Upland Days: Fifty Years of Bird Hunting in New England

by William G. Tapply

Enjoy an expert sharing the best of his fifty years of bird hunting in New England. This is a compelling account of the author’s many adventures and misadventures while hunting for grouse, woodcock, pheasants, and a variety of duck species in all kinds of weather and terrain throughout New England. The book is steeped in the history and lore of hunting in this region, and reveals the type of camaraderies that are so important to those who hunt. Starting with a riveting explanation as to why he loves to hunt, Tapply then takes the reader on a literary hunting trip through his life—from hunting with his grandfather, father, and family friend Burton Spiller (the father of modern grouse hunting), through favorite fields and coverts, to revered guns, and longtime hunting companions. Along the way, Tapply hunts a variety of birds, in many situations, with many people. His profound love of the land is apparent throughout the book, evidenced by his constant bemoaning of developments that inevitably chew up his favorite woodcock coverts or grouse covers. This is a must-have addition to any bird hunter’s library.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

William G. Tapply (1940–2009) was an American author best known for writing legal thrillers. A lifelong New Englander, he graduated from Amherst and Harvard before going on to teach social studies at Lexington High School. He published his first novel, Death at Charity’s Point, in 1984. A story of death and betrayal among Boston Brahmins, it introduced crusading lawyer Brady Coyne, a fishing enthusiast whom Tapply would follow through twenty-five more novels, including Follow the Sharks, The Vulgar Boatman, and the posthumously published Outwitting Trolls.

Besides writing regular columns for Field and Stream, Gray’s Sporting Journal, and American Angler, Tapply wrote numerous books on fishing, hunting, and life in the outdoors. He was also the author of The Elements of Mystery Fiction, a writer’s guide. He died in 2009, at his home in Hancock, New Hampshire.

Reviews

[James Wegener · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently re-read Upland Days and quickly realized the introduction "Why I hunt" is the most eloquent rendering in print of my personal feelings towards upland bird hunting. This introduction is a must read for anyone who loves, hates, or is curious about hunting in our modern world. It can be found here on the Field & Steam website at: http://www.fieldandstream.com/article...

After putting Upland Days down I began to recognize many similarities in the lessons my father taught me about the nature of upland bird hunting and the stories shared in this book. This of course being because my father and Uncle Tap spent countless hours in the woods of Maine together cultivating wisdom about life, mother nature, and the balance between the two.
I found Freebies bell recently and felt a compulsion to write this note here to honor the knowledge, kindness, and warmth of William Tapply - as I now see it clearly reflected in his own words and the stories told to me about him as I grew up.

I would recommend this book to outdoorsy folk and fellow hunters alike. It is insightful as it is entertaining and makes one (especially my father, brother, and I) nostalgic for a truly abundant mother nature we may never see again. This is a book I will cherish for a very long time to come.

See you in the woods,
J.Wegener

[Rico · Rating 5 out of 5]

[G Venters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started out very strongly, with some well-written and moving stories about hunting in the old days in New England. Tapply clearly knows what he's talking about when it comes to hunting grouse and woodcock, as well as sea ducks and, even, crows. The first few stories were excellent, and if that excellence had carried through to the end, I would have rated the book higher. A few of the stories fell a bit flat, but these were few and certainly overshadowed by the stronger stories at the beginning and end of the book. I recommend the book to those who are nostalgic for hunting that is long gone from much of the country or for those who wish they had known it and probably never will.

[Dennis Dupuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a gift from a friend who walks the woods of NH and now co-owns a lobster with me. The humor is right up my alley, the stories resonate with times I've spent outdoors enjoying the company of family and friends, and the author brings to life the emotions and vistas that doing these things evokes. well done. It'll be passed down to the generations who follow me as a treasured read.