The Sportsman's Bookshelf

Good books have a way of staying with you long after you've finished reading them. They can teach us something about our dogs, make us better hunters, deepen our appreciation for conservation, or remind us why we spend so much time outdoors in the first place.

I'm an avid reader of upland hunting books, but I have a special place in my heart for vintage titles. I remember seeing many of these books on my dad's bookshelf as a child. I've personally read every book on this list, and I believe each has something to offer the reader.

The Sportsman's Bookshelf is a collection of books worth reading for anyone who enjoys bird dogs, upland hunting, the outdoors, and the sporting life. Some offer practical knowledge, others tell memorable stories, and a few simply capture the kind of life many of us enjoy living.

These are books worth making room for on the shelf — not just adding to a collection.

Featured Books

Wing and Shot

Robert G. Wehle - 1979

Snake Foot: The Making of a Champion

Robert G. Wehle - 1996

A Hunter's Road

Jim Fergus - 1992

Training Bird Dogs with Ronnie Smith Kennels

Reid Bryant with Ronnie Smith and Susana Love - 2019

The Orvis Guide to Upland Hunting

Reid Byrant - 2017

Breeding and Training Versatile Hunting Dogs for Hunting and Hunt Tests

Bob Farris - 2018

Wisconsin Bird Hunting Tales

Ken M. Blomberg - 2018

Comments

Pyke Dakota Cold Weather Gloves

ColdWeather South Dakota Hunt Last fall I trudged across a field for a ½ mile in South Dakota to get back to my truck. I was making my way across a picked field after hunting a field corner with great habitat. What made the walk so memorable was the freezing cold which made my hands numb. My beloved leather Orvis shooting gloves were no match for the unseasonably cold early November weather. As soon as I got home I started searching for a proper cold weather shooting glove. I had a few requirements which included maintaining dexterity, being able to access my Garmin watch for dog location, durability, and reasonably warm. An added bonus for me would be the ability to be able to use my phone screen for taking photos and checking OnX maps with taking my gloves off. After researchingI decided on the Pyke Dakota Cold Weather Glove, which retails for $89.95 Over the rest of the season I utilized the glove on multiple hunts including my annual Nebraska quail and pheasant hun...

Why NAVHDA ?

There are things I have done as an upland hunter that have heightened my knowledge and passion for all things uplands. In no particular order the ones that had the biggest impact include purchasing my first real bird dog, joining a local Pheasants Forever Chapter as a board member, and most recently joining and participating with a local chapter of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA). NAVHDA is a training and hunt test organization founded in 1969 with a stated goal to foster, promote, and improve versatile hunting dog breeds across the United States and Canada. A hunt test has some similarities to field trialing with some distinct differences. In field trials, dogs compete head-to-head with other dogs. As an example, if 10 dogs compete, they will be ranked from 1st through 10th place. In a hunt test, a dog's performance is judged against a known standard. Although, at this point, I have never participated in a field trial, I think the hunt test for...

County Forest Grouse Hunt 09/25/26

09/25/26 Went to a county forest with Bucky and Copper. Left around 5:30AM so we could hunt around first light to avoid the heat. It was about mid 60's when we started and humid. Hunted a side road off [location omitted]. Heard 1 grouse flush off the trail. When moving spots saw 1 running into the woods. Let Bucky out. After a few minutes heard it flush a distance away. Lots of leaves on trees still. Moved 2 grouse. No shots.

Behind The Bird Dog

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