"If you are a bird hunter looking to improve your marksmanship, welcome to the skeet field!" Steven Mulak explains how the sport of skeet can help you hunt those unpredictable birds. Illustrations and photographs clearly show the right way--and the wrong way--to shoot skeet and improve your score. Mulak's information takes you from the skeet range to the hunt, with a new set of tools at your fingertips. What makes someone a good shot? Steven Mulak has given this question a lot of thought, and his book analyzes problems faced by shooters everywhere. A good shot doesn't miss the same shot twice because he figures out why he missed it and what he must do to correct his mistake. Shooting a shotgun well takes skill, and this book will help you improve your technique. * What to look for in a field shotgun * How to improve technique and how to recognize and change bad habits * How to use skeet to improve your hunting plus clay target games

The Thrill of the HuntThe Thrill of Living for God The adventure of a lifetime awaits when you join avid outdoorsman Steve Chapman on the hunt for more than just deer. As Steve retells some of his best hunting stories, you'll gain valuable insights on relationships, success, and most important, spiritual growth. With humor and honesty, Steve shares the ups and downs from his numerous treks into deer country. Relive some of your fondest hunting memories and draw closer to God as you read about the wonder and anticipation of a teenage boy's first hunt a generous gesture that turns into a double portion of venison the mixed emotions of a hunter tracking wounded game a father and son who both get their first deer with a bow-on the same day an unexpected encounter with a magnificent whitetail This handsome edition of Steve's bestselling book with a faux-leather binding and a built-in bookmark is the perfect choice for every hunting enthusiast.

’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.

As Patrik Svensson concludes: 'by writing about eels, I have in some ways found my way home again.'

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.

If you've ever complained that hunting season doesn't last long enough, you'll love wild boar. From dangerous close-up shots behind dogs to quiet stalks in the deep woods, hunting the wild hog provides some of the most thrilling action anywhere. And because the wild boar is an introduced species that often wreaks havoc on native habitat, most state game agencies encourage hunters to take these adaptable creatures. For the hunter, that means nearly unlimited opportunities year-round across North America. In this complete guide, veteran boar hunter Todd Triplett details everything you need to know to take these tasty game animals, including:
Distribution and history
Scouting for prime habitat, bedding areas, and food sources
Interpreting sign like tracks, scat, rubs, and wallows
Hunting over bait, still-hunting, and hunting with hounds
Special considerations for hunting in the off-season
Pursuing wild boar across North America and around the world
Hunting javelina, the wild boar's distant relative in the Southwest
Chasing the warthog in Africa, the ultimate in hog hunting
Preparing wild boar for the table and taxidermist
And a host of tips for a successful hunt
Based on the knowledge gained from a lifetime of hunting, The Complete Book of Wild Boar Hunting is an unsurpassed introduction to a fascinating sport.

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!

In this book, expert fly designer John Barr covers his techniques for catching more fish, including trout and warmwater species such as bass. His unconventional techniques include adapting tactics for bass and panfish for catching trout-and using trout techniques for warmwater species. He covers his deadly technique of fishing multiple flies in detail and shares his favorite fly combinations for fishing the hatches, both in rivers and still waters. Even if you're wise to the technique of fishing multiple flies to increase your chances of catching fish, John Barr takes that game to a whole new level in this book. There are chapters on fishing all the major hatches, streamer fishing, fishing for warmwater species, lake fishing, as well as critical insights into the mental game that enables the top 10 percent of anglers to catch 90 percent of all the fish.

From 1863 to the present--the company and the men who made it successful, the details of all models of rifles and the many other Marlin products.

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.

