Sports Afield's Deer Hunter's Almanac: A Complete Guide to Finding, Taking and Preparing America's Premier Game Animal [Paperback]

Sid Evans (Editor), Sports Afield (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 1996

From the Introduction: "There is not a successful deer hunter in the world who has not come up with his own peculiar methods -- some of them secret, some not -- for beating the long odds of killing a deer. The Ojibwa Indians of the Great Lakes figured out they could attract deer by smoking wild aster in a pipe, the smell of which was like the scent of a deer's hooves. Other tribes -- such as the Choctaws and Cherokees in the Southeast -- would carry skinned-out deer heads on their belts, which they could wear over their heads whenever they needed to make a stalk (this is no longer an advisable, or legal, technique). They used decoys and calls, and they knew that banging a pair of antlers together could summon a buck during the rut. In this book we have tried to compile some of the best information and most interesting pieces written about deer in Sports Afield since the magazine was founded in 1887. There were not as many deer to hunt back then, but over the last quarter century deer populations have boomed in nearly every state but Alaska and Hawaii, and so have the articles written about them. Many of these pieces originally appeared in the Sports Afield Almanac, which was introduced by Editor Ted Kesting in 1972; others appeared as departments or short features. All told, more than 250 deer hunters contributed, making this, we hope, a very unique look at what is now America's favorite game animal. Some of the contributors-like Dwight Schuh and Peter Fiduccia, Tom McIntyre and Ted Kerasote-are what we would call pros. They have hunted, studied and written about deer all their lives. Others are just guys who wanted to share a couple of their best deer-hunting secrets. Do not be surprised if you turn up some contradictory views. There's more than one way to shoot, skin, and cook a deer; but it may be that the best way of all is the one you have to figure out on your own." "This is the finest book on whitetail hunting that I have seen." -- Larry Myhre, Sioux City Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press; First Edition edition (July 29, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871136430
• ISBN-13: 978-0871136435
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,291,114 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent deer hunting book for the novice to the expert!!!, February 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Sports Afield's Deer Hunter's Almanac: A Complete Guide to Finding, Taking and Preparing America's Premier Game Animal (Paperback)

The Deer Hunter's Almanac was a very informative book about deer hunting. Sid Evans thought of just about everything in this book. This book is mainly geared to rifle hunters but there is a chapter on bowhunting. I learned so much that I want to read this book another time before next years hunting season. I think the information presented to me will improve my chances of bagging a trophy deer. If you are looking for an all in one deer hunting book, then this book is for you

4.0 out of 5 stars Big Bang for the Buck, December 6, 2011

By 

Bob McFarland (Midwest USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sports Afield's Deer Hunter's Almanac: A Complete Guide to Finding, Taking and Preparing America's Premier Game Animal (Paperback)

Most of these deer hunting books recycle the same information over and over but there are one or two points that each one seems to bring new to the table. This is a good overall book on the 'complete' hunt, from the recon to the refrigerator and from the woods in the geat outdoors to the wall above your fireplace. This book doesn't leave you in the field standing over your kill. It talks about what needs to be done following the kill, which many hunters fail to give proper attention to. Before you start skinning and field dressing, you need to know whether your goal is protecting the meat(if that is the purpose), or proper care of the head mount and cape(if trophy hunting). This book will guide you through each phase. A good book to review prior to each season's hunt to make sure your not just 'locked and loaded' but'honed sharp' and outfitted properly. Received on time and as described. Would buy again.