10/30/2026
The 15th Annual New York Grouse & Woodcock Benefit Hunt reminded us all yet again why it sells out well in advance every year. Calling it a “hunt” doesn’t do justice to the full, immersive three-day experience.
Attendees spend each day walking through iconic northeastern scenery, where rock walls frame the orchards, backdropped by conifers edged with popples. Dogs cool off in creeks while the grouse and woodcock wait for the next skirmish. We guarantee you’ve seen paintings like this. At the NY Hunt, you walk through one.
When the grouse are back on the roost, the night life picks up, starting with a welcome BBQ dinner. The camaraderie holds one hand to the past and one to the future: old friendships rekindled, new ones folded in. Hunters come from all over the Northeast and beyond, including a few proud Texans.
It’s no exaggeration to say you’ll encounter history and culture here that won’t make it to the next generation. More than one attendee was at Woodstock (the original). If that isn’t wild enough, they’ll tell you about being at the Newport Folk Festival in ‘65 when Dylan was booed for going electric. The stories come in the full spectrum of northeast accents, from Maine to Massachusetts, with some old NY and NJ to boot.
On Saturday night, the gang heads to Donovan’s, the veritable jewel of the North Country. We rent out the whole place and kick things off with a stream of hors d'oeuvres, crescendoing with a filet mignon and crab cake dinner. The mayor and the local game warden join us, and this year even a senator. It’s a family reunion of people you may only see once a year but never forget. Just don’t let your guard down at the silent auction. And then there’s the master of ceremonies…
Board member and event host Bruce Bennett isn’t just magnetic. He’s a gravitational force in the North Country. He knows everyone, and while it’s tempting to call this his magnum opus, we suspect, much like our beloved grouse, Bruce has plenty more tricks up his sleeve.
This year’s hunt was also bittersweet. Our longtime Engagement Coordinator Nate Kennedy announced his departure from RGS, trading life on the road for a role closer to home and his growing family. As our longest-serving Engagement Coordinator, his contributions to this community won’t be forgotten. Nate is famously alert at his events, but we managed to keep him busy in the parking lot just long enough for attendees to pool funds and gift him a Life Sponsorship, a well-deserved honor for a dedicated steward of the uplands.
Thank you to everyone who came out to the 2026 NY Hunt. If you’ve ever been on the fence about attending, it’s time to pull the trigger. See you next year.
Pro photos by 📸: Jim Boburka
