Hunting book review thread. (Update 05/07 Whitetail Advantage)

"In Defense of Hunting"...pretty deep discussion on hunting, it's history, current views among non-hunting public...and does great job touching on the unexplainable reason why Men hunt...like how to answer the question "why do you hunt."

Must read.

 

You guys inspire me. I read quite a bit but usually not about hunting. I ordered a couple books that I am going to read over the summer just now.

Bowhunting Mega Bucks
BY Michael Hanback

Bowhunting Forests & Deep Woods
BY: Gregg Miller

I actually don't need the second book, but they came together, so I guess it will be worth reading.

 

Can't remember what the order was but the last two books I read were:



I believe it was Duke that said the other day that he'd recommend books on whitetail behavior rather than those along the line of "This Is How To Hunt..." and that's exactly what this book is. Cover to cover its written on whitetail observations and behavior and provides deep insight into the biological make up of whitetails. I'd rather about my query rather than learn "how to hunt it" and this book does just that.



This is a very insightful book for those immersed in QDM. Alsheimer provides historical facts and statistics about the US and its deer herd and provides, in a sort of a time line nature, how QDM came about and where its headed in the future. More than that, though, there are great tips as to what orientation to plant food plots for food plot success, hunting success, etc. There is a chapter on the importance of soil, forestry practices and record-keeping tips. There are also 4 chapters taking the reader through the whitetails season in a matter somewhat similar to Rue's book, however, since whitetail biology isn't the book's focus these chapters are much less informative than Rue's book as a whole. Finally, it ends with tips on speaking with neighbors and dealing with "those neighbors" who believe QDM on a whole is some sort of fallacy

 

SOG. Oh, you mean real hunting. LOL That would be Full Draw. I really don't read hunting books. I read or flip through magazines but am really about done with them. Everything has been said 30,000 ways already.

 

ahhh, I wouldn't go as far as to say that! One of my physics professors wrote a very, very well renowned book called "How Things Work" around 1999 or shortly there after and then rewrote the entire book last year because so many things have been dis-proven or new things have been discovered about that which was that to already be figured out completely. I look at the world of the whitetail as being very similar as there are always going to be new things discovered and things that were once though to be fact will be debunked through further, more advanced observation and experimentation.

 

Yes.. the whitetail Access book. After I read it.. I'll tell you how it was.. or was not.

 

Like Scott already mentioned.. when this book came out.. it was like cutting edge stuff.. it really made you think about a whole different way of hunting.. particularity if you read it 15 years ago when it came out.:d I own that book.. although its been many years since I last read it.. but I was like 16 when I got it.. LOL :d (man i hate saying lol.)

 

Hunt the Coues just like a whitetail Trevor. Their Identical In their behavior, just a tad more on the ball.

 

Yeah i figured behavior wise they are relatively the same, which is why I am lost. I have never heard of spot/stalk whitetail hunting, much less with a bow. I am more trying to learn of WHERE to look within an area, and what type of area to look for that holds deer. Finding them is key, you can't really read on how to stalk something more than once. Be quiet and stay out of sight, lol. Sure it would be tough, but can you really read how to get better stalking? I picked up some tips like removing boots and use socks only once close, etc...but most stalking is common sense and going sloooow.

I can't wait! I am just worried about how hard it is going to be to actually spot these little buggers in the first place on these dense hillsides.

 

Normally, I read more magazines than books. But thinking back, I believe the last hunting book I read was "Public Land Mulies", by David Long. It's been to long to actually do a review on it, but I always think if a guy can even pick up even just a couple of good points/tactics it's a worth while read....

 

I just read the blogs on here :d

 

Bowhunting Forests and Deep Woods


Bowhunting Forests and Deep Woods: Greg Miller


My brother let me borrow his copy, so I read a few times. If you hunt large tracts of deep woods, namely public land, then you should give it a look see. There are a few good points on food sources and availability. It has some good info based on these types of conditions.


If you got any suggestions on some other good reads let me know.

 

Twice I typed a response to your thread Scott. Twice it disappeared.So now all I have are the pics. I can't go throught all that again. Anyway I have some books I'll loan you to read. Save your money.







This book takes you through the reasons why Pa's deer herd got so out of control through the years. Anyone who disagrees with Pa's newest deer management changes needs to read this book. Then tell me who was at fault for the deer problems in Pa.

 

No one likes a quitter :d

 

Here's a couple of good reads I've made this spring.

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A Hunter's Heart - Honest Essays on Blood Sport compiled by David Peterson. This is a remarkable collection of essays and stories written by some of the best outdoor writers in the business. Every one of 'em is a polished and faceted gem of writing. And each one will make you think about why - and how - you hunt. I may not buy into all of the opinions and thoughts expressed by some of the writers, but I wouldn't want to miss reading any of them.

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Backcountry Bowhunting - A Guide to the Wild Side by Cameron Hanes. This guy has some solid bowhunting and backpacking knowledge and skills. He writes from a predominately western perspective and focuses on public land and fair chase practices. I had the pleasure of meeting him at an outdoor expo in Phoenix this February. If you have any plans to hunt the West with a bow and a backpack, this is a good place to start.

 

Mapping Trophy Whitetails...I liked the book. I do not need extremely detailed books to get my brain flowing. I just need a jump start and most of the time I can take it from there. These days, I do not look for the magic pill of hunting like I did when I first started. I just hope to gain 1 maybe 2 slivers of creative thought from each book I read. If I get more than that, then I would consider the book fantastic.

Good book right there...really enjoyed it. I read from my treestand in the early season a few years ago.

 

I just finished reading Whitetail Advantage by Dr. David Samuel & Robert Zaiglin.



Pros

- The book is actually based on it's title. It says "Understand deer behavior for hunting success" on the cover. This book was actually about deer behavior. This is refreshing after some of the books I purchased lately that were not as advertised.

- The book is well written and was based on scientific data and studies not one man's ideas of how whitetail work.

- Nice full color photography throughout the book.

- The book covered almost everything encompassing whitetail behavior.

Negatives

- I did not care for some of the stuff covered in the chapter about deer vocalization and calling. They state you have nothing to loose by blind calling all the time and I could not disagree more. They said numerous times "you have nothing to lose".

- The photos were very nice but almost all (if not all) of the photos were of Texas deer and landscape.

- They did not cover any scientific data on whitetail hearing ability.

- Although a nit-pick, I didn't care for a quote on the back cover. "So get ready because class is in session, and the final exam will be whether your tag is hanging on a trophy buck or still sitting in your wallet, just like last year's." I am not sure why they would assume that everyone who purchases hunting books had an unfilled tag last year? Just seemed kind of better than thou. Like I said, I know it is a nit-pick but I thought it was stereotypical and stupid.

Overall

- Whitetail behavior books are my favorite and I thought this book was a very good read and worth the purchase price. It covered almost everything, backed by scientific research that was presented in a very easy to read format. This book was not heavily opinionated by the authors like most, but rather they laid out the results of many scientific studies and elaborated on them.

The book also referenced quite a few studies that I had never read about before, I would give the book an 8/10 and would suggest it to anyone looking for a quality read.

 

Thanks for the review Scott.
How much did this book cost?

Frog_Slayer was looking for basketball cards in the garage and found a box of mine with all kinds
of deer hunting books that I had forgotten about. I will make a list of the books later this
afternoon and post it here in case anyone wants to borrow them.

T

 

The back cover say's $24.99 but I ordered it from amazon for some where around $16.