By Christine Carbo
Atria books; paperback and e-book; 416 pages; $16.
In a land sculpted by glaciers, the forest is on fire. Thick smoke chokes the mountain air and casts a twilight glow over the imposing mountains and vistas of Montana’s Glacier National Park. When firefighters are called to dig fuel line breaks near a small town, a crewmember unearths a shallow grave with human remains.
 

When Bears Attack: Close Encounters of the Terrifying Kind

Edited by Joseph B. Healy
Skyhorse Publishing; paperback; 224 pages; $14.99.
Bears are among nature’s apex predators, gentle and magnificent to watch from a distance, fierce and unpredictable when aroused. If a bear is startled or frightened, it’s often too late for humans to escape a dangerous, fearsome, or fatal bear encounter. In this collection, we gather the ultimate thrilling and frightening bear attack stories, including classic stories of the past few decades. Joseph B. Healy takes a closer look at some of the notable bear attacks of recent history in order to determine their causes, evaluate what happened and appreciate the raw power — and danger — of mother nature. He tells tales of hikers enjoying weekend camping trips as well as workers going about their daily routines. Follow along as the victims’ lives are disrupted by bears, and see how survivors were forced to think and act in the moment to stay alive.
 

The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-changing Journey Around the World

By Kim Dinan
Sourcebooks; paperback; 368 pages; $15.99.
Plagued by anxiety and panic attacks in her late twenties, Kim Dinan and her husband, Brian, decided to quit their jobs and set out on a trip around the world. They knew their lives were going to change. What they didn’t count on is that they would be in a position to change the lives of the people they met on their journey. On the eve of their departure, the couple was given an unusual going-away gift from their friends Michele and Glenn: a yellow envelope containing a check for $1,000 and three simple instructions for giving the money away to those they encountered during their travels.
 

Game Birds: A Celebration of North American Upland Birds

By: Gary K. Kramer
Sweetgrass Books; hardcover; 256 pages; 384 color photographs; 26 range maps; $58.
This book takes readers on a visual journey across North America in search of turkey, pheasant, quail, grouse, partridge, ptarmigan, prairie chickens and the game birds of Hawaii. If you are an avid hunter, a serious birder or an armchair reader, this book will provide you with range maps, natural history and conservation status and a photographic insight seldom revealed.
 

A Quixotic Guide to Key West & the Lower Keys

By Karuna Eberl and Steve Alberts
Softcover and e-book; 288 pages; $20.
Key West, a quirky tropical paradise, draws millions of visitors each year, who mostly miss out on the true spirit and hidden places of this eclectic destination. Irreverent, humorous and full of mostly pertinent information, the Quixotic guide is not only a comprehensive rundown of local tips for lodging, eating, drinking and attractions, but also an honest and unpredictable literary voyage, complete with obscure places, tall tales, drinking customs, life wisdoms and hard lessons. We even included a conch pocket translator, so visitors can properly communicate with the locals. In other words: it’s a guide by locals to the wonders of the Keys, for everyone who likes the road less taken. Preorders at quixotictravelguides.com.
 

Turkey Men

By Thomas R. Pero
Wind River Press; hardcover; 212 pages; $49.95.
This new book profiles six extraordinary hunters who years ago set their sights on killing a wild turkey in the 49 states where the birds now thrive after reaching near extinction. “Turkey Men” features interviews with Jeff Budz and David J. Ellis of Florida, Tony Hudak of Noxen, Pennsylvania, Rob Keck of South Carolina, Clyde F. Neely of Texas and Randy Stafford of Louisiana. Impressive photos of these hunters document their devoted and adventurous quest for the United States Wild Turkey Super Slam.

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

By Jeff Alt
Beaufort Books; www.bubbajones.com; softcover; 200 pp.; $9.99.
After inheriting legendary time travel skills from their Papa Lewis, Tommy “Bubba Jones,” and his sister Jenny “Hug-a-Bug” embark on a Shenandoah National Park adventure to solve a family mystery. From the moment they reach the park entrance, the excitement begins. They travel back in time millions of years and come face-to-face with extinct creatures, past presidents and park founders. They travel deep into mountain hollows, up onto talus mountain slopes, and discover more about Shenandoah than they ever imagined. Explore Shenandoah National Park with Bubba Jones and family in a whole new way.
 

