My Thoughts on the Ultimate Recommended Reading List for Hunters
I think this is a solid, thoughtful list most hunters should
appreciate and use. Thanks so much for putting it together. I’m a big believer
in reading and books, especially to connect us to our history and traditions as
outdoorsmen (and women). Here are some thoughts on your list and a couple
additions.
I agree with almost every book on your list. My favorites
are Rinella (everything he writes), all books by the Eberharts on deer hunting,
Cameron Hanes’ Backcountry Bowhunting, all of the Eastman how-to’s and Jose
Ortega y Gasset’s book. Also agree with Sand County Almanac – every
outdoorsman should regularly read this book.
To your whitetail deer section, I’d add Joe Brooks’ Year-Round
Trophy Whitetails. Similar to Everhart’s books but some slightly different
approaches – good stuff.
I know you focus mainly on deer hunting (and I do as well),
but I enjoy a great read. For birdhunters, I have a couple books to recommend:
Gene Hill was one of the greatest writers ever and I
appreciate all of his books, but Tears & Laughter is my favorite.
Gene’s fans will never look at their dogs the same way again.
Jim Fergus wrote two great traveling books – A
Hunter’s Road and The Sporting Road about roaming
bird-hunting lands with a yellow lab in an Airstream.
Rick Bass is a great writer (although he can be a bit
depressing), and his books Colter and Brown Dog of the Yaak
were fantastic. Fair warning – even tough hunters will break down after
reading. Make sure you read in a quiet room with no witnesses.
Gordon MacQuarrie literally wrote the books on duck hunting
and his three volumes (Stories of the Old Duck Hunters, More
Stories of the Old Duck Hunters and Last Stories of the Old Duck Hunters)
were solid semi-non-fictional tomes. I say semi-non-fictional because I’m not
really sure the events happened, but they are great duck hunting stories. His
biography by Keith Crowley will also give you insight into the man, who never
really made a lot of money from his work, but changed the way we think about
duck hunting.
For old-time writers, I agree with Jordan Seitz – Elmer
Keith’s Hell I Was There is one of the greatest autobiographies ever.
I’m never sure how much is true, but danged if Elmer wasn’t one of the greatest
Americans ever to live. Wish he was still alive and could run for President.
In the same vein, I also admire Jack O’Connor. I know a lot
of people either side with Elmer or Jack due to their long-running feud, but I
admire both and appreciate all of Jack’s books. A Mizzou grad, Jack is known as
the Father of the 270, but used a lot of other calibers. His books The
Hunting Rifle and The Rifle Book are two of my
favorites. Jack’s biography by Robert Anderson is also a great way to learn
more about the man. I never met Jack, but I’ve held his guns and met his son Bradford
and consider him to be a hunter we can all learn from.
For safari hunters, Robert Ruark is a great writer. His
books Use Enough Gun and Horn of the Hunter are required
reading for anyone heading to Africa on safari. Most hunters also remember
Ruark for his Old Man and the Boy books, which are solid hunting and life
stories of a boy and his grandfather.
For anyone liking the movie The Ghosts and the Darkness
(which was a great movie), the book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by Col. JH
Patterson was actually a better read than the movie. Just don’t try to sleep at
night after.
Again, great list, Mark!
