Hunting writes of lore.

model70hunter · #1 03-27-2015, 12:24 AM

I started to post this in the notice of Ed Matunas' passing.

It needs its own venue away from a good mans eulogy.

Ed and his brethren are almost all gone, slippery shadows in the fading fog. And the shame is their void has not been filled.

We now have blog masters, acne encrusted young folks who zip up in some odor eating state of the art waterproof camo who's camera lens rides on their sunglasses and then give fake heart attack noises after the kill.

Well newbies, blog this, I have killed more turkeys, deer, ducks and you name it wearing faded blue jeans and a motley assortment of red plaid or blue or green coats than you've ever seen in camo.

But then when we had real writers we also had real hunters. There in lies the problem. Bloggers are teaching new ones to hunting that the kill is important, wrong blogger, it is the hunt.

Drm50 · #2 03-27-2015, 02:00 AM

The "Commando" crowd comes off the back of a 4wheel drive
truck on a 4W-ATV to go check their trail cams that are aimed
at a food plot. Then they climb up into a tree house,heated, take
a magnum rifle with a 4x12 scope, put it in a rest, shot a deer
at 100 yds. Then go to kill and marvel at horns while honoring
the deer for giving it's life for their benefit. They look very macho
in their latest camo gear. Then they talk over the next "hunt"
I'm one of those guys that hunt in jeans and a plaid shirt with
a hunting rifle. The new breed sickens me. The new kick is Black
Bear hunts, $2500/5days they come back with 125 lb bears. A tru hunter would be ashamed to shoot!

ClayCow · #3 03-27-2015, 02:42 AM

talk about hate

quneur · #4 03-27-2015, 06:51 AM

I remember as a kid waiting for the next F&S so I could read Peter Hathaway Chapstick and tales of the dark continent. Then turning to the last page for the musing of Gene Hill. Both are long gone but their stories still remain.

LittleCooner · #5 03-27-2015, 10:02 AM

Jack O'Conner turned this young teenager into a 270 and Pre 64 Winchester fan with his hunting tails in OL and Skeeter Skelton made a 44 special fan of this young buck reading ST. Loved reading those old articles when I was a young lad. They have caused a lot of great times over the years with time spent at the range and in the bush chasing game. Those days are now gone thanks to Al Gore and his invention of the internet.

Arik · #6 03-27-2015, 10:24 AM

Wow. Does it matter what they're wearing? Before blue jeans people wore pants, before that it was breeches, before that something else. Heck at one point people hunted nude!

As far as I'm concerned none of what has been described above is hunting. Sitting in a tree or in a camouflage tent waiting for an animal to walk by that you've been baiting and shooting it from a distance is not hunting it's shooting. For me hunting means grabbing a knife and getting up close. Catch your food!

Rangerpat · #7 03-27-2015, 10:37 AM

I'm too old and slow to catch my food, but I sure do enjoy sitting in a tree and slinging sharp sticks at deer and wild hogs when they walk by.

While waiting for the animals to walk by, I have passed the time reading a book written by Capstick.

jlrhiner · #8 03-27-2015, 12:22 PM

I usually nap. Regardless of what I'm wearing.

Texas Star · #9 03-27-2015, 09:18 PM

Well, some very fine hunters whose lives were often on the line when they faced their quarry wore khaki trousers and bush jackets. One whose books you'd like was J.A. Hunter.

Look for Sasha Siemel's, "Tigrero!" to read about hunting jaguars in thick jungle with spears as well as with firearms. BTW, he wore S&W revolvers.

I loved Jack O'Connor's books and magazine articles. I never met him, but we corresponded over the years. I've saved a few of his letters.

Can you imagine what it must have been like to hunt wooly mammoths and rhinos and cave bears and lions with flint-headed spears and atlatl projectiles? Those hunters didn't have access to Abercrombie & Fitch!

rolomac · #10 03-27-2015, 09:25 PM

Nobody has mentioned Robert Ruark ?!?!?!?!?
My dad's "True" magazine had his monthly column that I devoured - after I got it away from my dad. As a kid I loved his writing and have a couple of his books that I still enjoy just opening up and reading a chapter when the mood strikes me.

rolomac

shouldazagged · #11 03-27-2015, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arik

For me hunting means grabbing a knife and getting up close. Catch your food!

I'd enjoy seeing you do that with a pronghorn.

There are countless old pictures of mustachioed gents returning from the hunt in suits and ties, complete with bowler hats.

One good hunting writer no one has mentioned was Theodore Roosevelt, who was also a strong advocate of responsible game management despite engaging in some of the hunting practices of his time that we wouldn't condone today.

