Customer Reviews

The Field & Stream Deer Hunting Handbook

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I am a complete beginner hunter. I love the magazine Field & Stream, so I expected more. Due to my status as a novice, I really can't compare this book to others dealing with deer hunting. However, I've read other books introducing readers to waterfowling, upland and turkey hunting, and I almost always felt like I could go out there and actually hunt, like I had aquired the fundamental knowledge needed to take my first steps. Not with this book.

However, my greatest disappointment is that the author chose to talk quite a lot about rifles, but not at all about shotguns. Here in the more urbanized east the majority of deer hunters cannot use bullets, but can use slugs. I just don't understand how the author could have written a book about deer hunting and not write about shotguns and slugs!

If you're like most people in the Northeast you'd be hunting deer with a rifle. Probably with a .243 rifle. This book covers all of the basics you would need to get a fundamental understanding of what you should be doing to track, locate, and hunt deer. It covers strategy for ground stalking really well and has some very useful information on different calibers of rounds and what to expect from them in hunting deer and even has a handy drop table so you can get some idea what to expect at different distances. The author puts a lot of emphasis on the importance of how to prevent the deer from catching your scent with proper positioning even when there is no wind. He even takes the time to explain the proper way to walk when stalking. The author also covers some hunting basics like proper layering of clothing, proper placement of your shot to get the most effective kill etc. Lots of good useful basics. Overall a relatively easy read and a must have to add to your library if your interested in hunting deer.