"Eminently readable, and more shotgun info than you can use in a lifetime." -David E. Petzal, Deputy Editor, Field & Stream Magazine. Let expert Bob Brister offer you advice, instructions, and solutions to every situation a shotgunner might face. Based on years of tests, meticulous study of data, and a lifetime of experience, his advice will help any shooter make every shot count. A veritable encyclopedia of the shotgun for the modern shooter and outdoorsman, Shotgunning details the selection of guns, loads, and chokes; required leads (translated into "bird lengths" for easier shooting recognition); shot velocity and penetration; the effects of recoil on the shooter; wind and temperature effects on shotshells; and much more. Data analysis puts blithely held truths to the test. Myths are debunked, and Brister's conclusions are supported with hundreds of photographs, lending Shotgunning an authority that many recent, worthwhile books on the subject cannot claim. Chapters include: Shotgun Etiquette The Pump-Action Gun Why a Two-Barreled Gun The Modern Autoloader How to Make Your Gun Fit Recoil and Balance Barrels, Chokies, and Forcing Cones Stock Answers The Fine Art of Waterfowl Shooting Upland Gunning Trap and Skeet And much more! Brister brightly and boldly presents his readers with the science of shotgunning, but he never forgets the art that makes shooting a sport. Shotgunning is an elegant and educational melange-a unique and invaluable guidebook that any shotgunner must own. Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for hunters and firearms enthusiasts. We publish books about shotguns, rifles, handguns, target shooting, gun collecting, self-defense, archery, ammunition, knives, gunsmithing, gun repair, and wilderness survival. We publish books on deer hunting, big game hunting, small game hunting, wing shooting, turkey hunting, deer stands, duck blinds, bowhunting, wing shooting, hunting dogs, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Originally published in 1900 by the English gun maker "Cogswell and Harrison Ltd." This book is now very scarce and expensive in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now republished it using the original text and illustrations. One hundred and forty four pages contain nine detailed chapters: How to Shoot. - Gun Fitting. - Modern Guns. - Ammunition. - Grouse Shooting. - Partridge Shooting. - Pheasant Shooting. - Live Pigeon Trap Shooting. - Inanimate Bird Shooting. The contents are extensively illustrated with full page and text drawings and photos. A number of the drawings are by Archibald Thorburn, G. E. Lodge and Henry Stannard. As is to be expected with a famous gun makers publication, there is much technical advise and information, with many of the illustrations being of Cogswell and Harrison products. Also included are fifteen pages of vintage advertisements for guns and shooting equipment. This is a fascinating read for any shooting enthusiast or historian, with much of the information remaining useful and practical today. The chapters on live and clay pigeon shooting are especially informative. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1800s, are now extremely scarce and very expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Memoirs Of The Life Of The Late John Mytton, Esq. With Notices Of His Hunting, Shooting, Driving, Racing, Eccentric And Extravagant Exploits. By Nimrod. Originally published in 1837. A cracking sporting memoir. Contents include: Pedigree of Mr. Mytton - With Whom Compared - The breaking up of his establishment at Halston - The author's allusion to a second edition of Mr. Mytton's life. Many of the earliest 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.

Charley Waterman was a true Renaissance sportsman. He kept his interests broad, his knowledge deep yet playful. This book is no exception. This collection of stories from his long and varied life in the great outdoors features flyfishing on western creeks, on such storied trout streams as the Letort, and on the Florida flats; chasing sage grouse in Montana, ptarmigan in Alaska, and quail in Mexico, all behind his beloved bird dogs; and Waterman's philosophical scrutinies of tradition and the mysticism behind shotgunning, rounded out with tales of runaway boat trailers and camping in the Everglades. Written in Waterman's usual humor and understatement, this volume is the crowning achievement of his writing career.

