer to talk it through? Call (207) 313-1372.

    Booking & Policies

    How cancellations work

    • Free rescheduling 30+ days outCancel 30 or more days before your trip and your deposit moves to a new date.
    • Inside 30 days, the deposit is keptIf you cancel with less than 30 days’ notice, or don’t show up, the deposit is forfeited.
    • If we cancel, you chooseIf we call a trip off for weather, unsafe conditions or any other reason, you pick a new date or a full refund.

    How you pay

    • 50% deposit holds your datesRequired for every trip and non-refundable. Pay it by Venmo, check or cash.
    • Balance due at the start of your tripPay the remainder on the day by Venmo, check or cash.
    • Nothing to pay to askSending an enquiry is free. Nothing is taken until we confirm your dates.

    Plan Your Trip

    Make the Most of Your Hunt

    Make It a Cast & Blast

    Love hunting but also love to fish? Our Cast & Blast package splits the day between the coverts and the river. It is the perfect alternative if you want to experience the best of both worlds in a single trip.

    View Cast & Blast details

    Logistics & Licensing

    We know the rules. Bag limits, shooting hours, and property boundaries can be complex in the Maine woods. Your Registered Maine Guide handles all regulatory compliance so you can focus on the flush.

    Your permit responsibility. While we guide you, you are required to carry a valid Maine Small Game License.

    Stay & Hunt

    Why drive home tired? Turn your Upland Hunt into a multi-day getaway. We offer comfortable lodging options close to the best coverts.

    View lodging packages

    From our own trips

    Every photograph here was taken by us, on the water and in the woods we guide.

    A ruffed grouse standing on a gravel woods road in Maine
    A ruffed grouse standing on a gravel woods road in Maine
    Ruffed grouse taken on a guided Maine upland bird hunt
    Ruffed grouse taken on a guided Maine upland bird hunt
    A ruffed grouse in hand on a Maine upland bird hunt
    A ruffed grouse in hand on a Maine upland bird hunt
    Three ruffed grouse taken on a guided Maine upland bird hunt
    Three ruffed grouse taken on a guided Maine upland bird hunt

    Before You Book

    Common Questions

    What does a guided upland bird hunt cost?

    A full day in the coverts starts at $550 and runs about eight hours, with a field lunch provided.

    What birds will we hunt?

    Ruffed grouse and American woodcock. When the flight birds arrive in October the action picks up sharply.

    Do I need a licence?

    Yes. You carry a valid Maine small game licence. We provide the coverts, the plan for the day and the local knowledge.

    When is the best time to come?

    October is the classic month here, and the flight birds do not stay long, so those dates go early.

    From the Field

    Guide Notes on This Trip

    Tips and stories from our guides that pair well with this adventure.

    Read the rest of the blog →