Grouse and Woodcock Books

[Dean Romig]

Though I have a pretty extensive library on the topics of grouse and woodcock hunting, I just feel there must be some titles I'm missing - either old classics I've missed along the way or even contemporary titles. I sure hope there are other books out there that I don't have yet...

How about some suggestions? I would ease the burden on those making suggestions by listing the titles I have, but think of the burden that would place on me :eek:

I'm open to any and all suggestions.

[Rick Losey]

i would have to charge you by the hour to make a list of what I have - should I include the classic and hard to find setter training books I have never been able to get the dogs to read

a great new one if you did not get it is George King's "That's Ruff" he passed away shortly after it came out.

[Rick Losey]

seriously - I will take a look, and try to list some of the less common titles

anything by George Bird Evans of course (18 book titles I think- some had more than one edition, some were one and very limited)

Spiller and Foster I am sure you have

some less common titles off the top of my head
Wings of Thunder: New England Grouse Hunting Revisited Mulak
John Alden Knight's Ruffed Grouse and his Woodcock titles
The Ruffled Grouse by Frank C. Edminster of the NY study team Bump et al

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Rick - I have "That's Ruff" signed and inscribed by George. I hold that book in very high regard and consider it among my true 'classics' - right up there with Spiller, Foster, Sheldon, Woolner, P.H. Babcock and others. I must admit that I have but three of Evans' books... I don't know why but he never appealed to me much. I don't have any of the Old Hemlock titles... I know you and so many others hold him in very high regard and that's well and good - each to his own. Change my mind - it's open.

Yup, I have the titles you mention, except the Evans books... I'll sell my Gardiner Bump book if anyone wants a very long - very dry documentary on every tiny detail of the life and times of the ruffed grouse, ad nauseum.

[Rick Losey]

Thanks Rick - I have "That's Ruff" signed and inscribed by George. I hold that book in very high regard and consider it among my true 'classics' - right up there with Spiller, Foster, Sheldon, Woolner, P.H. Babcock and others. I must admit that I have but three of Evans' books... I don't know why but he never appealed to me much. I don't have any of the Old Hemlock titles... I know you and so many others hold him in very high regard and that's well and good - each to his own. Change my mind - it's open.


I know many don't take to his style- but several of GBE's books are anthologies - collections of other's works, those may be worth a look for you.

I was fortunate to have had several phone conversations with Mr King about his book and his experiences after it was sold out. Then out of the blue, he called me back one day and and said someone who had ordered the book never sent the check and he thought I would appreciate having it- so I may have received the last inscribed copy :)

btw- i was referring to a different book than that Bump study, written solely by one of the team members. My parent's place's front windows looked out at Connecticut Hill - so I am "required" by geography to have them

[CraigThompson]

Hmmmm just so happens I have a decent collection myself that may hit the block in the semi near future .

[Mills Morrison]

We need one of these threads on quail hunting. I have found that if you keep your eye out for books that are privately published or published in limited runs and only available in a few places, there is some great stuff. People who have been hunting their whole life and want to share some of their experiences, as opposed to promoting Realtree or the latest Orvis lodge. You just have to keep your eye out and strike whenever you see something

[Larry Stalnaker]

Dean,

Might I recommend a light little book entitled A Hunter's Book of Days by Chuck Fergus. This is his latest I believe, and I was lucky enough to pick up a copy and get it signed this past weekend at a land owners conference in Altoona.

Mr. Fergus's style has always reminded me of Gene Hill's style. Just great short stories with a lot of dog work and nice guns.

Mr. Fergus wrote for the PA Game News and has written other books as well. One of my favorites is The Wingless Crow. That's another good choice to have in your library, in my humble opinion.

PopPop

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Larry. I know the name Charles Fergus, and Jim Fergus, but don't recall reading any of their stuff. I'll have to look them up on ABE books.

[John Dallas]

I enjoyed Furgus' book, "A Rough Shooting Dog"

[Rich Anderson]

I had trade editions of Grouse and Woodcock hunting from Amwell Press by GBE that I sold years ago to help buy mu first safe. I wouldn't mind replacing them.

