Fly-fishing is a multifaceted sport that will absorb you in its reality, taking you to places of exceptional beauty, to explore and to revel in the solitude. It is so often spoken of as an art form while fly-tying, inextricably linked to fly-fishing, is in its own right a form of artistry.

South African Fishing Flies is a celebration of this artistry – the innovation, the talents of the originators and their vision of imagination, masters of the craft – and of all the fly-tyers of South Africa. It is not an exhaustive reference to all South African flies, but is rather an anthology of those that by virtue of their innovation in design, materials used and tying techniques have helped shape and, in some cases, change the thinking on fly-tying in this country.

It is also a visual celebration of these flies, the waters we fish, an introduction to some of the individuals in our fly-fishing community, and creators of South African flies.

The author's vast falconry experience, combined with that of his fellow contributors, make this volume knowledge-heavy yet light and entertaining in style. It covers all aspects of modern falconry, from the traditions that shaped the sport we know today to its underpinning ethics and philosophy as it continues to evolve in the 21st century. It takes the reader around the globe in search of ultimate quarry species, relating methods and motives through the hawking experiences of those who seek the most challenging flights in their art. Scottish red grouse and Belgian crows; houbara hawking with gyrfalcons and sakers; wood pigeon hawking with peregrines and goshawks; sand grouse, snipe and sage grouse with high-flying falcons: this book gives the falconer pride in the sport's traditions and enthusiasm for the future development and evolution of this living heritage.

The best fishing writing is never really about fishing, or never only about fishing, and the writers collected in A Twitch Upon the Thread use angling as a way to write about love, loss, faith, and obsession. This is an anthology of fishing writing ranging from medieval times to the present, taking the reader from riverbank to open ocean, from England to New Zealand, from the shore to the depths. Read it and be hooked. Included are contributions from Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens, Ota Pavel, Arthur Ransome, George Orwell, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and dozens more.

An ancient and environmentally friendly method of catching salmon, by spotting them in the water and taking them with net and coble', unique to the Cromarty Firth, was recently banned by the Scottish government. The men who knew this way of fishing are no longer young, and there is every risk of their centuries-old techniques dying with them. So it is fortunate that a practitioner of the craft for over fifty years has drawn on his knowledge and experience to paint a rich picture of this fishing, the firthland itself and the history of salmon netting. He describes great fishing days, the life of the fishing bothy and the characters who inhabited it. He takes the reader through the fish's life cycle and discusses declining catches and the threats to the wild salmon's future. His and his fellow netsmen's respect for this legendary fish and their love of the firth and its wildlife shine through. With maps, many photographs and a helpful glossary, the story is enhanced by recipes, anecdote and character sketches, also five poems on fishing, the work of a variety of hands. While anglers and conservationists will be drawn to this unique account, there is much to interest the general reader, who will discover a vanished world, grand Highland characters and the delights of fishing in a beautiful setting.

This comprehensive book is essential reading for all those interested in pigeon shooting, whether for pest control or for sport. It examines the use of decoy pigeons, the control of feral pigeons, shooting around buildings where birds are roosting and the use of shotguns. It also covers in depth pigeon shooting with air rifles and live fire rifles. Attention is also paid to building hides, gun safety, gun care, and the practicalities of shooting. This is the definitive modern guide to pigeon shooting.

ALSO INCLUDES ALL-NEW MATERIAL When it Comes to Hunting Stories, Go Big or Go Home! For more than 20 years, hunter, humorist, and one-heck-of-a-storyteller Steve Chapman has been entertaining and inspiring his fans with his many adventures in God's great outdoors. Now, he brings you this trophy case collection of his most awesome anecdotes-tagged, bagged, and ready for you to read and enjoy! Revisit some of Steve's most memorable moments along with some all-new, never-before-published stories. From the wide-eyed anticipation of his very first outing as a teenager to a disappointing day in the deer stand many decades later, you'll experience all the highs and lows of hunting as only Steve can describe them. And far more important, with each thrilling tale, you'll draw closer to the One who created this big, bountiful world where you can pursue your ultimate passions. That's where these unforgettable hunting stories really hit the mark!

Bryce Towsley provides the definitive guide for anyone interested in building or maintaining guns. He gives detailed explanations and color illustrations for just about every aspect of gun repair. Here, from one of America's foremost experts on gunsmithing, are featured tutorials on: Stock modifications Accuracy enhancement Weather preparation A total rifle makeover And much more. Beginning with shop design and maintenance, Towsley builds on the knowledge he provides until ending with directions on rifle building from scratch. For anyone interested in fixing or building guns, Towsley's book is a complete education from A to Z.