Originally published in 1897 this scarce early work on wildfowling and wild life is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have republished it in an affordable, high quality, modern edition, using the original text and artwork. The author was a highly respected sportsman and naturalist of his day, who published several other books of a similar nature. He also contributed many articles to the sporting and countryside press of that era. The book's three hundred and seven pages contain a selection of his best writings including: - The Old Gunner of Holkham Bay. - The Wild Grey Geese of Holkham. - Wild Fowl on Holkham Lake. - Sport in the Sandhills. - Lobster Catching. - Shore Birds. - The Birds of Beaulieu. - Haunts of the Hobby. - A Game Farm in August. - Fish and Fowl at Hampton Court. - The Heronry. - Sport on the White Horse Downs. - The Great Tench Catch. - Netting. - Shooting on the Carrs. - Winter Sport on the Carrs. - In Salcombe Cliffs. - Japanese Deer at Powerscourt. - Birds that pass in the Night. - Partridge Shooting. - etc. The pages also contain sixteen full page vintage photos and other illustrations. This is a fascinating read for any shooting enthusiast, naturalist or historian, with its mixture of sporting anecdote and records of a bygone age. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1800s, are now extremely scarce and very expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.Keywords: Wild Fowl Shore Birds Carrs Country Books Game Farm Salcombe Hampton Court Tench White Horse Beaulieu Netting Naturalist GeeseGunner Winter Sport Sportsman Holkham Bay Wild Life

STUDIES IN THE ART OF RAT CATCHING - With Additional Notes on Ferrets and Ferreting, Rabbiting and Long Netting By H.C. Barkley This fascinating book was first published in London 1911, with the writer relating his experiences as a professional rat and rabbit exterminator during the late 1800's. The book was written primarily as a guide to the rural art of vermin control for pupils of English public schools such as Eton, Harrow and Rugby. Despite the books title as much of the content is devoted to ferrets and rabbit control as it is to rat catching. READ COUNTRY BOOKS have now re-published this historical record using the original text and illustrations. 196 pages contain 10 chapters detailing such varied subjects as: - Ratting Tools. - Ferrets and Ferreting. - Learning Dog Language. - Rabbit Catching. - Long Netting. - Ratting Days. - Ratting Dogs etc. Although almost a century has passed since its first publication this excellent title is recommended for inclusion in the library of all true countrymen. Many of the earliest sporting books, particularly those dating back to the 1800s, are now extremely scarce and very expensive. READ COUNTRY BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

SHOOTING AND SPORT IN ENGLAND: PAST AND PRESENT. By Colonel E.C.C. Hartopp. This entertaining but little known book was first published in London in 1894 as "Sport in England." It is a fascinating historical record of the shooting field in late 19th century England. Read Country Books has now re-published it in its entirety, as part of their "History of Shooting" series, using the original text and retaining the many illustrations. The Eton educated author was a "man of means," but was equally at home when working his ferrets, assisting a keeper with his many tasks, or taking numerous high birds on exclusive sporting estates. Thirty concise chapters illustrate the author's experiences of the above, and also include many jottings and valuable hints on related subjects: The Young English Sportsman. - Poaching of Paired Birds. - The Egg Season and its Enemies. - Landlord and Tenant Rights. - Crop Cutting. - Grouse, Partridge and "Longtails," Past and Present. - Covert Shooting. - Good Shots and Others. - Funny Facts in Sport. - Ferrets and their Management. - Trapping, Netting, and Snaring. - Poaching, and How it is Done. - Small Days and Pot Hunting. - Turning Down Live Bought Pheasants. - How and Where Rabbit Farming Can Pay. - The Gamekeeper and his Duties. - Guns and Gunmakers. - The Quarry. - Vermin. - Recipes for Diseases in Dogs. - Retrievers of the Present Day. Etc. This book will prove of immense interest to all who derive their pleasure and/or profit from the field sports of today's England. The book is a quality production in a soft, pictorial cover format. 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.Keywords: 19th Century England Sport England Landlord And Tenant Rights Landlord And Tenant Birds Shooting Sport Concise Chapters Country Books Man Of Means Eton Poaching Ferrets Grouse Partridge Covert Sportsman Colonel Enemies

