bird hunting literature
- ruffbritt4
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bird hunting literature
What is your favorite book on upland bird hunting and who is your favorite author?
Re: bird hunting literature
The Old Man and the Boy. Robert Rourk
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- GDF Junkie
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Re: bird hunting literature
A question made difficult by the wide variety of possibilities and how each can be a favorite at certain times of the year or season.
I'll list three in no particular order.
For many reasons besides the words, Grouse Along The Tramroad....GBE
For just fitting the word special, Where Spaniels Spring...Ken Roebuck
For best said and iconic upland literature , The Road To Tinkhamtown...Corey Ford
There, done.......but favorite, again and related to either question, has many, many neighbors.
I'll list three in no particular order.
For many reasons besides the words, Grouse Along The Tramroad....GBE
For just fitting the word special, Where Spaniels Spring...Ken Roebuck
For best said and iconic upland literature , The Road To Tinkhamtown...Corey Ford
There, done.......but favorite, again and related to either question, has many, many neighbors.
Re: bird hunting literature
Horace Lytle was very good. His "Gun Dogs Afield" from 1947 is especially entertaining. I've also enjoyed reading Babcock, Ford, Hill, and Robert Wehle, but Ruark's "The Old Man and the Boy" remains my favorite.
Re: bird hunting literature
Thanks for the recommendation;-) I just ordered it, had not heard about it before!Sharon wrote:"Algonquin " by D Henderson... 1953
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1649058.Algonquin
Steve
Re: bird hunting literature
Always check abebooks.com for reasonable prices on old books. Or pristine first editions at big dollars.
If you enjoy Ruark ( and who doesn't?) check out the lessor known Bob Brister.
If you enjoy Ruark ( and who doesn't?) check out the lessor known Bob Brister.
Re: bird hunting literature
There's three right on the top. Old Man and the Boy x Robert Ruark, Dumbell - can't remember the author and The Best of Nash Buckingham x George Bird Evans. pretty much put them in a=any order you want, works for me! There's another good one, Hunter x John Hunter (first name probably wrong!)
Re: bird hunting literature
I'm surprised no won mentioned Jenny Willow, by Robert Mathis.
- ruffbritt4
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Re: bird hunting literature
I believe it is by Mike Gaddis. It is my personal favorite.Meller wrote:I'm surprised no won mentioned Jenny Willow, by Robert Mathis.
Re: bird hunting literature
You are correct, Thank You!ruffbritt4 wrote:I believe it is by Mike Gaddis. It is my personal favorite.Meller wrote:I'm surprised no won mentioned Jenny Willow, by Robert Mathis.
- Brazosvalleyvizslas
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Re: bird hunting literature
Neil, are you talking about the Bob Brister from Texas? I shot with a name by that same name in Sporting Clays for several years but he didn't seem interested in Dogs. If it is him I would love to have that book.Neil wrote:Always check abebooks.com for reasonable prices on old books. Or pristine first editions at big dollars.
If you enjoy Ruark ( and who doesn't?) check out the lessor known Bob Brister.
Jeff
Re: bird hunting literature
Yes, that Bob Brister of shotgun fame also wrote about hunting and fishing. I always wanted to meet and talk with his brave wife, she drove the car as he blazed away at the trailer.
http://www.amazon.com/Mallards-Mules-Hu ... B000ICT4J8
Not sure how he felt about dogs, I met him years before sporting clays at live pigeon shoots. He was all Texan, the good and not so good aspects.
http://www.amazon.com/Mallards-Mules-Hu ... B000ICT4J8
Not sure how he felt about dogs, I met him years before sporting clays at live pigeon shoots. He was all Texan, the good and not so good aspects.
Re: bird hunting literature
Chuckarhunting.net It is not literature but enjoyable viewing. This guys wife who does the camera work as they hunt hells canyon Idaho really needs recognition.
Re: bird hunting literature
"Diomed; The Life, Travels, and Observations of a Dog" by John S. Wise pub. 1899
It's a first-person biographical narrative from the perspective of an old setter. Besides the wonderful "dogness" of the story, the rich history and tradition of bird dogs is brought to life.
First editions can be pricey, but reprints aren't too bad; the Kindle edition is only 3 bucks but lots of typos etc. A great read no matter
It's a first-person biographical narrative from the perspective of an old setter. Besides the wonderful "dogness" of the story, the rich history and tradition of bird dogs is brought to life.
First editions can be pricey, but reprints aren't too bad; the Kindle edition is only 3 bucks but lots of typos etc. A great read no matter
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Re: bird hunting literature
Havlah Babcock is a favorite of mine. I enjoy the hunting stories and the references to the Ol
South as well.
South as well.
Re: bird hunting literature
Picking your shots, Steve Smith. Great book with many interesting stories that will make you laugh out loud.
Re: bird hunting literature
No one has mentioned Gene Hill or Bill Tarrant. There are so many more. Robert Milner, Tom Word, Ed Zern, etc. Wish I was young to discover them again. Didn't even see Hemingway' s short stories.