Texas Star · #12 03-27-2015, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolomac

Nobody has mentioned Robert Ruark ?!?!?!?!?
My dad's "True" magazine had his monthly column that I devoured - after I got it away from my dad. As a kid I loved his writing and have a couple of his books that I still enjoy just opening up and reading a chapter when the mood strikes me.

rolomac

Oh, yeah! I even memorized some of the Swahili glossary in the back of one of his books. I can still ask for a cup of tea or for my light rifle or my heavy rifle in that language. But I never got to hunt in Kenya, and now never will. But I have a wonderful useless skill.

My copy of, "Something of Value" is falling apart. I need to hit a used book store or Online seller and find a replacement.

"The Honey Badger" was supposedly largely autobiographical.

My copy of, "Use Enough Gun" is in good shape. I need to dig ot out and read again.

I kept the issue of, "Playboy" where he wrote a great, well-illustrated article on safari. I think that's April, 1965 if you want to check your library or see if it's available Online. You'll be amazed at the tale therein about the witch doctor and how he predicted where and when Ruark and his hunter would find three big bull elephant. And he said to shoot one then, as they would see no others on that safari. Uncanny, and true.

I bought a pair of Russell Birdshooter boots like those in the article and a Russell/Grohman No. 4 belt knife like that one.

Warren Sear · #13 03-27-2015, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arik

Wow. Does it matter what they're wearing? Before blue jeans people wore pants, before that it was breeches, before that something else. Heck at one point people hunted nude!

As far as I'm concerned none of what has been described above is hunting. Sitting in a tree or in a camouflage tent waiting for an animal to walk by that you've been baiting and shooting it from a distance is not hunting it's shooting. For me hunting means grabbing a knife and getting up close. Catch your food!

A knife???

That's cheating! I jump out of a tree, stark naked, using just my fists and teeth. That's huntin'.

shouldazagged · #14 03-27-2015, 11:45 PM

"'Bwana' actually means what?"

shouldazagged · #15 03-27-2015, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warren Sear

A knife???

That's cheating! I jump out of a tree, stark naked, using just my fists and teeth. That's huntin'.

I did that once, and now I'm permanently banned from the zoo.

forindooruseonly · #16 03-28-2015, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Nobody has mentioned Robert Ruark ?!?!?!?!?

My father gave me a copy of The Old Man and the Boy when I was kid. Most of what I consider sporting behavior is tied to that book. Of all his books, it's still my favorite.

Texas Star · #17 03-28-2015, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shouldazagged

"'Bwana' actually means what?"

It's the male equivalent to, "mem'Sahib." Now you know, right?

When the personal boy scratches on your tent near dawn and says, "Bwana, mem'Sahib, mimi lette chai," that means that your tea is there. If you haven't got a woman in there, he'll just say, "Bwana." (No mem'Sahib.)

Elmer Keith told me that his hunter liked to pour Scotch in his morning tea. I'd rather keep those beverages separate and enjoy them at different times of the day.

BTW, does anyone know which Remington .30/06 Ruark used? His first safari was several years after the M-721 appeared, but I rather thought that he might own the earlier and nicer M-30S. I definitely see the M-30S mentally when I read his books where one of the Kenya settlers has a Rem. .30/06. Henry MacKenzie probably hadn't bought a M-721 and would want a nicer rifle.

Interestingly, Ruark had a character take a Marlin .35 after the Mau-Mau after realizing to what extent his .416 Rigby represented "too much gun." The M-336 had been left with the hunter as a tip. He had a Colt Frontier .44 as his sidearm. Yes, that would still be effective in the 1950's. Lt. Col. Vincent Fosbery, V.C. said that the .44-40 was the best handgun "stopper" he saw used on the NW Frontier of India in the 1880's. The .455 Manstopper load had yet to appear. Don't know if he saw the .45 Colt in use.

I quite liked what Ruark's real hunter, Harry Selby, said on learning about Kipling's Mowgli having been raised by wolves. "Did he have fleas?" Inquiring minds want to know, old boy.

model70hunter · #18 03-28-2015, 12:27 AM

To answer most, Jack O'Connor made believers of my Dad and later me. I have almost all of Jack's books and even read his Fictional Western, I think they made it into a movie with Clark Gable, Boom Town perhaps?

J.A. Hunter. At one time I had all of his books and read them several times.

Peter Hathaway Capstick. What a moniker for his pen name. I had all his books, the man could hold ones attention. Hard to put them down to go to sleep. His chapter on snakes in I believe it was Death in the Long Grass was too darn good. I ordered it and it came just before a big snow storm. It was very cold and we had 12 or so inches of snow on the ground but I still had the urge to pull me feet up on the couch.

