Deer Hunting

by Richard P. Smith

Features updated information on preseason scouting, and hunting from stands Third edition uses up-to-the-minute studies to add much-needed information about Chronic Wasting Disease Drawing on knowledge gleaned from a lifetime of hunting all across America and into Canada, using firearms, bow and arrow, and cameras, Richard P. Smith builds on the foundations of previous editions to give his most complete guide yet. Deer Hunting goes beyond basic hunting manuals into less traditional stalking techniques, the importance of ethical hunting practices, and the deep connection with the outdoors that draws hunters even when the odds of scoring are not great.

Genres: Horror

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

I've been a fulltime outdoor writer and photographer for almost 50 years. My first book (the 1st edition of Deer Hunting) was published in 1978 and I've written more than 30 other books since then, including 3 more editions of that first book. Besides books, I've produced 2 DVDs (Field Judging Black Bears and Walking With Whitetails). I also write for a number of outdoor magazines on the state, regional and national level. You can find out more about me and my work at http://www.richardpsmith.com.

Reviews

[Peter George]

I thought this book was very entertaining yet not too long. The book went through the basic boring ideas very briefly then moved on to how inquisitive the life of a whitetailed deer can be. Though I knew most of the information in this book it was a good review of my skills. I can honestly say I enjoyed reading this book. That last statement means a lot considering I hate reading. The topic was definately in my greatest interest. I have never enjoyed reading a book so much as to want to want a friend to read it. This book explained all of the different methods of deer hunting greatly from on the ground to in a treestand. I would think of this book as a great refresher for a great deer hunter but also not too advanced for a beginner to read. This book would educate many liberals who find deer hunting to be very cruel and barbaric as to it is a great way of life. Hunting also being a very natural tradition before we had farm raised cattle we had to kill wild animals for food. This was a great read and is good for anyone to read regardless of age or ethnicity.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+. This is the best beginning deer hunting book I have found so far and has lots of helpful info on technique and dressing. I realized that I probably need a book on butchery. This author give written descriptions of dressing deer, but no good how-to pictures of the process.

The jacket makes a feature of the photos. There are quite a few, but the majority a re poses with kills that I didn't find particularly helpful.

There are several chapters on conservation and game management that seemed well written, but couldn't have much of an audience. How many people own enough land to apply much management to their deer population?

[Stephanie R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a good introduction to hunting that even a nonhunter can understand, and I learned a lot. Smith really understands how deer think and how you can use that information to your advantage. It was a lot of fun reading about what deer like, how they live, and what they are thinking. The book explains that there are several different techniques for hunting, such as sitting in a tree stand, walking through the woods, and group hunting. Also covered are ways to find and follow deer, the difference between white-tailed deer and mule deer, how to choose a gun or bow and use it, what to do with your deer (eating, taxidermy, etc), and much more. The chapter on photography is especially nice. As Smith points out, photographing deer is a good way to practice your stalking skills when it isn't deer season, and a good excuse to get outdoors. Some of his best experiences while hunting did not involve killing anything, merely seeing something unusual that an animal did.

I have never hunted and am not sure if I ever will, but I have nothing against people who hunt and think it's kind of cool. This makes me a nonhunter, but not an antihunter. This is an important distinction. The author makes a very important point with this book: Hunters have to behave with a certain set of standards (e.g. don't leave trash in the woods, be a good sport, don't do gruesome things with dead animals), or they may accidentally convert nonhunters into antihunters.

[Keegan Adams]

Was a good book too me. I didn't learn anything from it because I knew a lot about it