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Pheasants of the Mind: A Hunter's Search for a Mythic Bird
Quarter cloth over boards with a sewn binding. 154 pp; b&w illustrations throughout.
"It is impossible to read this without being reminded of Garrison Keilor at his best, which is very good indeed." -- M.F.K. Fisher
"One by-product of current anti-hunting sentiment is that hunting lore gets lost in the process. In the musings of Proper, however, such literature lives on. Pheasant hunting is his focus and serves as a springboard for philosophizing on camaraderie, recreation, agricultural methods, dogs, outdoor equipment, property management, cooking, and other important facets of leisure or not-so-leisure time. Those who think hunting is hokey or barbaric have probably never read Aldo Leopold, Theodore Roosevelt, or Datus Proper. The love of land, seasons, or times of day, the old and new ways of outdoor sportsmanship, and the styles and manners by which we live are admirably explicated in these well-crafted essays." -- Henry T. Armistead, Thomas Jefferson University Library, Philadelphia Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"It is impossible to read this without being reminded of Garrison Keilor at his best, which is very good indeed." -- M.F.K. Fisher
"One by-product of current anti-hunting sentiment is that hunting lore gets lost in the process. In the musings of Proper, however, such literature lives on. Pheasant hunting is his focus and serves as a springboard for philosophizing on camaraderie, recreation, agricultural methods, dogs, outdoor equipment, property management, cooking, and other important facets of leisure or not-so-leisure time. Those who think hunting is hokey or barbaric have probably never read Aldo Leopold, Theodore Roosevelt, or Datus Proper. The love of land, seasons, or times of day, the old and new ways of outdoor sportsmanship, and the styles and manners by which we live are admirably explicated in these well-crafted essays." -- Henry T. Armistead, Thomas Jefferson University Library, Philadelphia Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
154 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 18, 2020
“The old dog makes me feel sorry for him. The young one makes me feel sorry for myself. Life is short and one bird season lost is one too many.”
Has the air of outdoor elitism that doesn’t quite win over the reader, you get the sense that Proper really believes he is in a league of his own. The author also spends more than required time mulling around the good ole days which plays better with someone who remembers the good ole days.
Still thoroughly enjoyable in parts and pieces.
Has the air of outdoor elitism that doesn’t quite win over the reader, you get the sense that Proper really believes he is in a league of his own. The author also spends more than required time mulling around the good ole days which plays better with someone who remembers the good ole days.
Still thoroughly enjoyable in parts and pieces.
November 19, 2012
Like a bullrider, this book comes crashing out the gates, but fails to keep up the momentum. Still a good read with some good stories.
December 1, 2010
Great book on what it is to hunt pheasant.
Author shows a genuine love for the chase, the dogs, the guns, and the bird.
Great sections on dogs, shotgun fit and finish, and delicious recipe at the end.
Author shows a genuine love for the chase, the dogs, the guns, and the bird.
Great sections on dogs, shotgun fit and finish, and delicious recipe at the end.
August 4, 2012
Good enough that I don't want to read any more books about pheasant hunting.
January 11, 2014
Classic.
May 24, 2018
I enjoy books of this nature. Plan to read more of his work.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews