The image that comes to mind when you think of big game hunters is of African safaris with men carrying enormous guns hunting exotic game. But there were women on those trips as well, and not just the trips to Africa, and they were often as successful at the hunt as the men. Women such as Lady Florence Dixie, Agnes Herbert, Osa Johnson, Grace Gallatin Seton, and Gladys Harriman hunted so well, they made names for themselves and wrote of their adventures. Divided into chapters detailing a specific time period, region hunted or individual woman, With Rifle and Petticoat explores the interesting women who hunted a variety of big game animals around the world.

Without doubt, in the British Isles, reservoirs provide the best, and the most accessible and affordable opportunity for catching rainbow and brown trout with an artificial fly. In whatever part of the country you reside there will probably be at least one day-ticket reservoir close to your home that is stocked with trout. To be consistently successful, the angler will need not only to utilize a wide range of fishing techniques, but also to possess a sufficiently comprehensive set of artificial flies to cater for every conceivable fishing situation.

The New Game Rancher is a succinct guide to the complete spectrum of game ranching in South Africa and is illustrated with more than 400 full colour photos, line drawings and illustrations. It is a collection of contributions from zoologists, ecologists, geneticists, veterinarians, academics, conservationists and experienced game ranchers. The New Game Rancher is ideal for anyone with an interest in game farming, both game ranchers and those associated with or interested in the business.

New in Paperback: The harrowing adventure-at-sea memoir ("Terrific."-Daniel James Brown) recounting the 2013 search-and-rescue mission for lost Montauk fisherman John Aldridge. "A Speck in the Sea is a terrific read-harrowing and inspiring at the same time. In the end it's a moving testament both to our individual will to survive and to our collective will to come to the aid of others in distress. I couldn't put it down." -Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat In the dead of night on July 24, 2013, John Aldridge was thrown off the back of the Anna Mary while his fishing partner, Anthony Sosinski, slept below. As desperate hours ticked by, Sosinski, the families, the local fishing community, and the U.S. Coast Guard in three states mobilized in an unprecedented search effort that culminated in a rare and exhilarating success. A tale of survival, perseverance, and community, A Speck in the Sea tells of one man's struggle to survive as friends and strangers work to bring him home. Aldridge's wrenching first-person account intertwines with the narrative of the massive, constantly evolving rescue operation designed to save him.

When Lily Raff McCaulou traded in an indie film production career in New York for a reporting job in central Oregon, she never imagined that she'd find herself picking up a gun and learning to hunt. She'd been raised as a gun-fearing environmentalist and an animal lover, and though a meat-eater, she'd always abided by the principle that harming animals is wrong. But Raff McCaulou's perspective shifted when she began spending weekends fly-fishing and weekdays interviewing hunters for her articles, realizing that many of them were more thoughtful about animals and the environment than she was.
So she embarked upon the project of learning to hunt from square one. From attending a Hunter Safety course designed for children to field dressing an elk and serving it for dinner, she explores the sport of hunting and all it entails, and tackles the big questions surrounding one of the most misunderstood American practices and pastimes. Not just a personal memoir, this book also explores the role of the hunter in the twenty-first century, the tension (at times artificial) between hunters and environmentalists, and new models of sustainable and ethical food procurement.

The bamboo fly rod still represents the pinnacle of the fly-fishing art; its apparent simplicity and delicacy belie the craftsmanship and strength that are the hallmarks of all great rods. A growing number of people have tried to learn the art of making bamboo rods from a shrinking number of secretive craftsmen. The revised and expanded Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods is the definitive reference for beginners and experts alike. Wayne Cattanach begins by explaining the qualities that distinguish bamboo from all other materials: It has a tensile strength akin to steel, yet it is very light.
He describes the process that will take anyone from lengths of hard, raw bamboo to a beautiful finished rod with clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations, including how to find the best supplies; select tools and materials; make heat treaters and binders; cut culms; straighten bamboo strips; plane and stagger strips; bind strips; apply finishes; mount the reel seat, ferrules, and tip-top; and much more. This is surely the most thorough book available for those who wish to make and fish with their own bamboo fly rods.

