Thread: Best Hunting Books

Hey all.

Something has come to my attention recently, and it is that the good old top quality information found in the old time deer culling and meat hunting books is simply not available online.
As a new hunter I spent hours searching the internet for tips and tricks (this website being the utmost best).
Recently I purchased a bundle of used hunting books, it must have been an old boys collection he was selling up or it was part of an estate.
I keenly pulled apart the package and began to read stalking the season round - Roger Lentle
This book has been absolutely jam packed full of information and has some amazing diagrams of deer movement, I was shocked and amazed.
I thought I would post here and hopefully others can add the the list of “must have hunting books” for our personal libraries.

I have big game hunting in nz.

Fantastic book. It has every species of deer and tells you behaviour, typical antler structure. Techniques and other information.

Ive got the set from those two.
many others including some early mountain safety council ones which are pure gold.

If you want to read hunting books ,I reckon the best hunting story I've read is the chapter about leopard hunting in Hathaway-Capstick's Death in the Long grass.

Here’s my list with emojis for ratings

“Of mountains men and deer” Brain Burdon
“White Hunters” Brian Herne
“Call of the Wapiti” and “Call of the Moose” Ray Tinsley
“Mr Wapiti” Jack McKenzie
“Beyond the Rivers Bend” Max Curtis
“Hunting for Trouble” Charlie Janes

“My Stalking Memories” Major R A Wilson. Those were real expeditions, no GPS, no decent gear or boots. And they covered huge amount of country.
“Along the Track” Bill Axbey. Some cracker yarns

I would thoroughly recommend anything by Kenneth Anderson and Jim Corbett. Both were hunters of man eating tigers and leopards in British India, and had huge balls.

charlie james...brian burdon...big al lester is good for a laugh,sort of a modern day Crumpy,but he is or was a copper so some of you wont on principal....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

charlie james...brian burdon...big al lester is good for a laugh,sort of a modern day Crumpy,but he is or was a copper so some of you wont on principal....

Charlie last time i chatted with him was promising another book before the end of the year. Probably too busy building his new plane.

You'll Learn no Harm from the Hills by Newton McConachie is a Classic , not sure on the spelling there lol , and I second that book by Major R A Wilson is a classic , on a lighter and newer side Vern Wilsons HOON HUNTER is a good read I reckon .

Originally Posted by TeRei

Charlie last time i chatted with him was promising another book before the end of the year. Probably too busy building his new plane.

Is he building another plane - did he not loose his PPL ???

My fav book pron Bone Heads Venison Hunters )Mike Bennett)
I read it multiple times so that must mean something - or I just slow learner

Originally Posted by Sarvo

Is he building another plane - did he not loose his PPL ???

My fav book pron Bone Heads Venison Hunters )Mike Bennett)
I read it multiple times so that must mean something - or I just slow learner

+1. Also An Era Gone by "Rattie"

Great NZ Deer Heads Vol I, II & III by Bruce Banwell
Highland stags of Otago by Bruce Banwell
The red stags of the Rakaia by Bruce Banwell

All great books, especially if you have an interest in our early pioneer hunting. And a great way of sourcing top blood lines for future hunting trips.

Red Stags calling by Gordon Atkinson is probably my favourite. That man is a legend in my view!

Charlie Janes writes a great yarn.
Good bloke to chat with around a campfire too
Ran into him years ago, at Rocks Ahead in the Kawekas.
Just missed Brian Burdon by a couple of weeks. He spent some time in the Kawekas taking photos prior to
Of Mountains, men and deer.
Newton McConochie’s s great read, I’ve a copy autographed by Sam McConochie who I think is his son.
Lester Masters Back Country tales is good too.
Phillip Holdens not too bad either.

Ross Curtis and Max Curtis, Local Top of the South/Bullerites, Both Deer Cullers in the early days. Ross was quite instrumental in the formation of a lot of tramping tracks, Wangapeka, Mt Owen as examples, and recreation areas (think Rabbit Island). Max Curtis went on to become more of a trophy hunter.
I am quite partial to their writings as I am best mates with one of their great nephews. We still tramp a 'family' area regularly. It is great to read about these blokes and others efforts in an iconic part of NZ history.