Robert Roark, I loved his writing. I went by his boyhood home in Carolina and had my wife snap my photo next to the historical marker.

At one time I had all of his books, and I did think the Honey Badger was the best one. Names were changed to protect the innocent, the person using the 416 Rigby was a young professional hunter. Roark was banned from that country after the book was published.

No real disrespect to those who wear camo, I wear camo pants because they have many pockets. What I don't like is the fellows on some hunting shows who sound like their having a heart attack after shooting one and then say things like what a monster, yada, yada. I seem to miss the true meaning of hunting watching many of these shows. Like one of you said they do shooting, not hunting. And I feel the young folks who watch these shooting shows get the wrong impression.

To hunt Africa was a long term dream for me. Never was able to afford it. Still I had my Africa gun for a long time, a Pre 64 Winchester M-70 SG in 375 H&H. I sold it after I retired. Time to put the dream to bed.

Another author I read and reread was more of a shooter after he put out the bait and crawled up in the machan to wait for another man eater. Jim Corbett. I have several of his books leather bound and acid free paper.

I also have some early editions of Teddy Roosevelt's books, /Col Patterson's book on the Tsavo lions which I saw in the Chicago museum.

I once belonged to a book club and had most of the old time authors books on Africa. I still have WDM Bells books.

Lots of Elmer Kieth's books also.

So to me a TV personality pounding on his chest in a tree stand mimicking a heart attack over a kill does not even remotely resemble classic works by established hunters and authors.

I read lots of authors who were regulars in Outdoor Life, Sports afield and Field and Stream.

After I read the first Skeeter Skelton story I subscribed to Shooting Times and kept it up until he passed.

I also liked Warren Page. I've read his The Accurate rifle over and over.

There are a few younger writers I do like that are not pretentious and come across real, Brian Pierce is one. He must have a day job ranching because he does not write enough.

Texas Star, thanks for reminding me, I know who Sasha Siemel is and I keep forgetting to run his book(s) down. I think his work motivated Capstick who did some Jaguar guiding and was bitten on the foot in one hunt.

Harry Selby and his 416 became famous, it is said he was used as the main character in the Honey Badger.

And one more African author that I admired was John Pondoro Taylor. He was very knowledgeable. I have several of his books. The one on big game rifles is excellent.

Asante.

Texas Star · #19 03-28-2015, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by model70hunter

To answer most, Jack O'Connor made believers of my Dad and later me. I have almost all of Jack's books and even read his Fictional Western, I think they made it into a movie with Clark Gable, Boom Town perhaps?

J.A. Hunter. At one time I had all of his books and read them several times.

Peter Hathaway Capstick. What a moniker for his pen name. I had all his books, the man could hold ones attention. Hard to put them down to go to sleep. His chapter on snakes in I believe it was Death in the Long Grass was too darn good. I ordered it and it came just before a big snow storm. It was very cold and we had 12 or so inches of snow on the ground but I still had the urge to pull me feet up on the couch.

Robert Roark, I loved his writing. I went by his boyhood home in Carolina and had my wife snap my photo next to the historical marker.

At one time I had all of his books, and I did think the Honey Badger was the best one. Names were changed to protect the innocent, the person using the 416 Rigby was a young professional hunter. Roark was banned from that country after the book was published.

No real disrespect to those who wear camo, I wear camo pants because they have many pockets. What I don't like is the fellows on some hunting shows who sound like their having a heart attack after shooting one and then say things like what a monster, yada, yada. I seem to miss the true meaning of hunting watching many of these shows. Like one of you said they do shooting, not hunting. And I feel the young folks who watch these shooting shows get the wrong impression.

To hunt Africa was a long term dream for me. Never was able to afford it. Still I had my Africa gun for a long time, a Pre 64 Winchester M-70 SG in 375 H&H. I sold it after I retired. Time to put the dream to bed.

Another author I read and reread was more of a shooter after he put out the bait and crawled up in the machan to wait for another man eater. Jim Corbett. I have several of his books leather bound and acid free paper.

I also have some early editions of Teddy Roosevelt's books, /Col Patterson's book on the Tsavo lions which I saw in the Chicago museum.

I once belonged to a book club and had most of the old time authors books on Africa. I still have WDM Bells books.

Lots of Elmer Kieth's books also.

So to me a TV personality pounding on his chest in a tree stand mimicking a heart attack over a kill does not even remotely resemble classic works by established hunters and authors.

I read lots of authors who were regulars in Outdoor Life, Sports afield and Field and Stream.