Ski Faster! Guide to Ski Racing and High Performance Skiing, 2nd Edition

By Lisa Ballard
Rocky Fork Media; www.LisaDensmore.com; softcover; 220 pp.; $29.95.
This long-awaited second edition of Lisa Ballard’s ski racing primer is 85 percent rewritten with more than 150 new photos and illustrations. For anyone wishing to carve better turns, ski like a pro through gates or simply gain a better understanding of the sport, this book can help. Ballard is one of the most decorated masters racers ever, with almost 100 national titles and four world championships. “Ski Faster!” reveals her secrets.
 

Ranger Rick’s Travels: National Parks!

By Ken Keffer and Stacy Tornio
Globe Pequot Press/Muddy Boots, 414-399-2972; kckeffer@gmail.com, www.kenkeffer.net; softcover; 144 pp.; more than 400 color photographs; $14.95.
“Ranger Rick’s Travels: National Parks!” takes readers on a tour of America’s most beautiful protected landscapes. Join Ranger Rick as he leads this cross-country adventure and provides his favorite facts, and introduces you to his favorite animals and plants along the way. Beautiful photography and fascinating information bring the most unique features of the national parks to life. Inside you’ll also find Ranger Rick’s favorite things to do in each park. With Ranger Rick as your trusted guide, there is no better way to experience the national parks – other than being there! Expertly researched, “Ranger Rick’s Travels: National Parks!” is sure to delight and inspire any young explorer.
 

Photographing the Aurora Borealis

By Andy Long
Amherst Media, PO Box 538, Buffalo, NY 14213, 716-860-1662, kneaverth@amherstmedia.com; softcover; 135 pp.; 120 photographs; $37.95; pre-order at www.amazon.com/Aurora-Borealis-Andy-Long/dp/1682032086/.
Take a journey to see beautiful photographs of the aurora borealis and learn how to take amazing shots when offered the chance to visit an area where the sky comes alive with color. The book is divided into four sections: understanding the aurora; getting you and your camera ready; shooting the aurora; and image processing. Each section is a primer to help you understand everything needed to take great northern lights photos.
 

Between the Levees

By Jonathan Olivier
self-published; 225-287-0998, jonathanolivier1990@gmail.com, JonathanOlivier.com; softcover; 216 pp.; $12.99.
For Sam Miller, family is what he wants most in the world. But with his parents deceased since he was a boy, and no way of uncovering who they were, finding a sense of family seems impossible until he goes to Louisiana’s Cajun Country with hopes of finding a man who perhaps knew them. After venturing into backwater swamps and fending off alligators, snakes and a few sinister locals, Sam finds what he sought all his life. He’s also given a chance to leave behind a pained past he would rather forget. But finding what he wants most means he’ll eventually have to lose it.
 

Buck, Buck, Moose

By Hank Shaw
H&H Books; 916-792 -8197, scrbblr@hotmail.com; hardcover; 304 pp.; 120 photographs; $29.95.
“Buck, Buck, Moose” is the first comprehensive, lushly photographed, full-color guide to working with and cooking all forms of venison, including deer, elk, moose, antelope and caribou. It will take you around the world, featuring more than 100 recipes ranging from traditional dishes from six continents, to original recipes never before seen. You’ll also get thorough instructions on how to butcher, age and store your venison, as well as how to use virtually every part of the animal. “Buck, Buck, Moose” also includes a lengthy section on curing venison and sausage-making. Peppered throughout are stories of the hunt and essays on why venison holds such a special place in human society.
 

Natural Connections: Exploring Northwoods Nature through Science and Your Senses

By Emily M. Stone
Green Darner Media P.O. Box 416, Cable, WI, 54821; Deb Malesevich, 715-798-3890, deb@cablemuseum.org; softcover; 293 p.p.; 72 illustrations; $18.96.
Join Emily Stone on a hike, paddle or ski, and you’ll soon be captivated by her animated style. In stories about the smell of rain, cheating ants, photosynthesizing salamanders and more, she delves deeply into the surprising science behind our Northwoods neighbors. These tales will leave you with a more complex understanding of their beauty. While this book contains many of your familiar friends, through the research and unique perspective of this award-winning writer you will discover something new on every page and around every bend in the trail. Whimsically illustrated by kids and adults. 