Dean I KNOW you don't have Grouse Points and other Drivel by Cobb. Just send me an advance and i'll write you up a limited edition.:biglaugh::biglaugh:

[Greg Baehman]

Dean, do you have "A Passion For Grouse"? Coffee table sized with wonderful pics, many of which are Setters with some of the same blood that courses through the veins of your dog.
Expensive -- but worth every penny.
http://apassionforgrouse.com/

[Shawn Wayment]

Mark Volk wrote 5 books that are pretty awesome: Upland Ways, The Hickorywind, Homesick, Pages from a MTN Journal Volume I and Volume II

[Rick Losey]

like Dean with GBE, i bought the first two Volk books and never went back for another

but it seems a lot of folks like his work


a couple more ideas

anything by Steve Smith - sometimes with Gene Hill

Of Grouse and Things - by the RGS

Dancers in the Sunset Sky: The Musings of a Bird Hunter - Robert F. Jones

Upland Days & Upland Autumn - William Tapply

A Fall of Woodcock - Tom Huggler

[Chad Hefflinger]

Some day you may be able to buy one of my books
Grouse Hunting "the ramblings of a mad man" or
Grouse Hunting "how to ruin a perfectly good bird dog" or
Grouse Hunting "the anti-Christ of the north woods" or
Grouse Hunting "hello my name is Chad, and I'm a Grouse-aholic" or
Grouse Hunting "King of Upland Birds" subtitled all the above :bowdown:

[edgarspencer]

I have several first edition Fur Fin and Feather by Rev HA Macpherson, AJ Stuart Wortley, George Saintsbury.

[John Taddeo]

A Grouse Hunters Almanac : Mark Parman..
Grouse Dogs: Richard D Weaver..

[Dean Romig]

Yes Greg, I have "A Passion For Grouse". Some of my good friends are featured in it.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Dean, I just finished reading "The Upland Alleghenies" by Bob Fala, who is now the WV DNR head, taking over for Frank Jezorio. Not a classic by any means, but enjoyable read. I had planned on reading That's Ruff at the beach in Sept just before my 2 week UP trip. May I suggest Timberdoodle Tales by Tom Waters and "Afield" by Robert DeMott. Mark Jeffery Volk wrote at least 5 books on grouse hunting/trout fishing, The Winding Ridge Trilogy, and Pages from a Mountain Journal,1 and2. I have 60-70 books on basically upland pursuits--far from a library of works, but I have made it my goal to go back and read every one of them again. There is this damn thing called the internet that keeps me from reading as much as I would like. See you at the Southern

[Jim Beilke]

Do you have Ted Lundrigans 3 grouse books, they are a fun read.

[Dean Romig]

like Dean with GBE, i bought the first two Volk books and never went back for another

but it seems a lot of folks like his work


a couple more ideas

anything by Steve Smith - sometimes with Gene Hill

Of Grouse and Things - by the RGS

Dancers in the Sunset Sky: The Musings of a Bird Hunter - Robert F. Jones

Upland Days & Upland Autumn - William Tapply

A Fall of Woodcock - Tom Huggler

I have most of those Rick... I love Gene's writing... chokes me up often.

My copy of "Of Grouse and Things" is inscribed "To H.G. Tapply - In appreciation for all the pleasure your writing has given me through the years. Mark C. Dilts" with a separate leaf of his personal stationery inscribed "I hope you enjoy reading this book, especially the stories Bill has written for us. As with you, we think he's kinda special. Best Wishes, Mark C. Dilts"

I also have those books of Bill's as well as Huggler's.

Keep 'em comin' though, and Thanks!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Have you read A Hunters Road by Jim Fergus? Chapter 16 entitled "Looking for Mr. Grouse" is about yours truly.

[Dean Romig]

Thanks John, I have Parman's but I don't have Weaver's. Perhaps, now that I have a genuine bird dog I should start to concentrate on good books about pointers and setters.

Know any good ones Legh?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

The 2 volume set by William Schaldach, "Currents and Eddies, and Coverts and Casts."
The Real Ryman Setter by Walt Lesser,
My Mountain Grouse Grouse by Craig Kulchak
My Friend the Partridge by S.T. Hammond

[Dean Romig]

Have you read A Hunters Road by Jim Fergus? Chapter 16 entitled "Looking for Mr. Grouse" is about yours truly.


Nope, haven't read that one Harold... but I will.

[Dean Romig]

Harold, I don't have Lesser's book or Colchak's either.

