"I don't regard nature as a spectator sport." -Ed Zern, 1985 Hunting is a serious business-but it's also about camaraderie, achievements and failures, seeing new places, and revisiting cherished ones. The true stories here feature a variety of game, in locations that range from high Yukon Territory mountain peaks to lowland swamps off of Mobile Bay, Alabama. This is an indispensable volume for all lovers and students of the natural world. If your definition of home includes fields and marshes, creeks and river bottoms, plains and mountains, consider this required reading.

Go Fishing with Minnesota's Famous Identification Guide! Fishing is a perfect outdoors activity for all ages and skill levels, and the Land of 10,000 Lakes is an angler's paradise. Reel in fish, and make identifying your catches a snap. Now in its second edition, the Fish of Minnesota Field Guide by Dave Bosanko features detailed information about 81 species of Minnesota fish. When you're not sure what you caught, grab the handy guide and narrow your choices by family. Then identify your prize with the intricately detailed fish illustrations. Further verify the type of fish using the "Similar Species" comparisons. Book Features: Detailed information about 81 species Professional-quality illustrations-perfect for fish identification Fascinating facts on spawning behavior, feeding habits, and more Fishing tips and inside information for easily locating fishing hotspots Bonus resources such as state fishing records and answers to frequently asked questions This new edition includes updated information about everything from range to state records, as well as the inclusion of six new species. A new section on fishing tips offers pointers to help you catch more fish, and more information on invasive species can help prevent their spread. The Fish of Minnesota Field Guide is essential for every tackle box, beach bag, RV, and cabin. Plus, its convenient size makes it perfect for the dock or boat.

Special Features *Where to find more snook than ever before *Snook tackle that won't let you down *Live bait expertise-finding it and fishing it *Giant snook-best times, techniques, tackle *Plug casting, spinning and flyrodding Packed with secrets from the nation's best snook anglers, The Snook Book is "must" reading for anyone who loves the pursuit of this unique sub-tropic species. Every aspect of Finding and catching big snook is covered, in every season and in all waters where snook are found. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, every chapter of The Snook Book will make you a better snook fisherman.

Originally published in 1853, this is Surtees' great comedic hunting novel. Delightfully illustrated throughout with pen-and-ink sketches, it follows the misadventures of the ghastly Mr Sponge in the hunting field. Still very amusing after all this time, there are many 'hunting types' described that are easily recogniseable today. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Contents Include: Our Hero - Mr. Benjamin Buckram - Peter Leather - Laverick Wells - Mr. Waffles - Laverick Wells - Our Hero Arrives at Laverick Wells - Old Tom Towler - The Meet, The Find and The Finish - The Feeler - The Deal and The Disaster - An Old Friend - A New Scheme - Jawleyford Court - The Jawleyford Establishment - The Dinner - The Tea - The Evening's Reflections - The Wet Day - The F.H.H. - A Country Dinner-Party - The F.H.H. Again - The Great Run - Lord Scamperdale at Home - Mr. Spraggon's Embassy to Jawleyford Court - Mr. and Mrs. Springwheat - The Finest Run That Ever Was Seen! - The Faithful Groom - The Cross Roads at Dallington Burn - Bolting the Badger - Mr. Puffington; Or, The Young Man About Town - The Man of P-r-o-r-perty - A Swell Huntsman - The Beaufort Justice - Lord Scamperdale at Jawleyford Court - Mr. Bragg's Kennel Management - Mr. Puffington's Domestic Arrangements - A Day with Puffington's Hounds - Writing a Run - A Literary Bloomer - A Dinner and a Deal - The Morning's Reflections - Another Sick Host - Wanted, A Rich God-Papa! - The Discomfited Diplomatist -Puddingpote Bower, The Seat of Jogglebury Crowdey, Esq - A Family Breakfast on a Hunting Morning - Hunting the Hounds - Country Quarters - Sir Harry Scattercash's Hounds - Farmer Peastraw's Dine-Matinee - A Moonlight Ride - Puddingpote Bower - Family Jars - The Trigger - Nonsuch House Again - The Debate - Facey Romford - The Adjourned Debate - Facey Romford at Home - Nonsuch House Again - A Family Breakfast - The Rising Generation - The Kennel and the Stud - The Hunt - Mr. Sponge at Home - How They Got Up The "Grand Aristocratic Steeplechase" - Hot The "Grand Aristocratic" Came Off - How Other Things Came Off - How Lord Scamperdale and Co. Came Off

