Here's another....
…. 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.
Mark, …. You Done Good, Real Good!
-Walt Francis