Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

    My "all-time favorite" hunting book is one my Dad gave me when I
    was about 14.  It is called Drummer in the Woods by a man named
    Burton Spiller, (I think).  It is a collection of short stories
    in grouse hunting.  Use to read it at night by flashlight.
                         
    Jeff

    My wife picked me up a good book last year (santa left it in my
    stocking), "Greatest Hunting Stories Ever Told", edited by Vin Sparano.
    
    I like to read stories, sick of all the "your doing it wrong" books,
    and articles of how you should be hunting....  nothing like a good
    story, makes ya feel like your there, gets ya outa the house for
    the hunt of a lifetime.
     
    Another good one is "The deer of N. America" edited by Leonard Rue.
    good factual data, not a "how to".
    
    Fra
    

    
         Jim Zumbo
         Winchester Press (An imprint of NEW CENTURY PUBLISHERS, INC.)
         Library of Congress #: 83-62028
         ISBN: 0-8329-3443-7
         
         TABLE OF CONTENTS
         -----------------
         Forward by Vin Sparano
         Introduction
         All About Mule Deer
         The Blacktail Deer
         The Trophy Buck
         Basic Hunting Techniques
         The Do-it-Yourself Hunt
         Outfitters and Guides - Should You Hire One?
         The Hunting Gun
         Optics
         Scouting Deer Country
         Bowhunting
         Muzzleloading
         Horseback Hunting
         Getting Your Deer Home
         From Carcass to Venison
         Hunting During Migration
         Hunting in Aspen Forests
         Hunting in Pinyon-Juniper Forests
         Hunting in Evergreen Forests
         Hunting in High Brush
         Hunting in Sagebrush
         Hunting in Riverbottoms
         Hunting in Agricultural Areas
         Hunting in the Desert
         Getting in Shape for Mule Deer Hunting
         The Future of Mule Deer
         Appendix
         Recipes
         State-by-State Directory
         Index
         
    I would rate this "*****" (5 stars out of a possible 5).

    the best outdoor humor you'll ever read is by patrick mcmanus.
    he has 5 books so far, with titles like" never sniff a gift fish"
    and " the great grasshopper trap" or"white tail hair and rubber
    legs". don't try to read this stuff while in the presence of other
    people, they won't understand why you are laughing and crying at
    the same time! everyone will identify with some of the hunting,
    fishing, or just plain growing up stories! he's the best !
    lds

    
    I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT PAT. HE IS REAL FUNNY!
    I ALSO SUGGEST FOLOWING .4'S ADVICE ABOUT READING PAT'S BOOKS
    BY YOURSELF. MY FAVORITE STORY IS 'THE HUNTERS DICTIONARY'.
    OO EE AAA HHH = THATS THE LAST TIME I PUT ON WET PANTS ON A COLD
    JANUARY MORNING.
    ##@$@#%$= WHAT ONE SAYS AFTER STEPPING OUT OF A BOAT 
    THREE FEET SHORT OF A  DUCK BLIND ON A COLD DECEMBRER MORNING.
                          
    YOU HAVE TO READ THESE BOOKS.
    

    more on pat mcmanus,
    
    my favorite is about the time he was hunting on a hill with his
    bike, shot a nice buck and tied it to his back behind him and drove
    it down the hill. he didn't gut it out because he didn't know how,
    turns out he only knocked the thing out, and on the trip down the
    hill it wakes up...   had to be there but it was good!
    
    how and where can i find his books, who's the publisher etc...
    
    Fra 

    any good bookstore will order his books for you, unfortunately i
    haven't found too many of his books on the shelves, but his last
    book"rubber legs and white tailed hair" has been in a few stores.
    every gun enthisiast should read his story on how to smuggle guns
    into the house! maybe even a few pointers for those of you not
    very experienced with getting that second new gun past the little
    woman! course she'll ask what the heck you need another gun for?
    and you'll be able to reply with a time tested pat mcmanus retort!
    hee hee!
    think i'll go home and reread that one tonite!!
    