An Historical Dictionary of Forestry and Woodland Terms describes the special words used by those working or hunting in England's woodlands and forests from the early Middle Ages until the present. The author does not simply give the meanings of words: he describes the customs and practices to which they refer, and frequently adds quotations from contemporary sources, the latter ranging from medieval royal charters and Shakespeare's As You Like It to such books as Taylor's Common Good or the Emprovements of Commons (1652), John Evelyn's Sylva (1664) and Jefferies's Wildlife in a Southern County (1879).
From this dictionary the reader will not only learn the meaning of such terms as pismires, perambulation, furlong and quaking ash, but will find brief histories of the forest courts of the Middle Ages, and the lawing of dogs. Long entries describe such complex procedures as bark-stripping, dishing and dressing, and the care and exploitation of coppice. Many words and practices described here survived until the recent past and some are still in use today.
This unique book will be welcomed by everyone interested in the history of English rural life in which woodlands and forests have played, over the centuries, such a vital role.
The entries are fully referenced and illustrated where appropriate with line drawings.

More than fish tales in this delightful book, readers will discover stories about the special relationships that develop through fishing-between parents and children, between friends and lovers, between fisherman, nature, and the elusive fish.

This unique adventure in book publishing takes you onto the famed trout waters of Northern Pennsylvania for a series of detailed, exciting lessons from one of the great fly fishermen of all time, Joe Humphreys. In extraordinary photo sequences, detailed captions, and imaginative, original schematic drawings illustrating theory as well as practical technique, Joe shows you how to catch trout. Joe talks directly to you, the reader, in On the Trout Stream, as if you were wading along beside him for a one-on-one lesson. You are in the current at his side as he points out ways to read water, shows you what tippet-fly combo he's going to use for a particular stream situation, discusses casting, makes his approach, and, with you at his side, lands fish. Joe goes into the basics of bottom-drifting the nymph. He talks conditioning-the context of the weather's seasonal rhythms and how trout react, as well as how their behavior is affected by a dozen other factors, from light to temperature to the nature of the food chain. He shows you his favorite flies, some of them never-before-photographed originals, with advice on tying and fishing. He shows you ways to figure out what the trout are taking and how, in a myriad of different stream situations. You wade along with Joe as he plies intermixing currents, pocket water, riffles, pools, runs, feeder streams, spring holes, guts, shallows, and tight brush with his nymphs and dry flies, showing you-and talking to you-step-by-step through his system of fishing: a body of knowledge developed in over 100,000 hours of hands-on trouting experience on some of the world's toughest water. How do you get that weighted nymph bouncing naturally over the bottom where it's going to catch fish? What is the single most important factor in casting the dry fly? How should you build your leader for different types of water, current, and stream-configuration? When should you ignore water temperature? What's the one nymph-approach trout can't seem to resist? What's the secret of the hook-up? On the Trout Stream gives you hard information and instruction in an original, highly visual presentation of how Joe Humphreys actually fishes. Unprecedented in approach, full of new tips as well as photo-sequence explanations of techniques never before fully explained anywhere, this reading-and looking-experience will prove indispensable to anyone who has already grasped the basics of fly fishing and is surely destined to take its place among the innovative teaching texts in any sport.

’I can’t recall us ever talking about anything other than eels and how to best catch them, down there by the stream. Actually, I can’t remember us speaking at all. Maybe because we never did.’

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is one of the strangest creatures nature ever created. Remarkably little is known about the eel, even today. What we do know is that it’s born as a tiny willow-leaf shaped larva in the Sargasso Sea, travels on the ocean currents toward the coasts of Europe – a journey of about four thousand miles that takes at least two years. Upon arrival, it transforms itself into a glass eel and then into a yellow eel before it wanders up into fresh water. It lives a solitary life, hiding from both light and science, for ten, twenty, fifty years, before migrating back to the sea in the autumn, morphing into a silver eel and swimming all the way back to the Sargasso Sea, where it breeds and dies.

And yet . . . There is still so much we don’t know about eels. No human has ever seen eels reproduce; no one can give a complete account of the eel’s metamorphoses or say why they are born and die in the Sargasso Sea; no human has even seen a mature eel in the Sargasso Sea. Ever. And now the eel is disappearing, and we don’t know exactly why.

What we do know is that eels and their mysterious lives captivate us.