[Dean Romig]

Dean, I just finished reading "The Upland Alleghenies" by Bob Fala, who is now the WV DNR head, taking over for Frank Jezorio. Not a classic by any means, but enjoyable read. I had planned on reading That's Ruff at the beach in Sept just before my 2 week UP trip. May I suggest Timberdoodle Tales by Tom Waters and "Afield" by Robert DeMott. Mark Jeffery Volk wrote at least 5 books on grouse hunting/trout fishing, The Winding Ridge Trilogy, and Pages from a Mountain Journal,1 and2. I have 60-70 books on basically upland pursuits--far from a library of works, but I have made it my goal to go back and read every one of them again. There is this damn thing called the internet that keeps me from reading as much as I would like. See you at the Southern


If my printer was working I would print your post Harold, so I could refer to it while I'm searching ABE... but it isn't, so I can't.

[Dean Romig]

Do you have Ted Lundrigans 3 grouse books, they are a fun read.


Yes Jim, I have Lundrigan's... but only two of them I think.

[Rich Anderson]

Dean you might check Safari Press although they are more big game related they do have upland books and a vintage book dept that also has some upland titles. Anybody have an extra set of GBE the Ruffed Grouse and The Woodcock books from Amwell Press they would like to sell???

[John Dallas]

Is Carol Barnes at Gunnerman Books still in business? She was always fun to work with, and often had great stuff

[Rich Anderson]

Yes I do believe she is and would be another source for books on the uplands.

[Eric Eis]

Yes she is and probably be at the Southern and she and Dennis are usually at the Michigan Antique Arms Shows too.

[Steve Kleist]

Another grouse book worth the read is by Gordon Gullion titled Grouse of the North Shore. Gullion was a researcher from the U of MN in Cloquet near Duluth MN, 100 miles south of us, and did his work there. The book is the result of grouse habitat and grouse behavior research and would be of value to any grouse enthusiast. Topics include preferred habitat, edges, drumming, nesting, predation, preferred foods, dispersal, wintering, and survival. It is an interesting read and some great photography. Unfortunately no hunting tales.
Note: there are two books with similar titles: Grouse of the North Shore and The Ruffed Grouse both by Gullion.......they are very similar so don't buy them both...but be sure to get one!
Happy reading!
Best Fishes,
Steve Kleist Ely, MN

[Marc Retallack]

IMHO, this thread would be a great candidate for a sticky. It would be a shame for all these suggestions to get lost in the shuffle.

[Jack Kuzepski]

Dean,

There are 2 pretty good books on woodcock that have not been mentioned yet. One is "Woodcock Shooting" by Edmund Davis; it was originally a private printed book from around 1910 but has since been reprinted. The second one is "Making Game An Essay on Woodcock" by Guy de la Valdene. That book is a very different read but one that I found very interesting and enjoy greatly.
Unfortunately I have nothing to offer on grouse, not only are there none in Delaware and are protected anyhow, but I never had the opportunity to hunt any elsewhere.

Jack Kuzepski

[Ron Hann]

How about "Partridge Shortenin" by G. Grouse (Grampa Grouse). This was actually written by Gorham L. Cross in 1949 of a private printing of 100 copies. There was a second printing in 1990.

[Dean Romig]

Jack and Ron - Thanks. I have those three but I have the 1990 "Partridge Shortenin'", the first edition being a bit pricey at anywhere between $800 - $1,200 over the last ten years or so.

[legh higgins]

Dean a great early setter book, The sporting dog by Joseph a. Graham we got three inches last night just in time for april fools.

[Dean Romig]

Legh, I'll have to find me a copy. I've never read that one.

Judging by the "three inches" you say you got last night, I'm guessing you've migrated back to Vermont from your 'wintering grounds' in Florida. What's on the ground now besides last night's new snow?

Please say "Hi" to your lovely bride for us and, of course, to all of Grace's family too.

[legh higgins]

Dean its still up to the window sills for gods sake.

[Dean Romig]

And you came back... why?

[legh higgins]

To escape the chiggers, fire ants, alligators, rattle snakes, watermocasins and mid day 85 degree temps. And to be closer to my new england friends....

[Mills Morrison]

The gators were out this weekend. It gets up to 55 or so and they come out.

[Dean Romig]

To escape the chiggers, fire ants, alligators, rattle snakes, watermocasins and mid day 85 degree temps. And to be closer to my new england friends....


We're looking forward to getting together soon. I won't tell Grace..... I'll let it be a surprise.

