Fred Bishop, who is something of a legend in certain circles in Essex County, Massachusetts, for a number of hunting accomplishments, some of public knowledge, some private - and who is a good friend of mine - shot his 100th ruffed grouse back in the late '60's and decided to have it mounted. He had never mounted any of his numerous waterfowl, trophy fish of all species, whitetail bucks, woodcock, bobcats, or anything he ever trapped.... but he had such a respect for ruffed grouse and he never shot one out of a tree or on the ground, only ever "shooting-flying", that he had his 100th mounted. When he got it back from the taxidermist he was so mad he just stuck it in a dark place in a back corner basement because the taxidermist mounted it on the ground and Fred was so insulted he never wanted to display it, so it just sat there for these many decades gathering dust.
I may take it to Scotty to see if he can clean it up...
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"I'm a Setter man.
Not because I think they're better than the other breeds,
but because I'm a romantic - stuck on tradition - and to me, a Setter just "belongs" in the grouse picture."
George King, "That's Ruff", 2010 - a timeless classic.
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