- ruffbritt4
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Re: bird hunting literature
I really enjoyed William Tapplys book "Upland Autumn." The next book I will read will probably be "Grouse Feathers"
Re: bird hunting literature
Not bird hunting, but thanks to American Field you can read a short story set in field trials by our best living writer. Enjoy, and while there subscribe.
http://americanfield.villagesoup.com/p/ ... ut/1409226
http://americanfield.villagesoup.com/p/ ... ut/1409226
Re: bird hunting literature
Ordered a couple of books recommended in this thread and enjoyed them both. "Algonquin" was a good read, and I'm finding "Jenny Willow" to be exceptional.
Thanks for the tips....
Thanks for the tips....
Re: bird hunting literature
I just finished Algonquin and found it to be a great read, although sad like Old Yeller. Loved his description of the All Age pointer. Thanks Sharon for the recommendation!
Re: bird hunting literature
I love to write. Love to read, especially about hunting.
But am I a bad person when I say that I don't care for Nash Buckingham. I'm about 1/4 of the way through Ole Miss, and it's just dragging on. I think it's because I stumble so much through the, um, "native tongue" of the African Americans. Hurts my brain to read.
But am I a bad person when I say that I don't care for Nash Buckingham. I'm about 1/4 of the way through Ole Miss, and it's just dragging on. I think it's because I stumble so much through the, um, "native tongue" of the African Americans. Hurts my brain to read.
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Re: bird hunting literature
GWPtyler wrote:I love to write. Love to read, especially about hunting.
But am I a bad person when I say that I don't care for Nash Buckingham. I'm about 1/4 of the way through Ole Miss, and it's just dragging on. I think it's because I stumble so much through the, um, "native tongue" of the African Americans. Hurts my brain to read.
X2 on Buckingham.
Apart from being a product of his time and location, his life may not always have gone according to Hoyle.
GBE put together a book of Buckingham's letter to John Bailey.....they show, to me, a change over Time.
But, were we to analyze many "writers" we would fine them all with clay feet...same with all of us.
Buckingham has a value and place of importance....it does not always match the lofty perch which many set him upon but I am glad he both wrote stories and commented upon the conservation issues of his day.
This later was important.
IF.....one is interested in dog stories then Bob Murphy wrote The Phantom Setter which is a collection of pup tales.
- CDN_Cocker
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Re: bird hunting literature
Anyone read the books on RGS? A Grouse in the Hand or A Woodcock in the Hand? I'd like to order them if they're any good.... doesn't even tell you the price though.
- Pheasanttracker
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bird hunting literature
Just finished Upland Autumn and Grouse Feathers. Both very good books but I did enjoy Upland Autumn a bit more because of the relationships he describes with other people. Brought a lot of memories back of those hidden "honey holes" I hunted with my dad and grandfather when I was growing up. Sure makes me think of what kids are missing now a days. I bet they won't look back on all those days of video games as they get older. Luckily one of my sons doesn't mind autumn walks with his old man chasing pheasant and grouse. The other can't be bothered.
Re: bird hunting literature
SCT wrote:I just finished Algonquin and found it to be a great read, although sad like Old Yeller. Loved his description of the All Age pointer. Thanks Sharon for the recommendation!
Glad you enjoyed it. I read that book when I was about 10 and we had many beagles. I said to myself then, "Someday, I'm going to have a bird dog."
- CDN_Cocker
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Re: bird hunting literature
I was looking on amazon today and saw there's quite a few books about woodcock and grouse hunting. Non fiction type books I mean, strategies, habitats, dogs, etc.... Anyone recommend a good one? I love reading that stuff. I see one that's fairly cheap - The Complete Book of Woodcock Hunting by Frank Woolner. Anyone ever read that one?
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Re: bird hunting literature
Woolner may not have written literature but he was a standard...his woodcock or grouse book told of more than his oddly-thought conversion of that famous Model 59 or, as I recall, he was also a saltwater columnist for a magazine.
He wrote of when Mass. and that area had upland birds of reasonable number....the photos can also be swell.
There are an abundance of grouse and woodcock books...often they are compilations of articles or a vanity publication.
Doc Norris' Eastern Upland Shooting or any of the others more often heard are worth reading for the snippets within.
Quite honestly, some can be little more than best dogs, best guns, best loads, best whatever but one takes from each what one can.
Search and sift....it's an easy chore.
He wrote of when Mass. and that area had upland birds of reasonable number....the photos can also be swell.
There are an abundance of grouse and woodcock books...often they are compilations of articles or a vanity publication.
Doc Norris' Eastern Upland Shooting or any of the others more often heard are worth reading for the snippets within.
Quite honestly, some can be little more than best dogs, best guns, best loads, best whatever but one takes from each what one can.
Search and sift....it's an easy chore.
Re: bird hunting literature
I'm about half way through "Pheasants of the Mind" ~ Proper
So far it's a good read along with a very nice writing style. There is much to relate to considering it's rather recent publication & it sure is a good primer for this upcoming season.
So far it's a good read along with a very nice writing style. There is much to relate to considering it's rather recent publication & it sure is a good primer for this upcoming season.
Re: bird hunting literature
Follow up ~ Pheasants of the Mind..pretty good book to start with, second half is just so-so
Got a copy of *Jenny Willow* on Sat afternoon - couldn't put it down and finished it up last evening.
Thank you to whoever recommended it, it's now a favorite.
Got a copy of *Jenny Willow* on Sat afternoon - couldn't put it down and finished it up last evening.
Thank you to whoever recommended it, it's now a favorite.