THE WILDFOWLER - A TREATISE ON FOWLING, ANCIENT AND MODERN. By H.C. Folkard. Originally published in 1859, this scarce early work on Wildfowling in all its various forms, is both expensive and hard to find in any edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now republished the third and best edition of 1875, using the original text and engravings. The author was an acknowledged expert in the art of wildfowling, and this book is probably the best researched and most descriptive early title on this increasingly popular field sport. It ranks among the highest class of sporting literature. The book's substantial four hundred and thirty six pages contain numerous Comprehensive Chapters: Fowling. Ancient Methods. History of Decoys. (nine chapters) Decoy Ducks. The Flight Pond. Wild Fowl Shooting. The Fowler's Dog. Language of Wild Fowl. Flight of Wild Fowl. The Gunning Punt. Punt Guns. Management of the Punt Gun. Punting by Daylight. The Sailing Punt. Night Punting. Goose Shooting. The Quarry (20 detailed chapters). Wild Swan Shooting. Shooting Yachts, Boats and Canoes. The Cripple Chase. Wild Duck Shooting. Coastal Shooting. Fenland Shooting. Methods of Capturing Woodcock. Laws Affecting Wild Fowl. Fowling Abroad. (11 chapters) Rock Fowling in The Shetlands, Orkney and St. Kilda. Wildfowling Ashore by Night. Snipe and Woodcock Shooting. Etc, etc. The contents are nicely illustrated with full page steel engravings and several wood-cuts. This is a fascinating read for any dedicated shooting man, fowler, or historian of the sport, but also contains much information that is still useful and practical today. ..."With fiery burst, The unexpected death invades the flock Tumbling they lie, and beat the flashing waves, Whilst those remoter from the fatal range Of the swift shot, mount up on vig'rous wing, And wake the sleeping echoes as they fly." Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.Keywords: Wild Fowl Punt Gun Decoy Ducks Acknowledged Expert Country Books Field Sport Decoys Engravings Treatise Fowler Daylight Sailing

The Perfect Shot: Mini Edition for Africa II has been completely revised and expanded! This handy pocket-size guide has been a perennial customer favorite ever since it was first published in 2003. Take this mini reference afield as you hunt elephant, buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, Nile crocodile, spotted hyena, giraffe, eland, greater kudu, zebra, sable, roan, waterbuck, blue wildebeest, bongo, oryx/gemsbok, hartebeest, black wildebeest, nyala, reedbuck, blesbok/bontebok, impala, bushbuck, springbok, warthog, duiker, klipspringer, steenbok, and grysbok. As in the big book, the mini edition features animal tracks as well as ghost views of vital areas and point of aim for each animal. A brief essay on natural history, trophy assessment, and subspecies is included. In addition, the updated tables in the back list the minimum requirements for inclusion in the Rowland Ward and SCI record books. While nothing can replace the "big" book, this is a super handy item to throw in your backpack or place in your pocket for your next safari. Don't forget to stick a mini guide in your pocket when afield so you'll know just where to place that "perfect shot"! This expanded and updated version is now 160 pages in length-32 more pages than the original Mini Perfect Shot.

Deer stalking entails much more than walking the countryside with a rifle; there is a great deal to be considered prior to lacing boots and donning a green fleece. It is often said that the real work starts after the trigger has been squeezed. This book looks at all aspects of the pursuit, with clear explanations accompanied by advice, images and anecdotes. In addition, there is a unique reference chapter of all potential conditions a deer may suffer from, with full descriptions and images, and advice on suitability for entering the food chain. Specific coverage includes: laws, leases and making a start obtaining an FAC: the necessary equipment in this technological age; deer species, with identifying images; deer senses and how they shape our approach to them; shot placement and maximum shooting distances; the importance of bullet design and its effect on the carcass; stalking activities by month through the year; after the stalk - sticking, initial evisceration, inspection and recovery; at the larder - hygiene, and who needs to register as a food business and finally, inspecting the carcass, with a library of images showing conditions.