SOMETHING ABOUT GUNS AND SHOOTING By "PURPLE HEATHER" This commendable shooting title was first published in London in 1891, and is now a highly prized item in the libraries of many shooting men. It is always much sought after and has become increasingly expensive in its first edition. Read Country Books has now re-published it in its entirety, as part of their "History of Shooting" series, using the original text and retaining the many illustrated gun, cartridge, and equipment makers' advertisements. "Purple Heather" learnt the rudiments of shooting in the days when breech-loaders were unknown and hammerless ejectors unthought of. His name and his shooting articles were familiar to readers of many sporting journals of the day. In this, his first book, he delves carefully into the science and technicalities of a subject he has so much at heart. The book's 188 pages are divided into thirteen chapters including: Judging Distance - A "Joe Manton" - Flint and Steel Percussion Guns. - Trials of Muzzle Loaders. - Fashion in Game Guns, and their Loads. - Trials of Breech Loaders. - The Advantages of Good Guns. - Correct Fit of Guns -"Cast Off." - Suitable Game Guns. - Chokes and Cylinders. - Shot and Powder. - Shooting Trials Results and Loading Tables. - Plus the author's entertaining notes on his own shooting experiences. Each chapter contains a large fund of useful information to votaries of the gun, and the whole is written in an attractive style. This new edition has been produced to the highest standards in an attractive soft cover format. 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.

Whether your passion is bass and pike in the desert reservoirs, the trophy trout in the renowned Green River, or the delicate, gemlike trout of the alpine lakes of the High Uintas, you'll find the facts here that will get you on the water and well on your way to catching fish. Completely updated, this edition of "Fishing Utah" offers detailed descriptions of more than 170 bodies of water around the state. You'll also discover locals' tips on fly fishing and bait fishing, hints on picking the right spot for the time you can spend, and seasonal changes for each fishery. Look inside to find an insider's advice on the best flies and lures; up-to-date information on fish abundance; and clear descriptions of trails, distances, terrain, campground availability, and winter conditions. You'll discover where to fish with kids, where to fish in solitude, and where persons with disabilities can find access to great fishing spots. An illustrated section describes the habits and habitats of Utah's huge variety of game fish to help give you an edge on catching the big one.This is the one-stop source for all the fishing information you need to find angling success year-round at the Beehive State's lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams.
Whether you're planning an afternoon or a week of angling adventures, take "Fishing Utah" along for the trip.

Fishing in Ohio has made a remarkable comeback since the 1960s. Lake Erie is now among the nation's top walleye and smallmouth fisheries. Steelhead fishing on the central basin streams is as good as it gets, and improvements in water quality have revitalized sport fishing on the Ohio River. Ohio can boast one of the best muskie fisheries in the United States. The introduction of saugeye has brought quality Lake Erie-style walleye fishing to nearly every reservoir in the state. And Ohio streams have never provided a better catch of smallmouth, catfish, rock bass, sunfish, and trout. Fishing Ohio is the only guide with fishing information for every public lake and stream in the state. Adding in reservoirs, rivers, tailwaters, and wildlife areas, more than 200 top sites are included. Brand-new, this book covers the state--by Wildlife Districts--from the steelhead streams in the northeast to the walleye spawning grounds in the western basin, with special sections on the Ohio River and Lake Erie. Each entry describes the water, its game fish, and where to find them, and provides angling tips as well as advice on boat ramps, access, marinas, lodging, local attractions, and regulations. This book uncovers the good fishing found in every part of the state. Not only does Fishing Ohio lead the way to a great catch or a great day of fishing, but it also talks you into going.

Updated and revised, this guide to the great angling state of Colorado features maps and detailed directions to the state's best fishing locations as well as information on the best times of year to find each species of game fish and where. With tackle recommendations, information about trails, advice on camping, notes on special regulations, and much more, this has become an indispensable guide both for Colorado residents and visiting anglers.

This fully illustrated book--second edition of this title in the popular Field & Stream series--is an indispensable guide to selecting the most effective baits and rigs for a variety of fish. Anglers will find the answers for rigging baits and lures for any fishing situation, including choosing the appropriate hooks, lines, sinkers, and floats; tying useful knots and splices; selecting lures and bait; and much more.