After I read the first Skeeter Skelton story I subscribed to Shooting Times and kept it up until he passed.

I also liked Warren Page. I've read his The Accurate rifle over and over.

There are a few younger writers I do like that are not pretentious and come across real, Brian Pierce is one. He must have a day job ranching because he does not write enough.

Texas Star, thanks for reminding me, I know who Sasha Siemel is and I keep forgetting to run his book(s) down. I think his work motivated Capstick who did some Jaguar guiding and was bitten on the foot in one hunt.

Harry Selby and his 416 became famous, it is said he was used as the main character in the Honey Badger.

And one more African author that I admired was John Pondoro Taylor. He was very knowledgeable. I have several of his books. The one on big game rifles is excellent.

Asante.

And asante sana (many thanks) to you. But you missed a few things there.

Ruark spelled his name that way, not as Roark. If anyone searches for his books, they need to know that.

And Jim Corbett often walked many miles in pursuit of man-eaters. He didn't just sit in machans. And even that was dangerous. The Leopard of Panar darned nearly got to him in a machan. Only his having had long, sharp thorns tied onto tne machan saved him. That cat had eaten a KNOWN 400 people!

How did you forget the case where he had the bird eggs in one hand, his rifle in the other, and rounded a corner in a ravine (nullah) and saw the man-eating tigress within a few feet of him and looking right at him! That guy was BRAVE!

I've always wondered why he wasn't knighted.

Brian Pearce is indeed probably the most interesting gun writer now extant.

Usmc5811 · #20 03-28-2015, 01:03 AM

I am sitting at work now having finished "Death in the Dark Places". And halfway through the Tsavo Lions. Excellent reading.

LittleCooner · #21 03-28-2015, 05:27 AM

"After I read the first Skeeter Skelton story I subscribed to Shooting Times and kept it up until he passed."

Me to, Shooting times was just not the same after Skeeter was gone and I dropped my subscription because he had caused me to want to rea the dang thing every month. 44 Special fan for life, thanks to Skeeter

Jessie · #22 03-28-2015, 10:25 AM

I don't really care what someone wears to hunt, but more how they hunt.
I have my share of camo, a must almost for turkeys. It depends on the weather and temps for what I'm wearing. Most wool clothing is camo these days. At least what I can find on sale.
Besides, I can wear it for a few days and it never looks dirty.
Most trips I'm wearing both anyways. Long johns, jeans and a wool camo coat.
I only wish that I was as good a hunter as the above mentioned legends were. What I'm wearing is not the problem

model70hunter · #23 03-28-2015, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas Star

And asante sana (many thanks) to you. But you missed a few things there.

Ruark spelled his name that way, not as Roark. If anyone searches for his books, they need to know that.

And Jim Corbett often walked many miles in pursuit of man-eaters. He didn't just sit in machans. And even that was dangerous. The Leopard of Panar darned nearly got to him in a machan. Only his having had long, sharp thorns tied onto tne machan saved him. That cat had eaten a KNOWN 400 people!

How did you forget the case where he had the bird eggs in one hand, his rifle in the other, and rounded a corner in a ravine (nullah) and saw the man-eating tigress within a few feet of him and looking right at him! That guy was BRAVE!

I've always wondered why he wasn't knighted.

Brian Pearce is indeed probably the most interesting gun writer now extant.

I did not forget him walking up on the tigress. Traveling to and from his machan in the dark with very little light was probably as dangerous or more so than hunting in the light. My point was once in the machan other than times he was close to ground level was shooting. I admired his testosterone.

Ruark spelling is brain gas, I grew up with a bunch of Roarks.

Thais for your input, it is enjoyed as always.

Kernel Crittenden · #24 03-28-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by model70hunter

I started to post this in the notice of Ed Matunas' passing.

First heard of Ed Matunas maybe 15 years ago in regards to his Optimum Game Weight (OGW) formula. An interesting concept that I think has merit, in that it gave results in pounds weight of a game animal, - a unit of measure easily understood. (As opposed to something like: foot-pounds, Newtons, or joules - which mean what, exactly?).

Matunas Game Weight Formula

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My favorite author from years gone by, now deceased, was Bob Milek. He's the one that got me into handgun hunting. Bob wrote for Guns & Ammo, Handloader, and Shooting Times. Three magazines I subscribed to back in the '80's and '90's.

If not for Bob I would of never of bought a Thompson-Center Contender, and all the joys that entailed. Which lead to a plethora of obscure wildcat cartridges and the need to handload, and all the joys that entailed.

If not for Bob I would of likely never of bought a S&W Model 629 .44 Magnum for deer and a 6-inch M617 for small game, put scopes on them, and all the joys that entailed. Resulting, ultimately, in me being a member of this fine forum today.

