“Drummer in the Woods” is a collection of 21 grouse hunting stories written by Burton L. Spiller and published in 1962. Published well after “Grouse Feathers” and “More Grouse Feathers”, the stories included in the book show a marked maturity in Spiller as both a bird hunter and a writer.
The majority of the stories in the book were originally published in Field & Stream magazine, while a few were published in Cosmopolitan, Outdoors, and Outdoor Life magazines. The book also includes a dozen photographs of dogs, men and grouse from a few of Spiller’s hunts.
Here’s an overview of the stories:
His Majesty, The Grouse – This was Burton Spiller’s first story ever published, in a 1932 issue of Field & Stream. The story begins with his early experiences with grouse, and goes on to describe grouse habits and hunting methods, as well as Spiller’s development as a hunter. It rambles a bit, but it’s a good story.
Thunder King – Through this story, Spiller describes the life cycle of grouse from the time it hatches from the egg through adulthood. Thunder King could be any grouse, as he battles harsh weather, eludes skilled predators, and ultimately meets man and dog. The story is well written, imaginative and informing.
Four Mile Grouse – The Four Mile Pasture is one of those hidden covers that grouse hunters dream of finding. Burt and Gene make some great memories here.
Red-Letter Day – After a long stretch of wet, rainy weather, the skies finally clear and Burt picks up his hunting pal Gene for a day of grouse hunting. It’s another memorable hunt, filled with good dog work and entertaining shooting.
Last Day – This is a longer version of “Not For Sale”, a story with the same setting and characters printed in “Grouse Feathers, Again”. Bill refuses to sell his prized bird dog, despite the money he owes to the bank, and a generous offer from the bird-hunting banker to buy the dog. No, Bill’s love for the dog has relegated him to a life of poverty and the loss of his farm. But a very interesting twist in the story will shock the reader. This is a well-written piece of fiction from Spiller.
Ghost Grouse – One of the things I love about grouse hunting is the habitats where the birds are found. Some of the most prized grouse covers are old farms and farm villages that have been abandoned and grown up to brush. It’s in one of those villages that this story is based. I absolutely love Spiller’s description of the Desolation Cover:
Then there was that day in Desolation Cover. Gene christened it that years ago and the name is an apt one. A settlement was started there when New England was young, but although it lay in the fertile foothills, and stretched upward in a long, rolling slope which faced the south, ill fortune dogged the pioneers who cleared it. Some said an Indian curse had been put upon the land, while others thought an updraft of air brought a pestilence from the marshes that rimmed the distant lake. but whatever the case, the effect was readily apparent.
…….
Death stalked abroad in the land, and on each farm a rounded knoll soon bore its complement of granite grave stones. But the pioneers were made of stern stuff, and they hung on for nearly a century, hoping that the evil thing which lay upon the land would depart, but at last it wore them down. With their morale shattered, they one by one relinquished their holdings, giving them back to the wilderness to claim again for its own.
Burt and Gene hunted Desolation Cover and had a very eerie experience there. After reading the story, I found myself dreaming about finding such a cover myself in future grouse hunts. It’s amazing to hunt while surrounded by that much history on the land.
Toby Was a Bird Dog – Bird dogs are not always what you expect them to be. In this story, Spiller describes how some of the bird dogs with the highest prospects turn out to be duds, while champions are often made of dogs that show little hope in the beginning. It’s a good story to read when contemplating the purchase of a new hunting dog.
You Have to Know Them – The experienced bird hunter can drive along back roads and spot covers that hold birds like it’s second nature. It’s a skill that is difficult to understand, but has proven itself time and again. Spiller describes this trait and also talks some of grouse habits.
You Still Have to Point Them – Burt joins his friend Fred for an annual bird hunting excursion each fall. This particular season, Fred has gotten himself a new shotgun, one of those big, newfangled pump action guns. He’s really having a tough go of making the gun work on birds, but it all works out in the end.
You Can Hit ‘Em – Many grouse hunters think it’s near impossible to hit one of the birds on the wing. I myself was of the same persuasion growing up. Here Spiller explains the basics of shooting grouse on the wing and why it’s possible for most folks to be effective with enough practice and know-how.
Dear Jimmy – Spiller responds to a letter from one of his young readers in this story. Jimmy is hoping for a dog and a gun for his birthday, and wants some advice as to which gun to use, what type of bird dog to acquire, and whether he can eventually become an effective wing shot. Burt’s response to Jimmy is memorable. He describes his experiences while relaying to Jimmy what to expect and how to deal with different aspects of hunting with a bird dog. It’s a great story.
Gift Grouse – Bill and Burt are hunting woodcock in a reliable cover, but a place they would never expect to find grouse. As one might expect, they found grouse. The hunt is another one of the many memorable ones Spiller describes in his stories.
Finders Losers – One of Spiller’s best grouse covers is one that he has not been able to find since he first hunted it. Funny how things work, as I remember several fishing locations from my childhood that I’m not sure I could find again. It’s those lost places that haunt us for years. This story describes the memorable hunt in the lost cover.
Grouse Dogs – In keeping with Spiller’s long held philosophy that a good grouse dog is near impossible to find and in extreme demand, he describes what constitutes a good grouse dog, and why field trials or hunting other birds only detract from the making of a grouse dog.
Real Ones I’ve Missed – Spiller describes his ill-fated attempt at breeding bird dogs. He was trying to find the perfect grouse dog, but realized that to do so he may just have to breed his own. It’s an interesting story and outlines a trap that many bird dog enthusiasts would do well trying to avoid!
I’m Training a Grouse Dog – This is a great story describing Spiller’s philosophy and methods of training a good grouse dog. Reading as someone who hasn’t yet trained a bird dog, I find his methodology both sound and reasonable, and plan to do my best in following Spiller’s advice when I train my first dog.
White Lightning – Burt’s friend Bill owns a big, fast pointing dog that hunts woodcock and grouse. They meet a farmer who’s a rabbit hunting dog enthusiast. An unfortunate incident involving Bill’s dog and the farmer’s rabbit dog makes for an incredible story! I’m not sure if this piece is fact or fiction, but I think it’s one of Spiller’s best stories.
Woodcock Like it Wet – The weather has changed, and this year’s continual torrential rains has made swamps out of a lot of formerly dry land. Bill and Burt take advantage of the weather and experience some of the best woodcock hunting in decades.
Secrets of a Grouse Hunter – This story talks of a few different aspects of grouse hunting, including grouse habits, a good grouse gun, and type of shot to use for the birds.
40 Horsepower Dog – This is a funny fictional story about a robotic dog supposedly developed by Ed Zern (popular outdoor humorist and Spiller contemporary) and hunted over by Burt Spiller and H.G. Tapply, then- Associate Editor of Field & Stream. Though it’s not typical Spiller, Burt does show his ability to write a funny story along the lines of something Zern would write. It’s entertaining.
So Long, Pal – One of the most difficult things for a bird dog enthusiast to do is to say goodbye to a good dog. Since the life spans of dog and man don’t match, a seasoned bird dog hunter has had the joy of owning many dogs in his time, but also the despair of saying farewell to many. In this story, Spiller pays tribute to a great dog, retracing their experiences together over the past decade.
Overall, Drummer in the Woods is a real quality grouse hunting book, and I think it’s one of the best collections of Spiller’s work available. Whether you’re new to Spiller’s books or are just adding to your collection, you can’t go wrong with this book. Originally published in 1962, it was released again in 1980, and copies are readily available.
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