This classic, practical book on bird dog training is now updated and expanded with material on the latest field-training equipment and live-game training techniques with released quail and recall pens. A useful chapter on the services and guidance offered by organizations for owners, amateur trainers, and those who wish to participate in field trials and other bird dog competitions is also included.
The Complete Guide to Bird Dog Training covers all pointing and flushing breeds, and also offers sensible approaches to buying a dog, bringing up a pup, yard and field training, and equipment. In addition, the helpful appendices list recommended books and periodicals, other literature, breed registries, organizations, and suppliers of equipment and accessories to help bird dog owners with all of their training needs.
Complete with dozens of instructional photographs throughout, The Complete Guide to Bird Dog Training is a gem of a book that any serious new or veteran owner or trainer of bird dogs should get their hands on.

The book that every gun owner has been waiting for.
A gun is only as good as its owner, and far too many are poorly maintained and serviced, even when brought to "professionals." For the serious hunter and gun owner, The Gun Owner's Handbook takes the mystery out of gun maintenance. Author Larry Lyons covers every aspect of this crucial part of gun ownership, and brings his years of experience to bear on topics from daily maintenance to trickier technical matters, including:
Gun Workshop Lighting Tool Storage Bore Cleaning Equipment
SolventsLubricants Rust PreventionBore Cleaning Procedures
Action Cleaning, Lubrication, and Inspection Exterior Maintenance
Caring for Wood Stocks Caring for Synthetic Stocks Scopes
Scope MountsOpen Sights SlingsHolsters Cases
Misfiring Sticky Actions Sticking Cartridges Jamming Poor Accuracy
Rough Trigger Pulls Preparing for Trips Field Repairs Repair Kits
With advice on barrel inspection, disassembly and repair of all common action types, rust removal, stock repair, and much, much more, The Gun Owner's Handbook will find a place on every gun owner's shelf, and pay for itself immediately. Whether you've just purchased your first firearm or you think you know everything there is to know, you'll find everything from the basics to the handiest tips and tricks of master gunsmiths.

Northern Pike is the first complete book to cover all aspects of this exciting sport fish--
and all methods of fishing for it. Ryan begins by examining the habits, habitat, and life cycles of pike as they vary from winter through early spring, summer, and fall. He also thoroughly explores every successful pike-fishing technique, including fishing with bait, lures, and flies--and there is a special chapter on ice fishing. Northern Pike not only gives detailed information on how to catch this fish at every time of year, but also gives practical advice and tips on all aspects of equipment. Ryan traces the history of pike fishing--showing how the fishing methods that were popular in the past have evolved into the techniques used today. This book is filled with entertaining anecdotes about the author's lifetime of fishing, over eighty illustrations, and a color insert. It is the perfect companion for all anglers of this highly sought-after North American sport fish.

Whether he's looking for wild orangutans on Borneo or diving off the coast of South Africa, Randy Wayne White is one of America's most adventurous travelers. In Last Flight Out, White challenges and charms us with tales of his excursions into the dangerous, into the ludicrous, and - especially - into the heart of humanity.
Randy White is a "mover" and has no time for people who can't keep up. Join him as he dives in the infamous lake called the Bad Blue Hole on the desolate Cat Island in the Bahamas. Search for the perfect hot pepper in Colombia, and closer to home; go raccoon hunting in Pioneer, Ohio, where the hunted almost always outsmart the hunters. Get in the ring with Shine Forbes, an eighty-year-old fighter in prime condition and Ernest Hemingway's former sparring partner, and go on a secret mission to steal back General Manuel Noriega's bar stools. Though he rarely finds what he's looking for - such as the half-human, half-alligator creature known as "Gatorman" - he cultivates his unique ability to revel in the unique and comical situations of each exotic trip.
From a jungle survival school in Panama to a week at a professional wrestler's training camp, White leaves the reader mesmerized by the potential of undiscovered places and the promise of endless adventure in unfamiliar territory. An icon of the new breed of thick-skinned, high endurance travelers, Randy White is the real deal.