In Fly-Fishing, Christopher Schaberg ponders his lifetime pursuit of the widely mythologized art of fly-fishing. From the Michigan lakeshore where he learned to fish to casting flies in a New Orleans bayou, Schaberg sketches landscapes and fish habitats and shows how fly-fishing allows him to think about coexisting with other species. It offers Schaberg a much-needed source of humility, social isolation, connection with nature, and a reminder of environmental degradation. Rather than centering fishing on trophies, conquest, and travel, he advocates for a “small-fishing” that values catching the diminutive fish near one’s home. Introspective and personal, Fly-Fishing demonstrates how Schaberg’s obsession indelibly shapes how he understands and lives in the wider world.

This edition of Bonefish Fly Patterns is the most comprehensive collection of bonefish flies ever published, displaying fly designs from such world-class flats anglers and guides as Winston Moore, Jim Orthwein (four-time bonefish world record holder), Steve Huff, Harry Spear, Rick Ruoff, Del Brown, John Goddard, Barry and Cathy Beck, Lou Tabory, Tim Borski, Bob Clouser, Lefty Kreh, Tom McGuane, Yvon Chouinard, Craig Mathews, Vic Gaspeny, Dave Skok, Eric Peterson, Patrick Dorsey, Aaron Adams, and many, many more. The book includes 197 full-color photographs--one for each featured pattern, some published here for the first time. Each fly profile is listed with its creator's authentic recipe and tying tips. Also included are tying sequences for important patterns, a discussion of design trends, a materials glossary, and a list of sources for materials, custom flies, and off-the-shelf patterns. Additionally, Dick Brown describes fly selection for various destinations, habitats, and conditions, and advises anglers on how to present flies and what prey they portray.

In the years since writing his second book, The Trout Bohemia, Derek Grzelewski has returned to guiding, sharing his passion and secrets for fly fishing with enthusiastic anglers from around the world. But his life is about to change when he is contacted by "a simple Colorado girl who just loves to fly fish." They strike up a long-distance relationship, and Jennifer soon flies out to New Zealand to join Derek for a season of fly fishing-an experience that will transform their approach to life and trout fishing forever. With Jennifer's fly fishing techniques best described as "punk rock," Derek has his work cut out for him, sharing with her his skills and techniques for successfully fishing New Zealand's waterways and landing that prize trout. Join Derek and Jennifer as they embark upon an angling adventure that takes them from the banks of the Cutha River in the South Island of New Zealand to the roaring rivers of Colorado. Filled with Derek's wry storytelling and expert advice and secret tips for fly fishing, this is a true tale of finding trout and love in New Zealand.

Archers long for equipment that meets their personal needs. Here are detailed, step-by-step instructions to enable them to equip themselves with personal finger guards, belt pouches, tension springs, string holders, and ten types of quivers. Learn to make bowstrings, targets (from simple to imaginative), and fittings, and gain information to make arrows especially crafted to meet an archer's individual needs, including shafts and feathering. Over 600 color photos illustrate the instructions. Fourteen experienced archers have developed this instructive text from their own practice and testing. Together, they provide information necessary to make their own archery equipment with leather, wood, antler, and bone.

A fascinating look at how a commercial market for birds in the late nineteenth century set the stage for conservation and its legislation. Between the end of the Civil War and the 1920s, the United States witnessed the creation, rapid expansion, and then disappearance of a commercial market for hunted wild animals. The bulk of commercial wildlife sales in the last part of the nineteenth century were of wildfowl, who were prized not only for their eggs and meat but also for their beautiful feathers. Wild birds were brought to cities in those years to be sold as food for customers' tables, decorations for ladies' hats, treasured pets, and specimens for collectors' cabinets. Though relatively short-lived, this market in birds was broadly influential, its rise and fall coinciding with the birth of the Progressive Era conservation movement. In The Market in Birds, historian Andrea L. Smalley and wildlife biologist Henry M. Reeves illuminate this crucial chapter in American environmental history. Touching on ecology, economics, law, and culture, the authors reveal how commercial hunting set the terms for wildlife conservation and the first federal wildlife legislation at the turn of the twentieth century. Smalley and Reeves delve into the ground-level interactions among market hunters, game dealers, consumers, sportsmen, conservationists, and the wild birds they all wanted. Ultimately, they argue, wildfowl commercialization represented a revolutionary shift in wildlife use, turning what had been a mostly limited, local, and seasonal trade into an interstate industrial-capitalist enterprise. In the process, it provoked a critical public debate over the value of wildlife in a modern consumer culture. By the turn of the twentieth century, the authors reveal, it was clear that wild bird populations were declining precipitously all over North America. The looming possibility of a future without birds sparked intense debate nationwide and eventually culminated in the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Scholars, environmentalists, wildlife professionals, and anyone concerned about wildlife will find this new perspective on conservation history enlightening reading.