In Quantitative Ammunition Selection, Charles Schwartz presents an accessible mathematical model that allows armed professionals and lawfully-armed citizens to evaluate the terminal ballistic preformance of self-defense ammunition using water as a valid ballistic test medium. Based upon a modified fluid dynamics equation that correlates highly (r=+0.94) to more than 700 points of manufacturer-and laboratory-test data, the quantitative model allows the armed professional to generate ballistic test results equivalent to those obtaines in calibrated 10 percent ordnance gelatin. Using data generated from water test, the quantitative model accurately predicts the permanent wound cavity volume and mass, terminal penetration depth, and exit velocity of handgun projectiles as these phenomena would occur in calibrated 10 percent ordnance gelatin and soft tissue.

A retired law enforcement professional, Schwartz provides a concise explanation of the relevant principles of mechanics, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics pertaining to the model and its derivation.

The quantitative model is clearly presented with illustrated computational examples that provide guidance to the armed professional in every aspect of the model's application.

Eugene Connett, III, the venerable founder of The Derrydale Press, described Edmund Smith as "the most polished writer we have ever published. The discovery of this manuscript in 1936 was, he said, "one of the happiest events of the past year." Smith was a master New England storyteller who expressed his love and knowledge of wild places through the medium of short stories. The title comes from an experience of the author and a boyhood friend who together enjoyed the thrill of catching their first bass with worms in a tomato can. Warm, evocative stories from locales all over the Atlantic seaboard. Originally published by The Derrydale Press in 1937, this classic of outdoor literature will appeal to the armchair sportsman as well as the accomplished hunter and fisher. Illustrated by Ralph L. Boyer.

This book is all about hunting wild turkey throughout the central Pennsylvania counties of Mifflin, Centre and Huntingdon. It's a collection of the many hunts experienced by the author and his turkey hunting companions from the fall of 1943 until the present. Each and every story is true. Not only are they entertaining, but they teach the do's and don'ts of turkey hunting. As the stories unfold, we'll be sneaking, setting up, calling, listening and watching. Sometimes we're successful; sometimes we're not. We soon learn, however, that some of our best memories are about the turkeys that got away.

Richly illustrated volume covers the development of modern German rifles and machine pistols, as well as their ammunition, and includes many rare and experimental types. Covered are the Werder rifle, Mauser rifles, the various M/71 rifles and ammunition, the 88 cartridge, the Infantry Rifle 88, the 98 rifles, the FallschirmjAger rifle, the 41 & 43 rifles, ERMA and Walther machine pistols and many more.

Toxophilus -The School Of Shooting (History of Archery Series) Roger Ascham This work comprises of two books combined together: The First Book of the School of Shooting and The Second Book of the School of Shooting. They are written in the form of a dialogue between Toxophilus 'A lover of the bow' and Philogus 'A lover of learning'. In the discussion Toxophilus justifies his love of archery as a pastime, puts forward his reasons for retaining the bow as a weapon of war instead of the newly favoured hand gun, and he gives practical instructions on the technique of shooting in the bow. Contents Include - Chronicle of the life, Works, and Times of Roger - Ascham - Apologia - The Royal Arms - Dedication to the King Henry VIII - To All Gentlemen and Yeoman of England - The First Book Of The School Of Shooting- The Second Book Of The School Of Shooting - The Table Of Contents Of The First Book Of The School Of Shooting - The Table Of The Second Book Of The School Of Shooting - Glossary of Old Words - Imprints of the first two editions of Toxophilus - Originally published in 1544. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Maurice Thompson s The Witchery of Archery is America's classic treatise on the subject of archery. Topics covered include: Archery Weapons, The Bow, To Make A Bow, Stringing the Bow, The Bowstring, The Arrow, The Shooting Glove, The Quiver and Belt, The Bracer, The Target, The Ascham, The Care of Tackle, How to Shoot and more.

The complete fisherman's friend The fully updated Fishing For Dummies, 3rd Edition, experienced angler and fishing writer Greg Schwipps shows that while none of us is born to angling, we can all achieve it--and become great at it. Whether you love fishing for fun or sport, this hands-on friendly guide has everything you need to make sure that there need never be such a thing as "the one that got away!" From trout to carp, catfish to bonefish, freshwater to saltwater, the easy-to-follow pictures and tips help you recognize and deal with what you'll meet in the murky deep. You'll also find out about the best times and the right spots to cast your line, as well as the right gear--which in these hi-tech days includes GPS, apps, and sonar! Gear up with the right rod and tackle Cast and bait effectively Gut and clean your catch Get hooked on new trends--kayak fishing! Whatever your line--a quiet afternoon at the local creek, or a punishing morning's whitewater kayaking followed by fishing the lonesome wild--Fishing For Dummies has you covered.