Bowhunting is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world of hunting. Bowhunting Tactics of the Pros will not only introduce you to the wonderful world of bowhunting, it will take you through all the levels - from beginner to expert.Did you get a deer last season with your bow? Did you even see a buck - or bull elk, bear, moose, mulie, or pronghorn? If you answered No to any of these questions, Bowhunting Tactics of the Pros is just the book for you. In fact, it's for you even if you answered Yes. Why? Because this is the most detailed, up-to-date, fact-filled book on bowhunting you can find. With chapters written by major experts in the field - this book has invaluable information. (6 x 9, 336 pages)Lamar Underwood is former editor-in-chief of both Sports Afield and Outdoor Life magazines, and is presently editorial director of the Outdoor Magazine Group of Harris Publications in New York, as well as the editor of several other Lyons Press anthologies.

Montana offers fly fishers more than a little bit of everything. From classic rivers holding trophy rainbows and browns to high-country wilderness lakes filled with unsophisticated native cutthroats, out to high plains reservoirs and their own windswept version of this sometimes arcane pursuit, Montana presents several lifetimes of angling experiences.With so much to fish - and so little time to do so - fly fishers need John Holt's Montana Fly Fishing Guide East, an irreplaceable reference that offers everything a fly fisher needs for the ultimate Montana fishing experience. Here is concise, accurate information for out-of-staters confronted with a mind-numbing variety of choices and those fortunate Montanans looking to expand their horizons on quality waters waiting quietly over the next range of mountains or hiding in some out-of-the-way coulee.Features include: full descriptions of every major river; descriptions (how to get there, when to fish, and what to fish) of all important streams and lakes within the major drainages - hundreds of waters; great maps of all drainages; hatch charts for important mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies; comprehensive fly recommendations for each major water. (8 1/2 x 11, 288 pages, b&w photos, maps)

Flowing from its headwaters in Yellowstone National Park to Three Forks, Montana, where it joins the Jefferson and the Gallatin to form the mighty Missouri, the Madison River is one of the most famous, but also one of the most complicated, trout rivers in North America. This river can have different insect hatches every fifty yards, and ranges from a glassy, spring-fed stream to a tumbling torrent filled with rapids. Its complex variety of waters and habitat defies conventional fly-fishing techniques. In Fly Fishing the Madison, fly shop owner, guide, and noted author Craig Mathews demystifies the river, offering valuable insights and advice to first-time visitors and veterans alike. Covering the various sections of the river, fishing conditions likely to confront you in all four seasons, various insect hatches-including the famous salmon fly-along with a list proven fly patterns and tying recipes for sixteen of the best, Fly Fishing the Madison will prove invaluable to all fly anglers planning to fish this spectacular waterway. (6 x 9, 160 pages, b&w photos, maps, charts)

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.

A veteran angler presents a complete where-to-fish guide for the outstanding saltwater fishing opportunities on the Delaware and Maryland coasts. These fifty-nine miles of coastline offer surf, inshore, back bay and inlet fishing that is world class, for flounder, weakfish, dolphin, shark, tuna, bluefish, striped bass (rockfish) and many other species. Where to fish, and techniques specific to each locality, are detailed in this indispensable guide.

