Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping (Camp Life in the Woods & the Tricks of Trapping & Trap Making) [Paperback]

W. Hamilton Gibson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Camp Life in the Woods & the Tricks of Trapping & Trap Making | Publication Date: May 1, 2002

First published in 1881, this complete guide is a practical addition to any outdoor lover's library.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

First published in 1881, this complete, illustrated guide reveals how to catch everything from tigers and bears to squirrels and mice, and offers general advice on camping and hiking in the woods. Among the treasures within are easy-to-follow plans for building dozens of traps; full directions for the building of shanties and log cabins, and boats and canoes; hints on food and cooking utensils; instructions for the curing and tanning of fur skins; and much, much more. (4 1/2 x 7 1/4, 312 pages, illustrations)

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585744824
• ISBN-13: 978-1585744824
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #428,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CAMP LIFE IN THE WOODS AND THE TRICKS OF TRAPPING, October 24, 2007

By 

jim pickens "jim pickens" (west virginia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping (Camp Life in the Woods & the Tricks of Trapping & Trap Making) (Paperback)

This book is a treasure chest of 19th century bushcraft, hunting, and trapping methods that can be and are still useful today. Some of the hunting and trapping techniques may be considered illegal today and one can make more money off of trapping today but then again in 1881 there were no income taxes and the dollar was still on the gold standard $10.00 for an otter pelt weren't bad but still if fur companies paid for furs back then what they pay today a lot of them old time trappers would have been living in the lap of luxery. This book is an excellent look back into a era where things were a little less complicated.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not even enough Blueprints for Jerimiah Johnson, July 29, 2011

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Sparky Coulter "Sparky" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping (Camp Life in the Woods & the Tricks of Trapping & Trap Making) (Paperback)

Traps. Traps. Traps. This book has Random Traps, None are simple, so effectiveness of traps in the book are uncertain. Despite the Cover, it doesnt show how to make snowshoes, only Says it in words. IT DOES NOT COVER many ANIMAL TRACKS despite the Front cover. only the tracks Ernest T Bass would know like wolf, Cougar, Bear, Rabbit, squirrel. it does show random illustrations of Animals but they are drawn Demonically. Most the animals are shown Growling, Showing teeth, with slants in their eyes for pupils, making them look like diamondback rattle snakes. ive never known a Mink to have snake eyes, nor Badgers for that matter. It does say some about 24 of the fur bearing animals, but no. not all 24 have photos. only about 14 to 12 photos out of 24 animals, as if he(the AUTHOR) expects you to know this. and its the animals i havent seen around that he doesnt Draw. Only the ones we know like Bears and Rabbits and Squirrels. the traps are random and require alot of hard to find shaped sticks to make. I thought for sure a book like that would show Peg snares and Spring snares, Spear traps, live cages ETC. but no, he tells you to make boards out of trees for Bait boxes, and they are assembled with Nails. "NAILS!" where will you find nails in the woods? there are no spring, peg or spear traps. just ones created off the top of the writers head. the author published this book in the 1800's. he died before the 20th century, and with mountain men reading this book, No wonder many died in the mountains from starvation! he doesnt show how to make Shacks or shanties, only shows completed illustrations as with most of the traps. dont buy the book. i could go on and on.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trapping like it was 100+ years ago, October 13, 2010

By 

J. Ray (East Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Camp Life in the Woods and the Tricks of Trapping (Camp Life in the Woods & the Tricks of Trapping & Trap Making) (Paperback)

This makes for interesting reading because it was originally published in 1881 and offers a flavor of what a trapper's life was like back in the primitive wilderness. The information provided seems technically sound and not outdated; in fact it sounds like the voice of solid experience. It is mainly about trapping but also describes how to build a log cabin or a canoe, what camping suppliers should be carried and much more. The traps are described in detail and have simple but clear pencil illustrations such that you can easily understand them. The knowledge in this book will improve the survival skills of any Outdoorsman as the ability to trap meat would be essential to extended survival. I recommend this for anyone interested in Trapping, or who has a lot of survival experience, or just interest and wants to pick up some new information that is not available in most books.