[John Marscher]

We need one of these threads on quail hunting. I have found that if you keep your eye out for books that are privately published or published in limited runs and only available in a few places, there is some great stuff. People who have been hunting their whole life and want to share some of their experiences, as opposed to promoting Realtree or the latest Orvis lodge. You just have to keep your eye out and strike whenever you see something

Mills I would believe you would enjoy this book since you are from the area. I mailed him my check and when he noticed my last name, wrote me a very nice letter about my late grandfather, with whom he lived with at Clemson. Small world.

http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt176/marscherj1/memories-of-a-carolina-bird-hunter.jpg (http://s609.photobucket.com/user/marscherj1/media/memories-of-a-carolina-bird-hunter.jpg.html)

[Mills Morrison]

Yes, John. I have that one and it is good. He is a PGCA member and spoke at the annual meeting a few years ago

[Dean Romig]

I spoke at length with Mr. Frierson at that meeting and he inscribed my book as well.

[edgarspencer]

Back in 2010, I was looking at a nice 30" 16ga. DHE, in a shop down in SC. The owner of the shop told me he would give my name to the gun's owner and have him call me.
The morning I was driving up the parking garage ramp to go into the hospital for an operation, my cellphone rang, and it was Doc Frierson. He told me that he had just finished doing a family genealogy and he had Spencer relatives who had moved from Connecticut to South Carolina prior to the Civil War. Not surprisingly, I knew nothing of them, but John informed me they fought for the South, and that he and I were related. He sent me a copy of his book which I digested during my recovery. We have since written back and forth on numerous occasions, and shared our maple syrup and 'shine (which I might point out is 'killer' good 120 proof) He's an accomplished cabinet maker and botanist.
Long story short, I have his DHE 16.

[charlie cleveland]

good storey...and a parker to boot....charlie

[Phil Yearout]

What about William H. Claflin's Partridge Rambles and Partridge Adventures? I don't have either, and I understand they're hard to find and harder to afford if you do find them. There's a reprint available here:
http://uplandalmanaconline.com/collections/books/products/partridge-adventures-partridge-rambles-by-william-h-claflin-jr

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Edgar
Dos XX's should have chose you for their" most interesting man in the world" advertising campaign. Now if you tell me you also play clasical guitar, I will bow down in awe. I was going to say I would be your gun bearer at Hausmann's, but you would probably learn to play in that amount of time.

[edgarspencer]

Now if you tell me you also play classical guitar, I will bow down in awe. No, Harold, I don't. However I started playing the bagpipes at age 10, and played for many years till the smoking pipe ruined that. My son plays them, as well as the dobro.

[Rick Losey]

ahh- love the pipes - listened to a young man who was a master on Cape Breton last fall,

and one of my favorite reenacting memories was getting up early in a foggy camp and hearing them in the distance, slowly a young kilted highlander materialized from the fog and passed by me into the haze once more


for those who do not appreciate them - join the crowd


"Definition of a 'gentleman' - someone who knows how to play the bagpipes but doesn't," - Ronnie Corbett.

"The Irish invented the bagpipes as a joke and gave them to the Scottish, they still haven't found out," - Denis Leary.

"I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made object never equaled the purity of sound achieved by the pig." - Alfred Hitchcock

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

[Dean Romig]

:biglaugh::clap::biglaugh::cheers::rotf:


Good ones Rick... I mean really good ones!

[edgarspencer]

ha.......ha.......ha.......

[Jack Kuzepski]

Dean,

I found a few more for your list that contain both woodcock and grouse hunting. "Upland Tales" is edited by Worth Matthewson but is a compilation of stories by Edwin Sandys and others written in the late 1880's to about 1910. "Eastern Upland Shooting" by Charles Norris is another, originally written in the 1930's (I think) there was a Country Sport press reprint. And lastly is one I just received 2 days ago; "Kriders Sporting Anecdotes" an 1853 compilation of experiences by John Krider. Just started reading it but so far so good. He was a big gun dealer in Philadelphia, there is even an advertisement for his wares in the back of the book.

This thread should really be a sticky!!

Jack Kuzepski

[Mills Morrison]

Countrysport put out an anthology on grouse hunting - Bare November Days - and an anthology on woodcock hunting - Come October and both are good

[Dean Romig]

Jack, Thanks for the suggestions. I haven't read "Upland Tales" by Sandys and others and I've never even heard of "Krider's Sporting Anecdotes" but I have Norris' book "Eastern Upland Shooting" and enjoyed reading it.

[Dean Romig]

Mills, I have both of those titles - Thanks.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I picked up a couple of books at the Southern. A copy of Partridge Shortnin' and GBE's book on the Blackwater/Canaan. It was my birthday(61), so I treated myself. Havent had a chance to even look at them yet.

[Dean Romig]

A belated "Happy Birthday" Harold!