Brother Shawn and I apologize for the neglect of the blog as of late. I spent the first part of the year working hard on a manuscript for a book about ruffed grouse hunting in the west, which is entitled, Drummer in the West. I’m still looking for a publisher for this book and will keep you all posted as things progress.
RGS Magazine Spring IssueIn addition, I am proud to report that my article, “Grouse and Apples” just appeared in the Spring Issue of the Ruffed Grouse Society Magazine, which turned out great. Once again, I had the privilege of teaming up with the wonderful outdoor artist Bob White for this article. This was our second collaboration. Our first was in my article, “Discovering Tinkhamtown” in the Upland Almanac a few years ago. In my humble opinion, the RGS Magazine is one of the very best bird-hunting magazines out there. If you have a chance to get a copy of this issue, do so. My friend Giuseppi Papandrea’s article, “Of Grouse and Men” is also a good one. Heck, the whole issue is great! You diehard grouse hunters be sure and check out his new blog, The Grousefather.
“Grouse and Apples” with art work by Bob White.And last, but certainly not least, Brother Shawn and I have been bit hard by the double gun bug. Shawn just acquired a Parker 16 Gauge with Damascus barrels and an Ithaca NIF (New Ithaca Field) 16 Gauge. I’ll let Shawn tell you about these sweet guns. When Shawn told me about the Parker, I had to feed my hankering for a double grouse gun of my own. To make a long story short, Shawn sent me a link for a gun with a comment stating “This would be nice” (which in hindsight seems like a huge understatement).
I instantly followed the link and was thrilled to the core by the gun’s description:
THIS IS A CLASSIC ITHACA LIGHT BIRD GUN. 28″ BARRELS ARE CHOKED CYLINDER AND CYLINDER. 2 3/4″ CHAMBERS WITH FINE BORES. STAR ENGRAVED RECEIVER. 14″ LENGTH OF PULL WITH A 3″ DROP. WEIGHS JUST OVER 6 POUNDS. ABOUT 90% WOOD AND BARREL FINISHES. CASE COLORS FADED AWAY. STOCK HEAD REINFORCED WITH A SMALL BRASS PIN. SERIAL #44XXXX. A DELIGHTFULLY SHOOTING GUN WITH RST LIGHT LOADS. A GROUSE HUNTERS DREAM COME TRUE…
Who could resist that? I took the bait and now own my very first side by side. I wrote an article on this gun which I hope will appear in print somewhere soon entitled, “A Grouse Hunter’s Dream Come True.”
Ithaca NID, one of the most underappreciated American Classic doubles.And to top it off, the same night I purchased my gun, I went out and caught a hawg brown. Life has been pretty hectic so far this year, but good.
A true hawg brown.Thanks for stopping by.
My first sxs and this brown on the same day . . . Can life get any better?
Sounds like life is good. I was hoping you would post some snippets from your article, as I am shamefully not yet a member of the RGS.
I have always associated grouse with apples, and then read in Upland Shooting Life by GBE that he had shot many grouse near apple trees but none with bits of apple in their crop and says the birds are only interested in the buds. Perhaps this is a East vs West difference?
Thanks uplandish. Send me a pm on Facebook with your email and I’ll email you the article. I’ve got a book by Tom Huggler with photos of windfall apples which had been eaten by grouse. GBE was pretty opinionated on a lot of things.
Upland Ways 
Sounds like life is good. I was hoping you would post some snippets from your article, as I am shamefully not yet a member of the RGS.
I have always associated grouse with apples, and then read in Upland Shooting Life by GBE that he had shot many grouse near apple trees but none with bits of apple in their crop and says the birds are only interested in the buds. Perhaps this is a East vs West difference?
Thanks uplandish. Send me a pm on Facebook with your email and I’ll email you the article. I’ve got a book by Tom Huggler with photos of windfall apples which had been eaten by grouse. GBE was pretty opinionated on a lot of things.
Im not on facebook anymore, but check your DM’s on Instagram.