Compiled by Lamar Underwood
Soft cover 368 pages
Available from Rowman & Littlefield
1-800-462-6920
$22.95 plus $5 shipping
Once again Lamar Underwood has gathered a collection of great hunting stories from the famous writers of the past, for some great reading.
This edition features multiple stories of deer hunting and hunting dogs as well as accounts of dove, quail, turkey, elk, moose, mountain goats, bear, and buffalo. Famous authors such as Mark Twain, Nash Buckingham, Colonel Townsend Whelan, Theodore Roosevelt, and others grace the 368 pages of this compilation with their best writings.
Mark Twain’s “Hunting the Deceitful Turkey” ranks as some of his best work and any turkey hunter will appreciate it. With dove season upon us, the accounts of dove hunting will whet the appetite for their pursuit. The first article on deer hunting ends with the deer escaping and the rueful comment “You’ll soon forget the ones you drag out but the ones that outfox you will leave tracks in your mind.” Nash Buckingham relates the story of quail hunting at the turn of the century and there is a most entertaining article on moose hunting.
Theodore Roosevelt’s story of whitetail deer hunting is a splendid piece of hunter/naturalist work that is just as pertinent now as when it was first written. He also touches on the Western mule deer. In typical Theodore Roosevelt style he sets out to tell all that is known about the animal he is writing about and succeeds so well that this chapter alone is worth the price of the book to a dedicated deer hunter. You are not burdened with dry facts of interest only to a biology professor. Everything is told from the view of the hunter/naturalist and it is all good useful information for the deer hunter.
Indeed much useful information can be gleaned from the articles covering the hunting of all the aforementioned game for this book is a compilation of articles written by hunters for hunters. It also makes for a very entertaining read that can help fire up the hunter’s blood and ambition at the start of hunting season after the long months of lay off waiting for the seasons to open again.—Jim Dickson
