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Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1377 Location: Denver, Colorado

You can sure tell it's January here, and certainly by the books I'm reading.

I've had this one for some time (can't exactly remember when I bought it, likely back in the 90s). Frank was an interesting guy. He was from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts and he and his brother were evidently also the local salt-water fishing experts as well. Frank saw frontline action in WWII as a recon sergeant with the 703rd Tank Destroyer Bn through France and Belgium. After his writing talents became known by Div. brass, he became a Public Relations Specialist and Combat Correspondent. His book on grouse hunting is a tour-de-force of New England Grouse hunting in the 1950s and 60s. I especially liked his discourse on middle-aged bird hunters (he's spot-on!).

From a hunting perspective, this book seems to have it all. Frank talks about the guns he likes (he shot an autoloader, his brother shot a double), he covers commercial bird hunting in the 1890s and the hunting history of New England. Tap Tapply makes an appearance in this book, along with several other hunting luminaries from the period. Frank is also very opinionated about how one should hunt grouse and where (he would likely be a little hard on me for my habits in northern Minnesota).

He has keen insights on how birds act in different situations, what to look for in covers, and a general sense of how it all should go, by God! Really makes one nostalgic for America in the 60s and 70s. Frank passed in 1994. I suspect he'd be pretty alarmed by what we're dealing with these days.

Joined: 30 Sep 2020 Posts: 185 Location: ont canada

I grew up on Woolner Timberdoodle is another one of his great reads. New England Grouse hunting by William Harnden Foster also The world of the Ruff Grouse by Leonard Lee Rue III .The book of the America Woodcock by William G Sheldon. Hunting the Ruffed Grouse by Nick Sisley all shaped who i was as upland hunter. Great time to grow up in the world was real and had some value and grit.

Lloyd3,

Woolner was definitely not a traditional Grouse hunter of his day, some of his writing I loved, some of his ideas, like using a semi-auto in the Grouse woods, not so much.

all the best,

Pine Creek Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 30 Sep 2020 Posts: 185 Location: ont canada

I used double guns 'auto loaders and pumps through the years they never interfered with my enjoyment while upland hunting . My one and only triple on Grouse was done with a modified choked Remington 20LW pump gun with my little Britt Brandy she didn't know what bird to retrieve first. Got a few doubles with my double guns funny never could get that third bird? All kidding aside that triple event was more luck than skill.

bigblue,

Sense you live in Canada we will forgive you for taking a triple on Grouse. However the great creator of life, may look differently on taking 3 of his favorite birds at one time. Good luck with that.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 30 Sep 2020 Posts: 185 Location: ont canada

I’ll have to re-read. Read it first in my 30’s, but now that I’m middle aged I’ll be more mindful of what he says about us.

Woolner, Evans, Spiller, Huggler, Foster are all good reads. But I especially like Sheldon, Tapply (both), Hill & Smith.

Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 483 Location: South Eastern PA

Woolner's book is a classic to read. Everybody should have a copy.

Joined: 09 Mar 2016 Posts: 753 Location: Mn.

Joined: 07 Sep 2011 Posts: 567 Location: wheeling, wv

No reason to denigrate people over their choice of weapon type. Yea, I hunt with SXS's, Parkers, Foxes, Lefevers and English hammer guns but I would rather hunt with a Mossberg pump and my setters than a Purdy without them. Notice I didnt mention LC Smith's that you embrace, cause I just dont care for them.

I have both Woolner's grouse book and his woodcock book. I found them to be very entertaining and informative reads. Because of Woolner I have two Model 59 Winchesters. One thing he had right is that they are grouse killing machines. Just wish they were in 16 bore. The 59 with 1 oz. Remington #8 Game Loads is a thing to marvel in the grouse woods.

Darryl

Darryl,

If you can not fine a 59 in 16 gauge, pick up a Model 12 Winchester pump gun in 16 gauge, they are available most every place and at reasonable money. Many of our Pa Grouse hunters still use them today, because they were passed down to them by their fathers. Better yet pick up a good Fox, L.C. Smith or LeFever double gun.

all the best,

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

I do indeed have two Models 12 in 16 bore. One is 28" FULL and is a Bismuth duck gun. The other is an early short chambered gun a previous owner had the stock converted to straight (English) grip and opened the 26" FULL barrel to IMP CYL. That is the grouse gun. 16 gauge Models 12 have no competition when it comes to handling and carry.

Darryl

Woolner’s classic “Grouse and Grouse Hunting” was published in 1970, the year I was married and my wife bought a copy for me because she knew I liked to grouse hunt. She discovered this before we were married on trips to my parents cabin. Every fall she became accustomed to being abandoned for a 1/2 day while I chased the Grey Ghost, and his long billed friend, around our property with my setter. For some reason she married me anyway and that was 52 years ago.

My Grandfather had a collection of 16 ga side by sides and a Remington 1100, 16 ga, that he used for ducks. His entire collection (save a .22) was taken to some gunsmith shortly before he passed and my father never did find the guns. I was only 13 or 14 at the time, but my Grandfather had been taking me hunting for years and let me start carrying a gun when I was 12 or 13. For reasons I never understood, my father never hunted or fished.

A number of years ago I had the Remington, octagon barrel, .22 restored and since then I have never fired it. I take it out of the gun case from time to time and think about all the times my Grandpa took me bird hunting and fly fishing.

Good Hunting,
Chicago

Just ordered Woolner's book. Thannks for the tip, Lloyd3

Cheers,
Tony