I thought I'd add the reviews written by some of our peers here....
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Tension on the String...
Classic Bowhunting Tales and Insights by Mark R. Baker
Honest, "Stick and String" hunting tales in and around some of the most pristine country left in America. If you like hunting "the hard way" and putting process before results, you will love this book.
Some early reviews....
"In Tension on the String, accomplished bowhunter, Mark Baker, shares a lifetime of traditional bowhunting experiences and his personal journey into timeless, classical bowhunting. Written in an easy style, this book is a nice mixture of philosophical thoughts and meat-on-the-table success stories.
Self imposed limits on archery equipment fuels Mark’s passion for ethical hunts conducted in a way that can be proudly passed on to the next generation of hunters. Creating his own, hand crafted gear adds to his sense of accomplishment.
Mark Baker pursues a discipline that makes bowhunting ever more enjoyable and success ever more satisfying." - Darryl Quidort, outdoor writer/video producer
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"…. ten yards out, he (bull moose) veered to my left a bit, and as he reached the clear on the bank, he stopped, a mere five yards away. I was standing still, arrow knocked, with no cover but the small sapling, thinking that when he stepped out, I would put it to him, and focused on the spot I wanted to hit. My peripheral vision saw the bull look up the river away from me, then turn and look downriver, right over me, never seeing me! ….to give you an idea just how big these critters are, I am 6’2” tall, 220 pounds, standing in the clear only 5 yards away, and he was looking over me!"
Using a simple wooden stick, held bent with a taut string, to cast a metal or stone tipped arrow, the author has pursued, and taken, many of the smartest and largest animals in North America. Though at times the clothing and camping equipment is modernized, the weapons used by the author is a throwback to bowhunting as done by our ancestors for tens of thousands of years. One is taken back to the essence of Pope, Young, Compton, and the Thompson Brothers, when they roamed the wilds with selfbows in hand hunting various critters. With the wildest country in the lower 48 states outside side his door he recounts his pursuit of numerous critters on equal footing, matching his wits with theirs, in their backyard.
This book has its share of thrilling moments. However, if you are into the chest pounding, jumping up and down, self-centered egotism displayed by many of the current genre in modern bowhunting, it will not be found here; that type of pretentious behavior is left out.
Permeating the book is the theme that why and how you hunt, conduct yourself while in the field, and act during and after taking an animal, is more important than killing animals. In a laidback and pleasant writing style he presents his views, beliefs, and ethics, regarding hunting, family, and society. It is more akin to having a discussion around the campfire, no pretense or sugar coating, just how he sees it and feels in an honest and straightforward manner.
The book is a good read and I highly recommend it for everybody. -Walt Francis
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Tension on the String is a gift to all of us from a very seasoned outdoorsman and bowhunter, Mark Baker. His trophies are not measured in inches, but in the memories, adventures, equipment, and family experiences of the hunt. In this era of “quick fixes,” it was refreshing to learn that Mark’s best seasons were those drawn out ones that allowed him to fill the freezer with precious wild meat on the last day. It was inspiring to learn that nearly everything this hunter required was right there in the forests, mountains and plains of Montana. His family and livelihood are all connected to a simple way of life where passion for the hunt and searching for that secret paradise in wild places is the ultimate reward.
Getting very close to unsuspecting game is Mark’s goal, so using primitive weapons shaped by his own hands are not a hindrance at all, they are a natural ally emphasizing practiced skills are more important than technology. Making a bow may be a burden or a necessity to some, but for others like Mark, it’s therapy to the mind and revival to the soul. A fallen tree may be dead, but to those of vision, the beauty and power of the tree itself can be brought to life, braced by the tension of a string. Mark is one of those special guys that can breathe life into death, and hand it down to the next generation.
I very much enjoyed this book, and Mark’s words were like music drawing me close, holding me until I heard the sounds of the birds that were with him as he scanned the high-mountain basin waiting for the bull elk to chime in.
Mike Mitten
Beach Park, Illinois
Author of "One With the Wilderness"
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When I learned Mark Baker was assembling his first book, I was happy. I have on several occasions read a magazine article, especially enjoyed it, and then looked back to notice that Baker was the author. I also had the good fortune to meet him while in Montana on a speaking engagement. A compilation of his works would have to be good.
And I was not disappointed. Tension on the String delivers.
Already adept at audibly painting a poetic and melodic picture with his music, the artisan Baker here shifts his canvas to the written word and the result is equally satisfying. In fact, I frequently found myself a hair jealous and thinking, “Man, I wish I’d written that.”
While being a dyed-in-the-wool traditionalist, he has the skill of sharing his observations in such a realistic way that anyone who loves wild places can relate, regardless of whether they’re carrying a primitive stickbow or a modern rifle. Woven into those observations are ideals that the Big Sky archer would like to convince the rest of the world in following. For instance:
“Persistence always pays. Most of the time, simply with the satisfaction of a hunt well conducted, of one’s strict adherence to the challenge….The experience has given me the resolve to stay the course more often, the patience to accept that unfilled tag, not as a reminder of failure, but as a token of commitment to myself. After all, there is more to bowhunting than antlered results. The journey, and our conduct in it, is what is important.”
Wow. Isn’t that the truth? And wouldn’t all the outdoor sports be better off if we held that view? The devoted hunter in each of us will be able to relate to Baker’s journey. How he involves family. How he sometimes has to pick between the wonderful pallet of species Montana offers to pursue. How his last minute successes with deer are especially memorable after so much effort throughout the fall and so many close calls. How he looks for related “projects” (usually a selfbow in his case) to get him through the Montana winters. And how some of those rare events seem to occur mostly for those who go afield enough so that the law of averages rewards them.
This latter episode was exemplified by Baker’s relating a veritable elk stampede, describing it as one of those “rare things we who are out a lot, eventually, hopefully experience.”
As a similarly dedicated bowhunter, I found myself relating to each of his tales, ranging from the whitetails accessible to most of us, to the elk that I have pursued only through the writings of others.As a traditional bowhunter who has not yet made his own equipment, reading Baker’s descriptions of that pursuit has planted the seeds in my own psyche. Those who have made their own selfbows will surely nod their heads, acknowledging the very personal layer of satisfaction that comes from crafting one’s own equipment.
There is little doubt that bowhunters of any ilk will identify with the hunting tales, and those toting stickbows will instantly relate to Baker’s keen descriptions of both what is obviously going on in terms of the animals and our hunt, as well as what's rattling around in our brains. The "thinking" bowhunter will gain much the insight and stories shared in Tension on the String, and I highly recommend it.
-Bryce Lambley, author/writer "My Neck of the Woods"
Topic: "Tension on the String"....new book (Read 1345 times)