Concealed Carry Class: The ABCs of Self-Defense Tools & Tactics is a comprehensive guide to recognizing, avoiding and surviving violent confrontations. It covers everything from situational-awareness skills that can be honed to help keep you and your loved ones out of potentially dangerous scenarios; to the mental discipline it takes to carry a concealed weapon every day; to evaluating and selecting concealed-carry hardware, including handguns and calibers, holsters and clothing; to training drills you can use to become proficient with a handgun, and remain proficient through regular practice. Tom Givens calls on decades of firearms and law-enforcement experience to put together this practical collection of tips and tactics anyone can use for the safe, responsible and legal carrying of a concealed weapon.He has been involved in armed confrontations both as a police officer and as a private citizen, and has seen firsthand how decent people, with proper training, can fight back and overcome criminal attacks. -- Tom Givens

There are plenty of books on taxidermy, but none covers small game with the learning and depth of THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMALL GAME TAXIDERMY. Drawing on generations of experience, the author covers all aspects of the art. From proper field care and tanning to crafting life-size mounts, this book will help any individual to approach master status.
Chapters cover topics like basic base building, making a life-size bobcat mount, and more. The author relates a lifetime of invaluable tips on the subtle arts of the ear and mouth--when to choose open and when to choose closed--and why field care is where good taxidermy starts.
Whether the reader is pursuing taxidermy as a hobby or a profession, THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SMALL GAME TAXIDERMY will prove an invaluable guide.

If you're serious about improving accuracy, increasing consistency, and achieving competitive success, " Archery "is your guide.

Featuring the in-depth instruction, insight, and advice from the world's top coaches and archers, "Archery" sets a new standard in resources for those who compete with the recurve or compound bow.

"Archery" includes a wealth of information on perfecting stance, body alignment, muscle recruitment, and shot sequence. You'll master the skills and techniques taught at the U.S. Olympic Training Center by legendary coach KiSik Lee. Then you'll prepare for competition:

- Select and properly tune equipment.

- Develop a winning shot sequence.

- Set up, draw, and complete the shot.

- Maximize practice time.

- Train physically and mentally for competition.

- Develop a successful tournament strategy.

Developed by USA Archery, " Archery "is an invaluable resource you'll refer to again and again.

Discover the pros secrets for catching more and bigger muskies. They don't call it the Fish of Ten Thousand Casts for nothing. The challenge of catching muskie is not only finding them, but also figuring out their attitude and what presentation might work--today. To find success tomorrow, you'll probably need a different location, attitude, and lure.
Pro muskie "hunters" Jack Burns and Rob Kimm share their own experience as well as that of the many other muskie anglers with whom they've worked and fished over the years. They cover the basic biology of muskies and how you can use that knowledge to catch more and bigger fish. They discuss fishing tackle, release techniques, reacting to follows, doing figure eights, triggering strikes, and much more.
In this expertly written book you'll find examples of on-the-water tactics and strategies covering a wide range of situations. More important, you'll develop an understanding of the why behind a particular strategy and how to adapt to different water and weather conditions throughout the year. The result is a complete, up-to-date course on muskie fishing for the beginning to intermediate angler.

Now in its 10th edition, The ABCs of Reloading has taught countless firearms owners safe, reliable methods of creating their own ammunition. This long overdue new edition brings detailed reloading instruction to shooters who want to improve accuracy, save money and ensure themselves a constant supply of ammo regardless of supply and demand on retail shelves.

Reloading expert and frequent Gun Digest contributor Phil Massaro lays out the basics of reloading and then digs further into the details in a fresh approach that introduces beginners to this valuable hobby while helping those already familiar with reloading take their skills and knowledge to the next level.

As a bonus, long-range shooters searching for tips on making ultra-consistent ammo using high B.C. bullets and fine-tuning for precision accuracy will greatly benefit from Massaro’s insight into that topic as well.

Massaro’s coverage of the vast array of reloading gear and components that have been introduced during the past decade alone makes this edition invaluable for the enthusiast who might be overwhelmed with questions. From the very basic questions of “How does a cartridge work?” and “What components do I need to get started?” to more advanced information on understanding cartridge pressure, headspace and using a chronograph to check your work, this is THE book to help shooters sort it all out.