DOG BREAKING FOR THE GUN: THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS, CERTAIN, AND EASY METHOD, WITH COPIOUS NOTES ON SHOOTING SPORTS. By Lieut.-Gen. W.N. Hutchinson. A VINTAGE DOG BOOKS CLASSIC REPRINT. Originally published in 1848, this book was so well received by sportsmen and dog owners alike, that several more editions were published in ensuing years. All of these early editions are now very scarce and increasingly hard to find. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS has now republished the fifth, revised and enlarged edition of 1869, using the original text and engravings, as part of their CLASSIC BREED BOOK series. The author was a well respected dog breeder and trainer with a lifetime's experience of working dogs in the field. His book is still considered by many to be the finest work on gundog training ever written. The book's substantial three hundred and seventy two pages contain twenty three comprehensive, illustrated chapters: - Preliminary Observations. Qualifications, in Breaker and Dog. - Initiatory Lessons Indoors. Shooting Ponies. - Initiatory Lessons with Spaniels. - Retrievers. - Lessons Out of Doors. - First Lesson in September. Ranging. - Caution. Nature's Mysterious Influences. - Cunning of Age. Range of from Two to Six Dogs. - Pointing. - Vermin. -Bar, Leg Strap and Spike Collar. - Shooting Hares. - Hints to Purchasers. - Sheep Killing. - Anecdotes on Dogs on Service at Home. - Service Abroad. - Russian Setters. - Whistles, "Backing," Ranging, Runners. - Retrieving with Setters. - Bloodhounds. - Health. - Shooting. - Loading. - Trapping. - Vermin Control. - Pheasant Rearing. - Poachers. - Keepers. - Night Dogs etc. The book also contains many steel and wood engravings of dogs and sporting scenes. This isessential reading for anyone requiring information on dog training, whether it be for the field or home. "Be to his virtues ever kind Be to his faults a little blind." Many of the earliest dog breed books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

RATS AND HOW TO DESTROY THEM By Mark Hovell. Originally published in 1924, this rare early work on rats and their control is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. READ COUNTRY BOOKS has republished it in an affordable, high quality, modern edition using the original text and artwork. The author was an expert and dedicated destroyer of rats who also invented the "Terrier" Death Run Rat Trap and the Blocking Trap. He was persuaded to write this fascinating book after fighting a memorable battle in ridding a friend's house and farm of a long established and numerous rat colony. Utilising his vast knowledge of the Brown and the Black Rat, and his many years of practical experience in their destruction, he penned this, the most comprehensive of all books ever published on this particular subject. Over five hundred pages contain forty eight detailed chapters including: - Habits and Natural History of the Rat. - Traps, Type and Use. - Signals. - Trapping Methods. - Snaring. - Ferrets and Ferreting. - The Mongoose. - Dogs. - Trailing. - Poisoning. - Virus. - Blocking. - Flooding. - Fumigation. - Varnish and Rat Lime Trap. - The Rodier System. How to Deal with Rats in the House, Shop, Outbuildings, Yards, Stables, Cow-Houses, Fowl Pens, Pig Sties, Gardens, Greenhouses, Rivers and Ships. - Rats on Shooting Estates and Farms. - Sewers. - Notes on Plague. - Cancer in Rats. etc etc. There are also chapters on the control of mice, cockroaches and sparrows, with extra detailed chapters on traps and their design. Over fifty text illustrations are included, detailing trap design and usage etc. Also retained are several pages of vintage advertisements for rat traps, poisons, baits, booksetc. This is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the countryside, rural conservation, pest control, game keeping etc, with much of the historical information remaining useful and practical today. 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 many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This innovative study re-examines the dynamics of race relations in the post--Civil War South from an altogether fresh perspective: field sports.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, wealthy white men from Southern cities and the industrial North traveled to the hunting and fishing lodges of the old Confederacy -- escaping from the office to socialize among like-minded peers. These sportsmen depended on local black guides who knew the land and fishing holes and could ensure a successful outing. For whites, the ability to hunt and fish freely and employ black laborers became a conspicuous display of their wealth and social standing.

But hunting and fishing had been a way of life for all Southerners -- blacks included -- since colonial times. After the war, African Americans used their mastery of these sports to enter into market activities normally denied people of color, thereby becoming more economically independent from their white employers. Whites came to view black participation in hunting and fishing as a serious threat to the South's labor system. Scott E. Giltner shows how African-American freedom developed in this racially tense environment -- how blacks' sense of competence and authority flourished in a Jim Crow setting.

Giltner's thorough research using slave narratives, sportsmen's recollections, records of fish and game clubs, and sporting periodicals offers a unique perspective on the African-American struggle for independence from the end of the Civil War to the 1920s.