As a person goes through the learning process of anything, I think it is only natural to want to soak up as much info as possible. Be it through the internet, magazines, books, or just having a chat with someone that is more experienced than you on the matter. I turned to all of these outlets when I first started bowhunting. We live in a day and age where we have an endless amount of information at our fingertips. Anything that we want to know is just a few clicks and swipes away. Aside from the intel I gained through the internet, there were a few books that stood out to me though. Books that I continue to read over and over again. They are timeless.
Living in Arizona, we have very generous archery deer seasons. They are OTC tags, so anyone that has a bow, can head to a sporting goods store and grab one. From there, it’s all about mental fortitude and how much of a beating you can take from our crafty deer. After getting my butt handed to me on a silver platter over and over again, I naturally started seeking guidance. A book called Bowhunting Open Country Mule Deer by Dwight Schuh kept on popping up in my research. Finally, I decided to take this book for a spin. I’m glad I did.
While the photos and gear are dated, the information in this gem is timeless. Dwight covers bowhunting mule deer from top to bottom. It is a lot of information to digest, which is why I probably read it over and over again. This is essentially the archery mule deer hunting bible if you ask me. After I read this, I had so much more confidence going into my hunts, and actually walked away with 2 misses that season. Misses which would have never happened when they did, if it weren’t for this great book. Dwight is an incredible writer, a huge influence on me as a writer, and was the editor of Bowhunter Magazine for many years. This one is a must read.
This might sound like a stretch, but this book changed my bowhunting life really. Before I read this, I told myself that I would never backpack hunt ever. The more I dove into the book, the more of a yearning grew within me to head into the backcountry with my bow. Before I knew it, what was once out of the question, was something that consumed me. I did research upon research trying to get all of the gear together to do my first backpack hunt. Many of which were inspired by this book. It planted a seed in my imagination. From there, it blossomed into a forest of it’s own, and now I sit here before you.
Cameron does a great job of being honest. I really appreciated the time that he took to talk about Fear. It let me know that I wasn’t alone in my concerns to take part in these adventures, and that they were completely normal after all. Again, these photos and gear items are for sure dated, but that doesn’t matter. Backcountry Bowhunting is jam packed with all sorts of useful nuggets of info to fuel your backpack hunting. If I had to pick one book that has been my biggest inspiration to chase my backcountry bowhunting dreams, it as got to be this one.
The name Chuck Adams should be one that you are familiar with as a bowhunter. It was a name that I had always heard, but never paid any mind to. My mistake all the way around. His feats are legend. Chuck is not only a very accomplished writer, but he was the first hunter ever to accomplish the Super Slam with a bow. That means that he has harvested all 27 big game animals in North America with nothing but a stick and string. Impressive to say the least. Writer Gregg Gutschow is who we have to thank for this awesome book filled with inspiration and adventure.
This book basically tells the story of how Chuck got into bowhunting and his whole journey through accomplishing the Super Slam. It was neat hearing about how Chuck started bowhunting and his trials and tribulations while doing so. I also enjoyed following along with his writing career in this piece. The stories are riveting and do a great job of pulling you into the action. I had a hard time putting this book down, because I simply wanted to know what crazy adventure Chuck was going to have next! Whether it was rope climbing down cliffs for sheep or stalking polar bear, I was hooked. I’d be surprised if you weren’t too.
So, there you have it! 3 books that have been incredibly influential on me and ones that will always have a spot in my collection and my heart. Check them out, give them a read, and let me know what you think. If you have any books that you love and would like to recommend, PLEASE do so down below! I am always looking for a new adventure to dive into.
If you are interested in picking these books up for yourself, you can do so at the links below!
Bowhunting for Mule Deer by Dwight Schuh
Backcountry Bowhunting by Cameron Hanes
Life at Full Draw by Gregg Gutschow
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