This is the basis for The Gospel of the Eels, Patrik Svensson’s quite unique natural science memoir; his ongoing fascination with this secretive fish, but also the equally perplexing and often murky relationship he shared with his father, whose only passion in life was fishing for this obscure creature.

Through the exploration of eels in literature (Günter Grass and Graham Swift feature, amongst others) and the history of science (we learn about Aristotle’s and Sigmund Freud’s complicated relationships with eels) as well as modern marine biology (Rachel Carson and others) we get to know this peculiar animal. In this exploration, we also learn about the human condition, life and death, through natural science and nature writing at its very best.

HINTS ON REVOLVER SHOOTING By WALTER WINANS Originally published in 1904, this rare early work on the revolver and its use, is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now republished it, using the original text and artwork, in a high quality, affordable, modern edition. The author was a well known and respected figure in the gun world of that era. He was an expert shot with all types of firearms and was Vice-President of the National Rifle Association and President of the Ashford Rifle Club. He also wrote "The Art of Revolver Shooting" and "Practical Rifle Shooting." and was a prolific contributor of shooting material to the sporting press. The book's one hundred and thirty six pages contain eighteen detailed chapters and many black and white photographs and illustrations: Selecting a Revolver and Ammunition. - Cleaning and Care of Weapons. - Sights. - Learning to Use the Revolver. - Gallery Shooting. - Bisley: 20 Yards Stationary Target. - Disappearing Target. - Rapid Firing. - Traversing target. - Team Shooting and Coaching. - General Remarks on Shooting in Competitions. - Stage Shooting. - Trick Shooting. - Target Shooting off Horseback. - Shooting in Self Defence. - Revolver Shooting for Ladies. - Shooting in the Dark. This is a fascinating read for any gun enthusiast or historian, with much of the information and advice still useful and practical today. "Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, bear 't that the opposed may beware of thee." Polonoius.

Following his English setters into thickets in search of grouse and woodcock, Mark Parman feels the pull of older ways and lost wisdom. How rare it is, in our high-tech world, to find oneself completely off the track, bewildered in the wild, and then find the path home by sight and scent and memory. Among the Aspen interweaves tales of companionable dogs, lucky hunts, and favorite coverts where quarry lurks with ruminations on the demise of hunting traditions, the sale of public lands and the privatization of places to hunt, the growing indifference to science, and the loss of wilderness on a planet increasingly transformed by the sprawl of humanity.

The Kenai is a world-class salmon river that attracts fishermen from all over the world, but is also the "everyman" river of the great fishing paradise of Alaska because of its accessibility. The Kenai River is special not only because world-record salmon are caught in its stunning green waters, but because it is on the road system and thus can be accessed by the average fisherman, not merely the well-to-do who pay huge sums to fish in remote Alaskan areas controlled by private lodges and that are approachable only by small planes.
In a state that takes at least a share of its identity from its image as The Last Frontier and concurrently as a fishing haven, the Kenai River is the lifeblood of a sporting world and industry that offers an incomparable fishing experience to the resident, the tourist, the hardcore fisherman, the beginner, and the expert. Fishermen in the Lower 48 states, seduced by images of gigantic fighting salmon, dream of some day fishing the picturesque waters of the Kenai River. Fishermen who live in Southcentral Alaska, including Alaska's largest city of Anchorage, plot their fishing seasons around the arrival of king salmon, red salmon, and silver salmon. To all of them, the Kenai is a magical river.
Not only is it the place of dreams, where an angler might catch a world record or world-class fish, it is, despite its nearness to the small cities of Kenai and Soldotna, still a wilderness. At one bend in the river there might be a hotel, a private summer home, or a forest since the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge also swallows the Kenai River.
The eighty-file-mile-long Kenai River is, more or less, two rivers. The upper river prohibits motorized boats altogether. The lower river features them. The upper river invites rafters and fly-fishermen. The lower river offers savvy guides who know each turn of the river, each rock's placement, and the opportunity to fish for 70-, 80-, or 90-pound salmon through specially developed styles appropriate to the area and the species. The upper river allows for Dolly Varden and rainbow trout fishing. The lower river emphasizes big salmon.
Each summer thousands of anglers fish the Kenai River. They bring millions of dollars worth of business to the Kenai Peninsula while following their dreams and bringing home stories of wilderness fishing adventures.