Bob Milek passed away in 1993 at the age of 59. Way too soon. I miss his writing.

msinc · #25 03-28-2015, 04:32 PM

Cant believe no one has mentioned Nash Buckingham...for an interesting read look up how he lost his favorite shotgun "Bo Whoop" and it surfaced recently after all those years.

"http://gardenandgun.com/article/legend-bo-whoop"

Jessie · #26 03-28-2015, 05:43 PM

[QUOTE=Kernel Crittenden;138460343]First heard of Ed Matunas maybe 15 years ago in regards to his Optimum Game Weight (OGW) formula. An interesting concept that I think has merit, in that it gave results in pounds weight of a game animal, - a unit of measure easily understood. (As opposed to something like: foot-pounds, Newtons, or joules - which mean what, exactly?).

Matunas Game Weight Formula

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My favorite author from years gone by, now diseased, was Bob Milek. He's the one that got me into handgun hunting. Bob wrote for Guns & Ammo, Handloader, and Shooting Times. Three magazines I subscribed to back in the '80's and '90's.

Bob Milek was definatley the master of the SBR, in a manner of speaking. I can't see a contender without thinking of him. Actually, it was probably the Remington XP100 with him.

pawngal · #27 03-28-2015, 06:17 PM

I had a number of books that I purchased from the estate of Bob(Shooter) Allen. I sold some and kept some, will have to see what I have.

Onomea · #28 03-28-2015, 08:05 PM

I, too, think Ruark's Honey Badger was autobiographical. The main character surely was not based on Harry Selby, the young white hunter made famous by Ruark's The Horn of the Hunter.

I think The Horn of the Hunter is Ruark's best. Wonderfully atmospheric.

I don't know that much about Selby, other than from Ruark's writings, but I think he was — is? — fairly straight laced.

model70hunter · #29 03-29-2015, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onomea

I, too, think Ruark's Honey Badger was autobiographical. The main character surely was not based on Harry Selby, the young white hunter made famous by Ruark's The Horn of the Hunter.

I think The Horn of the Hunter is Ruark's best. Wonderfully atmospheric.

I don't know that much about Selby, other than from Ruark's writings, but I think he was — is? — fairly straight laced.

I went back and checked, Harry Selby was fictionalized in Something of value. My error.

I picked up Ruark and many hunting books by hitting every used book store I could find. It probably was 30-40 years ago when I read them.

Leonard · #30 03-29-2015, 01:03 AM

My favorite author from years gone by, now diseased, was Bob Milek. He's the one that got me into handgun hunting. Bob wrote for Guns & Ammo, Handloader, and Shooting Times. Three magazines I subscribed to back in the '80's and '90's.

If not for Bob I would of never of bought a Thompson-Center Contender, and all the joys that entailed. Which lead to a plethora of obscure wildcat cartridges and the need to handload, and all the joys that entailed.

If not for Bob I would of likely never of bought a S&W Model 629 .44 Magnum for deer and a 6-inch M617 for small game, put scopes on them, and all the joys that entailed. Resulting, ultimately, in me being a member of this fine forum today.

Bob Milek passed away in 1993 and the age of 59. Way too soon. I miss his writing.[/QUOTE]

I spent 10 days in Africa hunting with Bob Milek in the mid 80's a very interesting man. He brought a couple of contenders it was his only African trip and he wrote about it in Peterson's

Texas Star · #31 03-29-2015, 01:40 AM

I met Bob Milek just once, at Ruger's 30th Anniversary press luncheon. They showed us the new Redhawk and he liked it.
He seemed like a nice guy.

If you can see the movie version of, "Something of Value", Rock Hudson played the white hunter based on Harry Selby.
I suspect that both Selby and Ruark would have preferred different actors for some roles, but I can't go into why on this board. Nonetheless, despite not being as good as the book, it's a very good film, worth locating. It is in B&W, if that's a factor.

A fine color film came out about this time, in 1956, starring Victor Mature and Janet Leigh. It was called, "Safari" and is well worth a look. I bought the DVD. It plays fine on the VCR of my older, smaller TV with a 20-inch screen. On the computer, which has a screen that converts to a TV, the colors are paler in the larger format. I thought that is worth mentioning. It applies to many of my older DVD movies.

Rustyt1953 · #32 03-29-2015, 01:56 AM

"Playboy" has articles?

GoHogs · #33 03-29-2015, 03:11 AM

Jack O'Connor.
He had the smarts, the experience, and the ability to write so well I thought I was along with him on some of his hunts.
And he knew and loved his rifles.