This is Michael McIntosh's classic book on fine shotguns, in a fully revised and expanded form-covering gunmakers who have become prominent since the first edition was published in 1989 and McIntosh's continued research into the nature of the shotgun and the people who make them. McIntosh divides hisThis nearly encyclopedic gathering of gun knowledge deals with the world of shotguns into two distinct sections. The first is devoted to the best shotguns ever made in America, "American Best," looks at each of the finest guns made in the United States during the Golden Age of gunmaking. Names from the past such as Parker, A. H. Fox, L. C. Smith, Ithaca, Lefever, and others are treated in greater detail, including newly manufactured American classics that bear those same names.once were more than simply names on old guns; they were people and companies, inventively vying for a share of a growing gun market. Their efforts created guns of lasting value and fame. In the second section, McIntosh explores the revivified world of gunmaking abroad-in England, Spain, Italy, and elsewhere, places where traditional craftsmanship and modern technology have combined to make the turn of the twenty-first century the most vibrant and exciting period in fine gunmaking in nearly a hundred years."The World's Best," Michael McIntosh explores the world of fine guns as it exists today, country by country, commenting on guns whose intrinsic merit qualifies them as "best" guns. He looks at the gunmaking centers of England, Italy, France, Belgium, and Spain and talks of the names that warm the hearts of those who appreciate the workmanship, dynamics, and "feel" of a fine gun-names such as Purdey, Holland & Holland, Granger, Fabbri, Piotti, Arrizabalaga, and others. McIntosh offers practical advice on buying, shooting, and collecting older guns-what to look for and what to look out for, all based on long experience. McIntosh also offers advice on buying and shooting older guns-what to look for and what to look out for. As interest in fine double guns reaches a new high in this country, Best Guns serves as both a guide for the uninitiated and a standard reference for the experienced collector and shooter, all written with the precision and seamless grace that is Michael McIntosh's trademark style..

This book is for children who are beginning to practice one of the many shooting sport disciplines, such as crossbow, archery, rifle, pistol, target shooting, etc. You have your target in your sights, you breathe calmly and then...the shot! Whether you shoot at cans or at targets, with balls, arrows, lasers or, later on, with actual sport ammunition - you want to be able to hit your target. We would like this book to be your practice companion. We will give you important information about equipment, techniques and your physical fitness. You will get tips for practicing at home and we will tell you how to recognize and avoid mistakes. The little stork will accompany you throughout the book. He is very skilled at using his long, pointy beak and almost always hits his target. He will tell you a lot about the shooting sport, and will give you tips on safety and a healthy lifestyle. In addition, the little stork offers you many opportunities for recording, filling in, coloring and doing brain teasers and he even wants to give you an award at the end. Have fun!

Too many shotgunners imagine that their success in the field, or lack of it, is largely a question of innate ability and luck. Not true, say Bruce Bowlen and Dylan Snell, long-time Orvis shotgun instructors. Good shooting depends as much on effective technique as it does on natural talent, instinct, and favorable circumstances. With the proper instruction, bad shots can become good ones, and good shots will surprise themselves with how much better they can be. In this concise and clearly written guide to the fundamentals of the sport, the authors cover the basic elements as well as the intricacies of proper wing shooting. The correct stance, timing and motion, equipment, and safety procedures are described in detail. In addition, there are sections on field shooting versus clay-target shooting, how to lead, the master eye, gun fit, and much more. The updated text and illustrations contain the latest insights into the sport as it has evolved since the publication of the first edition more than twenty years ago. Maybe you shoot a great deal, or maybe you hunt just a few times a year, or maybe you've already decided to take lessons. In any case, The Orvis Wingshooting Handbook is your primer. For the cost of a few boxes of shells, you've got at your fingertips the techniques for making every shot count.

The popularity of rifles designed to take big game has never been greater. Terry Wieland, a widely recognized firearms expert, explores in detail the rifles and calibers that are drawing attention. This second edition covers what has changed in the field since the first edition was published-new calibers, new cartridges, new guns, new actions-and includes new material on action and barrel manufacture, tracing the production of a fine, custom-made, big-bore rifle.