Archery conjures up many images Robin Hood, the American West, wild safaris in Africa, and the simplicity of nature on a brisk October morning. Howard Hill brings to life all of these images with exciting stories about the thrill of the hunt, oneness with nature, and the adventure of the great outdoors. Hunting the Hard Way, considered by many to be the most sought-after archery title, is now back in print and full of the thrilling escapades of a bow and arrow purist.

War bows dominated battlefields across the world for centuries. In their various forms, they allowed trained archers to take down even well-armoured targets from great distances, and played a key role in some of the most famous battles in human history. The composite bow was a versatile and devastatingly effective weapon, on foot, from chariots and on horseback for over a thousand years, used by cultures as diverse as the Hittites, the Romans, the Mongols and the Ottoman Turks. The Middle Ages saw a clash between the iconic longbow and the more technologically sophisticated crossbow, most famously during the Hundred Years War, while in Japan, the samurai used the yumi to deadly effect, unleashing bursts of arrows from their galloping steeds.

Historical weapons expert Mike Loades reveals the full history of these four iconic weapons that changed the nature of warfare. Complete with modern ballistics testing, action recreations of what it is like to fire each bow and a critical analysis of the technology and tactics associated with each bow, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in ancient arms.

Originally published in 1950, this book presents a comprehensive anthropological discussion of fishing written by the renowned British ethnographer and zoologist James Hornell (1865-1949). The text begins with an account of methods and tools used in fishing, before moving on to the processes of fishing in different parts of the world, including, but not limited to, India, Sri Lanka, the Far East and Polynesia. Numerous illustrative figures and a bibliography are also incorporated. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in anthropology, ethnography and the history of fishing.

Your Informative (and Entertaining!) Guide to Fly Fishing Fly fishing is a wonderful way to catch fish, and it is much simpler than you might think. More and more people are using this thrilling technique to catch trout, bluegill, sailfish, and more. You can count yourself among them. It just takes the right equipment, a little bit of know-how, and some practice. If you've never tried because you heard it's "too hard," then you are missing out! In Thrasher's Fly Fishing Guide, professional fly fisher Susan Thrasher provides an all-in-one resource to get you on the water and fly fishing with success. Inside You'll Find: Introduction to the basics, including terminology and equipment Discussion of various methods, from dry fly fishing to Euro nymphing Personal stories and anecdotes to entertain and encourage Advanced tips, such as fly fishing from a kayak and understanding various fly line designs Recommendations on lodging, guides, and nearby activities for destination trips Whether you've never hooked a fish or have spent your whole life casting a fly to that elusive brown trout, you'll enjoy Thrasher's engaging writing style, and you'll appreciate her step-by-step approach that can take you from "never tried" to "let's go again tomorrow!"

From the azure waters of Hawaii to the pristine streams in Alaska to the craggy New England coast, a devoted angler reveals the agony and ecstasy of fishing. Fishing the Wild Waters invites us to traverse America and visit three distant and distinct dream destinations for any serious angler-and anyone who aspires to someday become one. Sullivan's marvelous debut illuminates the often profound nature of fishing as a vehicle that connects those who practice it with reverence to a world beyond the one humans created. As we travel along with Sullivan, he reveals what goes into the pursuit of select fish in the region with humor and personal stories as well as deep knowledge. Hawaii, Alaska and New England are some of the last frontiers of fishing in America. They are full of danger, big fish, and extraordinary adventure. To fish these places is to reach back and stand alongside the First Nations of fishermen-our ancestors who lived there for thousands of years before us-as well as those early Americans who built this country using species like cod as their currency. These cultural and fishing outposts will tell us something if we can just be quiet and listen. To hear that message requires an intrinsic respect for these ancient fishing grounds and our connection to them. This mindset is in lock-step with a growing movement of anglers who fish these wildest of waters as a way to turn down the noise of modern living and tune into their fundamental, hands-on relationship with the sea, finding not only the solace, but the sustenance the fish provides to those who take the time to learn its lessons. Plus, filling a freezer with the world's healthiest protein just feels right. By turns funny, thrilling, and lyric, Fishing the Wild Waters celebrates these special places where each fisherman can pull back the curtain, connect to the sea, and gaze into their own soul - the soul of a fisherman.