12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Greatest Find in Hunting Literature, August 5, 2004
This review is from: Hunting Big Whitetails: Tactics Guaranteed to Make You a More Successful Whitetail Hunter (Paperback)
This book is truly a hidden gem in a sea of whitetail hunting books, websites, and articles.
Since I have been old enough to hunt, I have been reading articles, books, and websites on whitetail hunting. While I have been successfully in the sense that I usually get a deer even when a majority of the other people in my party goes home empty handed, I have yet to have a big buck mounted on the wall. While I measure my hunting success based on the wildlife goals of the area, which usually means shooting does of which I am just as proud to get, I wanted to hone my skills to increase my chances to at least see bigger bucks. While I have bagged deer 12 of 14 hunting seasons, I have only seen 2 trophy class bucks in that time, one of which I was young, got excited and missed, and the other was a poor shot with the weapon I had, so I did not shoot.
My first surprise with this book is that the author has the eloquence of a fine poet. The text in the book flows together flawlessly. The book takes a no nonsense approach to hunting big bucks. Virtually every facet of whitetail hunting is covered in this book except review of hunting equipment. The book consists of 22 well-developed chapters. Each chapter builds on the previous chapter. By the time the complete book is read, the author has laid out a detailed outline of how to bag a big whitetail buck. The author brings up points that I would have never though of before, such as why scents may be bad, what survival equipment is important to carry, and the idea of using a sleeping bag while hunting. The author has well thought out chapters on various hunting techniques including stand-hunting, still-hunting, deer drives, snow tracking, and stalking. Each of these chapters discusses the benefits and limitations of each technique. I felt the best chapters were the chapters on finding whitetails, after the shot, and sportsmanship. The book ends with a fabulous story about sportsmanship that reminded me that there are still true hunters out there who respect the art of hunting.
I feel this book can benefit any whitetail hunter. The book will help lay out a plan for the inexperienced hunter as well as fine tune the plans of the experienced hunter. The author has an abundance of hunting knowledge to share with the reader, and is able to do so in a clear manner. If nothing else, I felt the book built confidence in my hunting abilities. My words cannot do this book justice; it is really an undiscovered treasure. Happy hunting!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A deer hunting gem!, March 2, 2001
This review is from: Hunting Big Whitetails: Tactics Guaranteed to Make You a More Successful Whitetail Hunter (Paperback)
I have hunted whitetails in Minnesota for over twenty seasons with less than average success. This easy to read text gave me the confidence and tips than helped me bag my first large whitetail buck. I prefer to hunt "the big woods" alone. From this book I learned how big bucks differ in their behavior from other deer. It helped me understand what is happening in the field and what signs to look for. I now see and hear more deer than I used to. My hunting is more enjoyable (and successful) than ever before. The book is the standard re-read every year before the opener. I strongly recommend it!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Going after Big Bucks, December 11, 2000
This review is from: Hunting Big Whitetails: Tactics Guaranteed to Make You a More Successful Whitetail Hunter (Paperback)
Growing up in a deer hunting family, my father taught me not only how to "think" like a deer, but how to practice the art of hunting in such a manner as to assure maximum enjoyment of the entire hunting adventure. Such things as planning the hunt, selecting and maintaining the proper equipment, getting your body and mind into the right condition. As I read Bruce Nelson's Hunting Big Whitetails I often stopped to reflect on how completely this fine fellow enjoys and celebrates the experience of being a hunter. I've never read a book that deals more completely--and in such detail--with every aspect of the nature of Whitetail deer, how they behave in various types of cover and terrain, and, most importantly, how you as a hunter can enrich your experience by these understandings. Bruce brings to the hunting experience not only a great deal of expertise and skill, but also an ethic that reflects the kind of values we in the hunting community want to preserve and portray. My Dad loved the book and so did I. No wonder all the reviews scored it five stars. A must on the shelf of any serious hunter. A great gift for a hunting buddy.
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