Best and worst hunting/outdoor writers

[Knight.54]

As an English major and a huntalker, I’m enjoying this thread!

 

[Irrelevant]

Something additional, is that certain people have produced one thing that mystifies and captures, and then kind of went a different direction. Years back Rinella spoke about this short story, "The Ledge", by Lawrence Sargent Hall. It's a father-son duck hunting story, and smacks your heart upside the ventricle like maybe nothing else I've read. So if only producing one work of "outdoor writing" counts, I'd count this guy.

https://ds062.k12.sd.us/kingsahlimon/pdf/CW/The Ledge, Hall short story.pdf

Ug. That's terribly good?

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Ug. That's terribly good?

Meh... I'm more a Cam Hanes guy myself, have you read Keep Hammering.

 

[Irrelevant]

Meh... I'm more a Cam Hanes guy myself, have you read Keep Hammering.

Really? I pictured you more of a J.K. Rowling person...

 

[reallyoldman]

Do any of you remember Jim Bond ? He was like Gordon Eastman in that he took some incredible movies and went around showing them in high school auditoriums. He wrote several books and darn it I got rid of all that stuff before I realized their value to me. He had a couple of Alaska videos/mpvies that were outstanding. He had one called Bucks, Bucks, Bucks that would be priceless today and give glimpse of the good old days of mule deer.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Really? I pictured you more of a J.K. Rowling person...

As Doris Kearns Goodwin once wrote;

"There are two novels that can change a bro's life: Harry Potter and Keep Hammering. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves wizards."*

* Entirely misquoted and attributed.

 

[tkhuntsman]

I'm a huge fan of Jim Corbett and Kenneth Anderson. I really can't think of many outdoor writers that I don't at least like some of what they wrote. Roosevelt's stuff was kinda dry but still enjoyable. Ruark and Hemingway are a little long winded and travel down the rabbit holes often but I still like em. I even like Spomer and Keyser though they can get a little to techy on some subjects.

 

[Hunter4Life78]

I don't read like I used too and cannot remember authors. The lists here have been amazing and I see I have authors to look into.

With that said, my introduction to outdoor writing was Pat McManus, specifically The Grasshopper Trap.
I really enjoyed the book, The Only Good Bear Is A Dead Bear. It's a collection of stories and news articles and storiesbduring the civilization of the West and Post West civilization , really showed how the Bear was viewed and detailed attacks.
Roland Cheek is another author I like to read.
A local outfitter,Bud Cheff Sr., from my neck of the woods authored "Indian Trails and Grizzly Tales" documenting his growing up in the Mission Valley. He also wrote, "A Woodsman and his Hatchet".

 

[NDcoyote]

I need to make it a point to read more of the works from the classic outdoor writters. This thread makes it apparent that Im missing out on alot!
I sure do miss Dwight Schuh for the how-to/informational type bowhunting articles and he was a great story teller as well. His articles were always the first I would looks at when a new issue of Bowhunter Magazine came in the mail. He seemed like and individual that was truly worth looking up to in the hunting community. I also really enjoyed Elemer Keith's Hell I Was There, and Peter Capsticks Death In The Long Grass.

 

[Brad]

As Doris Kearns Goodwin once wrote;

"There are two novels that can change a bro's life: Harry Potter and Keep Hammering. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves wizards."*

* Entirely misquoted and attributed.

"Keep Hammering"... never heard of it. Care to enlighten? Thanks.

 

[Brad]

So many that I enjoy, I think most all have been listed on this thread.

Worst by a country mile: Clay Harvey.

Never much cared for Jon Sundra.

 

[Trailsend]

Bob Wehle is another I enjoyed, wrote about his EP’s.

 

[geetar]

Writer vs storyteller is an important distinction to me.

I love reading anything Andrew McKean writes. The thought and effort that goes into his writing is apparent and it makes for an excellent read.

This one by McKean was one of my favorites. https://www.outdoorlife.com/story/hunting/old-school-blue-jean-mule-deer-hunt/

 

[Jwill]

For the McGuane fans I stumbled across these recently:

Thomas McGuane Reads “Take Half, Leave Half”

The author reads his story from the October 10, 2022, issue of the magazine.

www.newyorker.com

(several in this podcast series from him)

Media — Mill House

www.millhousepodcast.com

 

[Dan O]

Another I have not seen listed here is M. R. James. He started Bowhunter magazine and was editor for many years. He has penned many articles and continues today. He is in his 80's and has a facebook page that he writes on everyday regarding his bowhunting and photgraphy on his farm.

 

[CorkyM]

George Mattis wrote a wonderful book in 1969 entitled
“WHITETAIL, Fundamentals and Fine Points for the Hunter.” It is still on my bookshelf. I have also enjoyed articles by Jim Zumbo and books by Jack O’Connor.

 

[BrooksRanger]

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned the late Canadian author of so many inspiring outdoor adventures stories for young people, Farley Mowat.
Another favorite, is John Haines, an Alaskan poet and writer who homesteaded after WWII. If you really want to be inspired by the North country, pick up "Living Off the Country," this winter.

 

[DRS]

Kind of surprised nobody has mentioned Col. Tom Kelly, author of The Tenth Legion. I guess it's just an east coast turkey hunting thing.

 

[Beignet]

Maybe he has been mentioned, but Allen Morris Jones' work, "A Quiet Place of Violence" is excellent.

Just finished this one last night. Easily in my top 5 of outdoor books. Highly recommend.

 

[WoodMoose]

Larry Koller wrote "Shots at Whitetails" - probably read it 400 times as a kid (ok, slight exaggeration)

mostly a northern/northeastern whitetail hunting book, but I loved it - still have my copy

lots of good ones - more not so good