Grouse and Woodcock Books
 

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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:

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/

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

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

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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???

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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