Bill Shattuck in the field (photo courtesy of Krull Lodge)
By KW
Bill Shattuck once told me that he didn’t feel much like he’d hunted unless he’d put in about five miles of boot leather before he bagged his birds.
He was talking about grouse, and those long, luxurious hikes across the sprawling Fort Pierre National Grasslands that Bill loved so much. But he was a pheasant man, too.
In those days, he was running Brittanies. And when I asked him once why he had two, he answered logically: “Because I can’t afford three.”
Bill later turned to Duetche Drathaars, the different breed brought no change in his love for pointing dogs or the essential offering up of boot leather in search of upland birds. In fact, it seemed to get stronger.
He was a fine GF&P conservation officer, based on everything I saw and heard, and during his years as firearms-boating-safety coordinator was among the most candid on-the-record sources I’ve ever covered.
He was also as good a dog man as I have seen, close up.
He could tell a story with the best of them – even the master of the outdoor yarn, John Cooper. And nobody was better company in the field or over a cup of coffee than Bill Shattuck.
Bill died last week of a brain hemorrhage. Condolences can be sent to: Judy Shattuck and Family, 200 N. Buchanan Ave., Pierre, S.D. 57501.
Word comes now that there will be a memorial service and dedication ceremony for Bill at the Krull Lodge near Harrold on May 26. His ashes will be scattered over his favorite draw, where his hunting drahthaar dog, Heike, died years earlier.'
He served as a conservation officer from 1964 to 1980 and then for 23 more years as the Hunter and Boating Education Coordinator for Game, Fish and Parks until his retirement.
Bill was selected as the Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year in South Dakota in 1980 and in 2004, was inducted into the International Hunter Education Association Hall of Fame.
In nominating Bill for award consideration, IHEA president-elect Terry Erwin of Texas wrote, “Bill Shattuck is one of the most gentle, pleasant and consistently mild mannered individuals, exuding the epitome of professional appearance and conduct in all dealings with state agency peers and state and provincial coordinators and administrators.”
This man was a hunting legend, and known as the foremost Hunter of Sharpies.
Wont be another one like him in this or another era. He spent 40+ years chasing them as an obsession and passion.
And he had great taste in German Hunting dogs.
I read of him today in Outdoor Classics and it was a fascinating story. I will try to upload it here later.