Story Fair 2024

The Grouse Camp Thirty Three Years and Counting by Charles Few This past October, 2024, was our thirty-third annual “Grouse Camp” at our family cabin in Central Pennsylvania.  One of our guys even refers to it with Roman Numerals – GC XXXIII.  If it wasn’t for a three year hiatus during the COVID epidemic, 2024 would have been our thirty-sixth camp. We’ve always had wonderful times.   As can happen with gatherings that originally start as a casual get-together of family and friends, our camp has become a long running, yearly tradition. Originally, most of us were in our middle ages along with...

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The Canaan Valley Veterans Woodcock Hunt by Clay Williamson As the crisp autumn air settles into Canaan Valley, West Virginia, the landscape transforms into a stunning canvas of vibrant foliage and golden fields. This picturesque setting, which holds historical significance as the hunting grounds of renowned author George Bird Evans, becomes the backdrop for an annual event that not only celebrates the thrill of the hunt but also honors those who have served in the armed forces. Organized over a week that encompasses Veterans Day, this longstanding and cherished tradition supports veterans through intentional camaraderie and deepening the participants’ connection with...

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Amongst the Hemlocks by Justin Hager Although it was a typical day in a sportsman’s paradise, western New York was showing its true colors– gray and overcast. I was eagerly making the day-long trek to my family’s hunting camp located just outside the Seneca Allegany Indian Reservation. Being the week before Christmas; deer season having concluded, I was certain we would have the woods all to ourselves. With one eye rakishly open, my one-year-old, tri-colored, male, English setter was patiently pretending to sleep while sprawled across the backseat. A year and a half earlier, I purchased Chester from renowned breeder Peter Flanagan...

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The Kings Lane by Karl (trout whisperer) seckinger During the historic winter logging days of yore in northern Minnesota many a horse was fed summer hay on trails throughout the boreal forest leaving regular deposits. Spring came, snow melted, and seeds spouted in the skidders ruts.  Of all the greenery so sought after by ruffed grouse it was the clover, rich full buds first, succulent tender leaves second, many a grouse chick was hen showed the promise land of a summers bounty and if by chance those same steeds harness grade drawn leather scuffed a gritted gravel ridge, well, every time we...

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Epiphany by Gary Tunkavige It had been another night of fitful sleep, and it was because of worrying about Thicket.  That Thicket developed into one of the best bird dogs I’ve ever had, or ever seen, came at the cost of a lot of lost sleep. Thicket was a Ryman type English setter I got from a breeder in western New York State.  His coloring was what the breed standard calls “blue belton”, meaning that he was predominantly white with uniform black “marbling” throughout his body and head.  With no solid patches of color, he was considered a perfect belton.  He was...

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A Bird in the Handby Jeff Gazdik It was probably around 1975 in Washington County, New York. By the way, the most beautiful county in our state, IMO. I would’ve been in my late teens. My dad was the most avid grouse and woodcock hunter on the planet. His motto was, “If it doesn’t have feathers, it ain’t worth shooting”.. as a matter, fact, my grandfather on moms side had the same mantra, although they both weren’t afraid of shooting a rabbit as long as we did not have the bird dog with us. We had Brittany‘s my whole life growing...

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