‘An absolute gem ... I was delightfully lost by the river throughout’ - Paul Whitehouse ‘Marvellous…The Catch leaves both its writer and its reader wonderfully "lost in water"’ - Robert Macfarlane ‘Penetrating and poetic, filled with honeyed prose and thoughtful criticism’ - The Times _______________ It is in the midst of a swirling river, casting a line, that Mark Wormald meets Ted Hughes. He stands where the poet stood, forty years ago, because fishing was Ted Hughes’s way of breathing – and because the poet's writing has made Mark understand that it has always been his way of breathing, too. Using Hughes’s poetry collection River and his fishing diaries as a guide, Mark returns again and again to the rivers and lakes in Britain and Ireland where the poet fished. At times, he uses Ted's fly patterns; at others his rods. It is an obsession; a fundamental connection to nature; a thrilling wildness; an elemental pursuit. But it is also a release and a consolation, as Mark fishes after the sudden death of his mother and during the slow fading of his father. A brilliant blend of memoir and biography, The Catch is a stunning meditation on poetry and nature, and a quiet reflection on what it means to be a father and a son.

Jam-packed with practical valuable information for fishermen everywhere, this handbook describes the hundreds of ties and bends used to connect line to the many types and kinds of hooks, leaders, lures, nets, traps, and seines. The text and illustrations are amply detailed and so clear that all guesswork is eliminated. The making and repairing of nets is thoroughly covered, as well as the making and repairing of seines and traps. With this guidebook in hand the novice can learn to make good nets and traps in a very short time. The veteran fisherman will find it an indispensable reference tool. Whether you fish for fun or to make a living, this is a valuable addition to your tackle box

SPORT IN IRELAND WITH NOTES AND PROSE IDYLS ON SHOOTING AND TROUT FISHING. By W. Barry. This scarce book was first published under the title "Moorland and Stream," in London 1871. Relatively few books have been penned dealing with early field sports in Ireland. This fascinating volume helps fill that gap. The author writes from his own memorable experiences with gun and rod across the wilder parts of the "Emerald Isle." His words bring to life the sport and sporting characters encountered during his adventures on Irish moorland and water. READ COUNTRY BOOKS has now re-published this compelling title using the original text. The book's 300+ pages contain 22 detailed chapters describing the author's various experiences whilst Cock Shooting, Grouse Shooting, Wildfowling, Partridge Shooting, Snipe Shooting, Plover Shooting, Trout Fishing etc. Irish rural life, its characters and the inevitable "craic" are much in evidence throughout. This unusual historical record of 19th century Irish field sports is recommended for a place on every true sportsman's bookshelf. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1800s, are now extremely scarce and very expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are reprinting these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions. These editions are republished using the original text and artwork.

Over the last twenty years there has been a noticeable increase in interest, not only in the use of rifles, but also in the technical aspects of what makes an accurate rifle. However, much of this information is limited not only to the bolt action rifle but even to certain makes that are favoured above all others. This book deals instead with all types of rifle from flintlock muzzleloaders to synthetic-stocked rifles. It is written in a clear, no-nonsense style based on many years of practical experience and follows the maxim that although theories are of inteest, it is only real results that count.

Fly fishing is complex and costly with too much cumbersome gear, right? Well, tenkara's different. Long overlooked in the West, tenkara is economical and simple, productive, and pleasurable This Eastern approach is today taking the fly-fishing world in North America and Europe by storm. Its tool kit is simple: a long, collapsible rod; a length of line tied to the end of the rod; and a fly. Without a reel, casting techniques become easy and intuitive. The gear is inexpensive and easily portable, perfect for hiking and camping. This pioneering book is an ideal guide to tenkara, covering the essentials of gear and rigging, the roots of tenkara, fishing dry flies as well as subsurface fishing and casting--as well as tenkara backpacking and tenkara for women. Tenkara has been the subject of features in Field & Stream, American Angler, and Fly, Rod & Reel magazines, and has been endorsed by the likes of Patagonia CEO and environmentalist Yvon Chouinard. Major retail outlets are now selling tenkara rods.