    
    One of my favorite books about hunting is "The Ted Trueblood Hunting
    Treasury"  It is of course written by Ted Trueblodd. It combines
    alot of how to with stories of actual hunts on most N. American
    big game and lots of upland/ducks. From the top of my head I remember,
    Mule Deer, Whitetail, lots on Elk, moose (Ted's only moose hunt),
    sheep, rabbits, grouse, pheasant, chukar, hungarian partridge, ducks.
    There is also large sections on Cooking/preparing, equipment, camping
    while hunting.
    
    I also like McManus for the lighter side. Last I knew he appeared
    every month in Outdoor Life.
    
    --Bob
    

    Try reading  "Hell, I was there" by Elmer Keith. It has a little
    of everything in it. Make for some good reading on those cold winter
    nights...............
    
    sjn

    I heartily agree with both McManus and Keith, have read them and
    they're great. 
    If you're into Africa, there are two authors who are infrequently
    mentioned. Robert Ruark wrote several books before his death, I've
    been unfortunate in that they are out of print and hard to find.
    Those I have are treasured possesions. My favorite is The Old Man
    and The Boy (autobiographical) and Horn of the Hunter, the story
    of Ruark's own safari.
    Also dealing with Africa, Peter Hathaway Capstick is a former safari
    guide and game control officer who spent nearly two decades in the
    bush and has some wonderful stories to tell. Probably his best known
    work is Death in the Long Grass. The chapter on snakes had my feet
    off the floor by the third paragraph.
    Both writers have a warmth and skill that makes you feel as if you
    had been present. And both have a saltiness about them that adds
    immeasurably to the reading.
    
    Bill

    Try "The High Hunt" (or is it just "High Hunt"?) by David
    Eddings. This book was written back in the early 70's and
    re-issued a year or so ago. The author has since become famous
    for his works in the fantasy field, but this early novel is
    very realistic.       
    
    Dana

    I'm presently reading "Deer and Deer Hunting, Vol. I"  by Robert
    Wegner.  This is a book devoted entirely to whitetailed deer and
    deer hunting.  It features some biographies of T. S. Van Dyke, Fred
    Bear, Len Lee Rue III, and other famous pioneers of deer hunting.
    
    It also features chapters on Deer and Apples, Acorns, Alfalfa, Water,
    Beds, Droppings, Tracking, Farmland Deer, Deep Woods Deer, Still
    Hunting, Stand Hunting, Bow Hunting, Cripples, Hunter Ethics,
    Conservation, Deer Camp, The Hunter, The Solo Hunter, Breeding,
    Antler Growth, Fawns, and much, much more.
    
    Probably the most valuable section of the book, however, is the
    reference section in the back.  There are probably close to 200
    references on Deer and Deer Hunting, including authors, titles,
    publishers, dates, etc.  Definitely the definitive reference section
    on deer.
    
    Wegner also has a Volume II, which covers advanced deer hunting
    tactics.
    
    The format of the books is quite convenient, as the chapters are
    short (can be read in 20-30 minutes).  A very good book that gives
    solid biological data on the deer and its habits, and gives some
    very knowledgeable tips on deer hunting.  Very easy to read.
    
    Mark.

    
    
      Has anyone caught this months issue of Out-House News???  It has
    an interesting article on The Benoints from Vermont...  They go
    into on how they are so sucessful in Vermont... I know from reading
    the paper in Vermont that they have done real well in Maine just
    about every year...
    
             Any comments???
    
    
          Jeff
          

    
    
    While I agree that Pat McManus has a true gift for humor, I
    just don't see how anyone can have a reasonable discussion of
    outdoor humorists without including Ed Zern.  His "Exit Laughing"
    column in Field and Stream has kept me in stitches for years.
    Who else could belong to an organization like the Manhattan
    Bloody Mary and Labrador Retriever Benevolent Association?  Or
    keep us all up to date on our favorite rare bird, the Axoltl?
    
