What are you reading in Elk camp?

[George McCloskey]

#4702

Elk Camp is a special place, and a different experience for all of us. I’m spending 5 days of this season in a spike camp with a buddy, and we’ll be hunting in the early morning hours, and evening hours – which leaves mid-day to relax in camp. I plan on spending some quality time between the pages of one of my favorite outdoor scribes, non other than our own Dave Petersen. I received “Elkheart” just in time before I pull out for Idaho’s Pioneer Unit 50 where I’ll spend two weeks, as I’ve done for many years now.

What will you be reading this year, in Elk Camp?

[T Downing]

#33074

“Elk Camp is a special place…” Now that is the truth!
My father just finished Don Thomas’ latest book titled “Have Bow Will Travel.” Excellent book…I don’t spend as much time in camp as Pop does but I always bring my bible to read and the current issue of TBM is a staple in our camp. I also like to have Dave’s fine book, “Man Made Of Elk” in camp just to get the juices flowing!

[rnorris]

#33144

I read a lot of Hemingway when I’m out in the woods

[tom-wisconsin]

#33350

rnorris
went to your website. I enjoyed it very much. Keep writing
Tom

[rnorris]

#34031

Tom-Wisconsin wrote: rnorris
went to your website. I enjoyed it very much. Keep writing
Tom

thank you very much Tom. i appreciate it.

Roger

[George D. Stout]

#34129

Well we just have camp here in Pennsylvania, but my favorite reads are anything by Patrick F. McManus…plus some of my 1940’s and 50’s Archery Mags. Can only take so much philosophical drivel in one season, and I supply myself with that while on stand or stillhunting.

[Stephen Graf]

#34639

George, I have said this before I think, but I must say it again. You are a hoot!

I have burned a few holes in my socks around the campfire laughing like a fool about something Mr. McManus wrote. I have a yearly hunting tradition with a friend that involves about a week in camp. The best part is that we alternate bringing the funniest book we can find to read aloud around the fire at night. McManus has had the post more than once.

A few shots of Dickel, Laugh till your sides hurt. Sleep and hunt. Good medicine.

[wahoo]

#37301

been reading DP ghost grizzlies , even saw a few this year up in Glacier.

[Nate Bailey]

#37344

I don’t have muck time in camp as My wife and youngest are there, so I try to do what they want to do, for the short time im there. I loved reading John Eldridge Wild at Heart while on stand one year.

[George D. Stout]

#37680

No offense, but I really don’t understand reading while on stand. Of course, I don’t sit in tree stands, but when I did I had no desire to alter my attention, or fill in a void. I wanted to be alert to every nuance that nature had to offer. I wonder how much is missed when engrossed in a book with your mind in another place or time. Not for me.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#38053

Since the elk are in the foothills right behind my house, elk camp is home. But right now I’m reading “The Scavenger’s Guide to Haute Cuisine” by Steven Rinellla and re-reading Tom Brown’s “Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking.”

[tailfeather]

#41057

This is great. I don’t think there are many hunting forums where book choices are discussed.

Refreshing!:D

[Alexandre Bugnon]

#41143

Elk camp was a special place this year and every year before for me. Unfortunately, I was so tired every night that I barely made it passed the preface of “Racks” by David Petersen. But I plan on seriously reading it on my flight to Jacksonville today, and back home to NYC Sunday!!
My midday ritual was: eat, nap, sharpen, shoot judos!!:D

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#41347

Just finished reading ‘Racks.’ Truly a must read.

But boy, the author sure looks like a weirdo, judging from his bio pic…:lol:

[Ron Roettger]

#47509

I read my new Traditional Bowhunter Mag. on the hunt I just got back from.

[Backcountry Joe]

#48425

I read ” Alaska’s Wolf Man The 1915-55 Wilderness Adventures of Frank Glaser” and “Sam O. White, Alaskan”. Both great books and worth the read.

[William Warren]

#49368

I once read “The Importance of Being Ernest” during a deer season. It was pocket sized and a classic I had never read but I have to say George is right. I was in one place but my mind was off in another place. I did not kill a deer that year. These days I might carry a book of verse if I feel the need to divert my attention awhile. If you don’t really care if you kill a deer or not, reading outdoors is a great activity. Finding a sunny spot about mid-day and taking a woods nap is too!

[Amoose]

#40463

The only thing I have time for is “Elknuts Playbook”, I rarely have time for reading when Elk Hunting as it is dark when I leave camp, and if I find Elk, I am busy, if I have not found Elk, I keep looking.

When I get back to camp, I eat, sleep, 4:00AM comes early when you get back to camp @ 9:00-9:30 PM.

[jmsmithy]

#45438

I find reading goes hand in hand with the intellectual, introspective more ethereal aspects of what we do…

Whatever camp I find myself in, I love African hunting classics, Capstick, Selby, Pondoro Taylor etc…The adventure, even reading about it, is incredible. Having been there now, it makes the fire/desire to return even more intense…I also love almost any well written, intellectually honest, outdoor lit…

My new read is a very cool author I just recently “met” around these parts, goes by DP…I do have a bit of an issue though…I started reading Dave this year and have already “devoured” Racks, Heartsblood, and just about finished with Nearby Faraway and Ghost Grizzlies. My NJ season doesn’t end until Mid February and I spend ton of time at my ADK camp where I can chase coyotes until mid March…at this rate I may finish the “Petersen Catalogue” by end of season (I read between posts, morning and evening here in Jersey and mid day lull at my ADK camp as well as just about every evening until the Mrs hits me )…. With Fly fishing all winter/spring, plus turkey and bear in spring, I’ll run out of Petersen Prose this year I’m sure….

Dave, please pump out a few more books for next season!

[David Petersen]

#45683

Well thanks. Alas, I’ve never been much of a word-pumper. More like a drip [sic] … takes me forever and twice that long when I can find a season open somewhere.

[CareyE]

#49767

Rereading “Man Made of Elk”. I too have read Mr. Peterson’s other books as well. Starting to get psyched for my first walk in elk hunt in Colorado next September with my newly ordered GN Bushbow.

[jmsmithy]

#51689

So Dave, I had to share this…

I’m currently in my favorite / happy place. My camp in the So West corner of the beautiful Adirondacks. Here for week of fun frolic in the woods w the people I love most on this planet and to give Thanks for it all…

Anyway, I walked outside early this morning to sit on my frosty deck (22 & gloriously sunny) coffee in one hand, already tattered eared copy of recently purchased The Nearby Faraway in the other hand. After sitting a few moments and taking it all in, sun rising opposite the barn, light revealing towering white pines, two does eyeing me as they nip their way across the clearing back into the dark boreal forest I sat and read Chapter 16, once, then twice. For those of you that know what I’m referring too, the feeling was incredulous. For those of you who don’t, beg borrow , buy (not steal 😉 ) a copy and devour it, repeatedly. You’ll immediately understand, as well as be able to articulate, how the wildness of wilderness affects us all. Truly remarkable.

Of course the most interesting dichotomy of a hunter/outdoorsman’s life in 2011 is the fact that as I came back inside for cup # 2 I went and leaned over the one spot of the kitchen counter where I sort of get a cellular signal and proceeded to post this thought for our brethren to read….good or bad ? I’m not sure…

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. Be well my friends. >>>–> JM

[Author]

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