Your Quick Guide to Ocean and Gulf Fishing Whether you're an expert freshwater angler or are new to casting a line with rod and reel, saltwater fishing is a unique experience. Coastal waters along the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico are filled with fish-many of which are reachable without a boat. Fishing from piers, jetties, or in the surf is wonderful fun and can be very productive. However, it's different than fishing in a lake or river. Acclaimed author and expert angler Dave Bosanko provides the information you need to get started catching saltwater fish. Applicable to all coastal waters, this handy guide covers such topics as where to fish, what tackle to use, how to rig your line, and which types of bait are best. The pocket-sized booklet is organized and color-coded by fishing location for ease of use. Depending upon where you are, turn to the pier, jetty, or surf section to find the details most applicable to you. Surf & Pier Fishing also includes safety tips, plenty of full-color images, and an instructional illustration for reading the surf. Dave further provides his favorite tips-so you'll be fishing like a pro along the coast in no time. With this guide in hand, you can quickly and economically learn what you need to know. It's conveniently sized to keep in your tackle box, backpack, or back pocket, so it's always there when you need it. Whether you're visiting the coast or are a coastal resident, this guide can get you started catching saltwater fish.

With the popularity of IDPA, IPSC and silhouette competition, and a variety of available choices for hunting and concealed carry, handgun accuracy has never been more important. In the personal defense field, accuracy and precision could mean the difference between life and death. Gun Digest Media's newest title, The Accurate Handgun by author Robert Campbell, details how to make any handgun more accurate--from choosing the best revolvers and autoloaders, to honing shooter mindset and skill. Serious target shooters, hunters and armed citizens demand accurate handguns. The upgrades and accessories covered in The Accurate Handgun are invaluable to make any sidearm perform better. In addition, the author illuminates the road to expert marksmanship. Readers learn how to perfect the human component of accuracy. Inside the book: Handgun shooting techniques that will immediately improve accuracy for any shooter Reloading tips and tricks to make more reliable and precise loads Expert insights into handgun ammo selection--from rimfire to big bore DIY projects to improve handgun function and accuracy in popular makes and models From in-depth accuracy tips and gun tests of handguns from Glock, Colt, SIG, CZ, Springfield Armory and many more, to honest evaluations of the latest handgun ammunition, The Accurate Handgun highlights the technical aspects of the handgun, which shooters must understand to achieve truly high performance and precision. Plus, how to interface human ability and biomechanical aspects such as hand fit and trigger action with shooting technique.

For the first time in paperback, a photographic history of civilization, as seen through the world's most deadly and fascinating firearms. The Illustrated History of Guns is a comprehensive look at the tools of battle. To craft this book, more than five hundred photographs of genuine specimens were specially commissioned from the six-thousand-piece collection of the Berman Museum of World History. The weapons featured span a period of close to four thousand years, ranging from Ancient Greece to World War II, and from the Crusades in Europe to the US Civil War. It features a wide array of diverse treasures, including the traveling pistols of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, a royal Persian scimitar with 1,295 rose-cut diamonds and rubies, and a single 11-carat emerald set in gold, first owned by Shah Abbas I of Persia and given in tribute to Catherine the Great. The Illustrated History of Guns also offers information on weapons innovators, including Alexander Forsyth, Eliphalet Remington, Samuel Colt, Sergei Mosin, the Mauser brothers, Hiram Maxim, John Browning, Richard Gatling, John T. Thompson, John Garland, Feodor Tokarev, Oliver Winchester, and Mikhail Kalashnikov. With unparalleled historical perspective and background on persons significant to the development and advancements of weapons technology or military strategy, The Illustrated History of Guns belongs on the shelf of every history buff and firearms enthusiast.

Award-winning carver and fishing enthusiast Rich Rousseau shares his fish-tested designs for creating a variety of fresh and saltwater lures. These are fun and easy projects for anyone who enjoys fishing, carving or collecting. It includes a full-colour gallery of historic and contemporary wooden lures, accompanied by an introduction from top collector Butch Bartz. Making a usable fishing lure from a scrap of wood and some paint is a fun and easy project for anyone who enjoys fishing, carving or collecting. Divided into three main chapters this covers everything from what to know about choosing the right wood, types of lures, extra options to add to a lure, how to dress a hook and full-sized bonus patterns to help develop skills. Along with the wonderful lures that can be made by hand, there is a full-colour gallery of historic and contemporary wooden lures, accompanied by an introduction from top collector Butch Bartz. Rousseau's love of lure making and fishing in general is evident in the Fun Fish Facts and entertaining stories that are littered throughout.