    Jerry

    
    
    As for exciting hunting stories, it's hard to beat Russel
    Annabel.  I think that he's dead now (does anyone know?), but
    for years (60s and maybe 70s), his articles graced the pages
    of Sports Afield on a regular basis.  He seemed to split his
    time between being a guide in Alaska or in Southern Mexico/
    Central America.  If you ever get a chance, read him.  You
    won't regret it.
    
    Jerry

    
    
    One more and then I'll quit.  I have a copy of a book entitled
    "Guns and Gunning".  It was written by Captain Paul A. Curtis 
    and first published in 1934.  The copy I have was printed by
    Outdoor Life in 1941.
    
    The book itself doesn't contain any particularly profound
    truths, nor is it filled with excitement and adventure.  It is,
    however, a trip back in time.  I found it very interesting to
    read some of Curtis's views on certain issues.  It is apparrent
    from his writing that he is a rather well heeled sportsman, and
    more than just a little bit impressed with himself.  He also
    makes frequent remarks about this or that being good enough for
    the "average man" (but implies that it wouldn't suit him).  Also,
    some of his recounts of hunts and shoots gives you a fair idea
    why game populations have declined.
    
    Anyway, I recommend it not so much because it is enjoyable reading,
    but because it is a treatise on what we don't want to be.
                                            
    That's all,
    
    Jerry

    For you Pat McManus fans, check out the October '89 issue of
    Outdoor Life.  Not only does it contain its customary feature
    by your man, but there is also an article about the illustrious
    humorist.  Good reading.
    
    Jerry

    I'm looking for a good book on retriever hunting tests,
    has anyone read one they would recommend? 
    
    There is one in GUNDOG magazine by Jim Spencer, has anyone
    read this book? What did you think? 
    
    Thanks for the help,
    Michael

    Spencer's book is a good guide to help you set up tests for imparting
    certain training concepts to your dog.  I've got his book and found it
    good.  He has a lot of diagrams and goes into detail explaining why a
    certain set-up is meaningful.  However I think Tom Quinn's book, The
    Working Retriever is a better one.  Goes into more detail on training
    and takes you from basic choice of a puppy through hunting and field
    trials.  Costs a lot more but you get what you pay for.  If you're
    interested in a guide to help you run the AKC hunting tests better
    there isn't anything yet that I know of written specifically for that
    purpose.

           <<< Note 258.19 by DNEAST::WESTLAKE_SUE "SUE WESTLAKE" >>>
                            -< I've read it . . . >-


    Thanks Sue, you said Tom Quinn's book was more detailed on training.

    Does the book discuss training problems and how to deal with them?
    Or just more tid bits and things to know, things you should be doing
    to prepare for tests/trials?

    Does he also go into how to setup tests? 

    I'm looking for a little of everything actually, just starting 
    to find out and learn about these dog games.......

    Thanks for the help,
    Michael

    It shows diagrams of how to set up tests---progressions really of
    moving from early training to advanced set-ups.  Also discusses a
    myriad of training problems and solutions.  I've got quite a collection
    of books for training labs and Quinn's book is by far the most
    comprehensive of them all.
    Sue

    Thanks Sue,
    
    Sounds like just what I was looking for. 
    
    Thanks, again,
    Michael
    

    I highly recommend THE WORKING RETRIEVERS by Tom Quinn. 
    
    I just got it last week (was hoping to get it for Christmas but
    Santa forgot.... can you believe it!) and finished it last night. 
    Sue is right it is very well written and comprehensive. Without a 
    doubt it is the best book I've read for retriever training. I wish 
    I had read it two years ago, it pulled a lot of things together for 
    me. 
    
    So, Sue are there any other books you would highly recommend?

    Thanks, again,
    Michael