An intensely private and shy man, Hoover the person was largely unknown to the American public. In this extensively researched biography devoted to the angling side of Hoover, author Hal Elliott Wert examines the often overlooked life of our thirty-first president. In a presidency plagued by the Depression, in a time when the country was poised between the agrarian society of the past and the advent of a modern professional class, Herbert Hoover faced numerous challenges. A thinker and a doer who shaped the way we live today, Hoover found relief from the stresses of his professional life in his pastime, fishing. Herbert Hoover fished near his hometown of West Branch, Iowa, as a boy and then moved to Oregon, where he fished the Rogue, Willamette, McKenzie, and Columbia rivers. As a young man, he attended Stanford and fished and camped throughout the West during breaks. He fished and spent time in the outdoors throughout his life and especially in his years as president. He founded Cave Man Camp at Bohemian Grove north of San Francisco, a yearly getaway for powerful Republicans, and Camp Rapidan in Virginia while he was in the White House. In addition to freshwater fishing, Hoover enjoyed fishing the salt. On trips to Florida later in his life, he stalked bonefish and fished for permit and the larger species, such as sailfish.

First full study devoted to the archery and crossbow guilds which grew up in Flanders in the middle ages. The notion of "guilds" in civic society might conjure images of craft guilds, the organisations of butchers, bakers or brewers set up to regulate working practises. In the towns of medieval Flanders, however, a plethora of guildsexisted which had little or nothing to do with the organisation of labour, including chambers of rhetoric, urban jousters and archery and crossbow guilds. This is the first full-length study of the archery and crossbow guilds, encompassing not only the great urban centres of Ghent, Bruges and Lille but also numerous smaller towns, whose participation in guild culture was nonetheless significant. It examines guild membership, structure and organisation, revealing the diversity of guild brothers - and sisters - and bringing to life the elaborate social occasions when princes and plumbers would dine together. The most spectacular of these were the elaborate regional shooting competitions, whose entrances alone included play wagons, light shows and even an elephant! It also considers their social and cultural activities, and their important role in strengthening and rebuilding regional networks. Overall, it provides a new perspective on the strength of community within Flemish towns and the values that underlay medieval urban ideology. LAURA CROMBIE gained her PhD from the university of Glasgow.

From editors David Joy and Eric Rickstad comes Gather at the River, an anthology of twenty-five remarkable essays on fishing from an ensemble of contemporary authors. Their experiences explore the ways we come to water, for renewal and reverie, or to simply stand waist-deep in a river and watch the trout rise. Gather at The River is more than a collection of big fish stories; it's Ron Rash writing about the Appalachia of his youth and C.J. Box revealing the river where he wants his ashes spread. It's Natalie Baszile on a frogging expedition in the Louisiana Bayou and a teenaged Jill McCorkle facing new realities of adulthood on Holden Beach, North Carolina. This is an anthology about friendship, family, love and loss, and everything in between, because as Henry David Thoreau wrote, "it is not really the fish they are after." The contributors are an eclectic mix of critically acclaimed writers including New York Times Bestselling Authors Ron Rash, Jill McCorkle, Leigh Ann Henion, Eric Rickstad, M.O. Walsh, and #1 Bestseller C.J. Box. Some of the proceeds of every sale will benefit C.A.S.T. for Kids, public charity that joins volunteers who love to fish with children who have special needs and disadvantages for a day of fishing in the outdoors.

The attempt to "match the hatch"--to pair a dry fly perfectly with its natural as the insect emerges--is something every fly fisher hopes to experience. Trout, however, eat all the time and have no intention of waiting for the mayflies to make up their mind. So, while an understanding of dry flies is truly important, the fly fisher who catches fish consistently knows about everything trout like to eat, a menu that includes a wide variety of aquatic species. This book is your essential guide to all the crucial issues: How various flies imitate correctly a variety of food items. How to understand trout feeding patterns and watch the water to spot them. How to identify the important mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies, midges, and other aquatic insects, and choose imitations. How to identify forage fish. And how to make proper presentations. Throughout this book, the author's enjoyable black-and-white illustrations
reinforce the discussion and give highly accurate portrayals of what the
angler can expect to see in the field. A full-color section includes size and color charts for many major insects, crustaceans, and forage fish.