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

The Field to Table Cookbook: Gardening, Foraging, Fishing, & Hunting

By Susan L. Ebert
Welcome Books, an imprint of Rizzoli New York; hardcover; 288 pp.; 100 color photographs; $40.
“The Field to Table Cookbook” brings more than 150 family-pleasing, nutritious and accessible recipes to home cooks who want to increase their knowledge and enjoyment of procuring and cooking clean, organic meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. The increasing popularity of the modern farm-to-table movement, bringing locally sourced food to the family, is brought to its logical conclusion with author Susan Ebert’s direction on which animals to hunt when, what species of fish to target each month and what native nuts, berries, roots and leaves are prime for foraging.
 

Sport Fishing in British Columbia

By Mary L. Peachin
Peachin Adventure; softcover and e-book; 192 pp.; $14.95 or $7.95 for e-book
In this book the author calls upon her expertise garnered from 40 years of angling. This book is for anyone interested in the excellent fishing that British Columbia offers. Information includes options for luxury destination lodges as well as those for self-contained independent anglers. There is information on fish species, techniques, where to go and what to take. It includes almost anything you would need to know if you were headed to British Columbia.
 

Day Hikes Around Sonoma County (2nd Edition)

By Robert Stone
Day Hike Books; softcover; 544 pp.; 448 maps; $21.95.
Sonoma County is 35 miles north of San Francisco on the Pacific coast. This California county is known for its wineries and a magnificent natural landscape, offering a picturesque mix of rugged coastline, steep cliffs, forested hillsides and verdant agricultural valleys. “Day Hikes Around Sonoma County,” (now in its 2nd edition) is a three-time award-winning book. The guide is a collection of 125 of the county’s best day hikes, providing access to both well-known and out-of-the-way greenspace. Hikes are found along the Pacific Ocean, across the coastal ridges, into wide valleys and through thick forests.
 

Family and the Great Outdoors

By Wayne Turner

Fairmont Press; hardcover; 195 pp.; $24.95.
“Family and the Great Outdoors” will capture the heart of anyone who has ever climbed a tree, or fished with their father. It takes the reader deep into the life of a man whose father showed him how to hunt, as well as live and pass their heritage on to the next generation. This book offers personal stories in the life of a great outdoorsman.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

All Things Jerky: The Definitive Guide to Making Delicious Jerky and Dried Snack Offerings

By Andy Lightbody and Kathy Mattoon with a forward from Jim Zumbo
Skyhorse Publishing; E-book and softcover; 192 pp.; 100 color photos; $14.95.
Jerky, one of the oldest forms of food preservation, has become a national obsession. Exotic jerky — wild salmon, buffalo, alligator — was even projected to be the hot culinary trend of 2015 by Parade’s Community Table. The average consumer has begun to realize that there is nothing like tasty, chewy jerky for satisfying those hunger cravings. And homemade jerky is far superior to the packaged kind, is much less expensive, and is surprisingly simple to make. All Things Jerky: The Definitive Guide to Making Delicious Jerky and = Dried Snack Offerings focuses on one hundred of the best tried-and tested recipes from around the world and includes recipes designed for everyone from supermarket moms to the avid hunter and fisher.
 

Understanding Coyotes: The Comprehensive Guide for Hunters, Photographers and Wildlife Watchers

By Michael Huf
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; softcover; 120 pp.; $19.95.
The book provides a comprehensive overview of every aspect of the coyote’s life. Topics covered include biology, dispersal patterns, territories, diet, diseases, predationand interactions with domestic livestock. The author, Michael Huff, interviewed many of the leading coyote researchers in the United States and spent numerous hours observing the animals throughout the United States. Predator hunters will find the detailed chapters on the animal’s visions, smell and hearing of special interest. It includes how to overcome its super senses to get close to coyotes in the wild.
 

Almost Anywhere: Road Trip Ruminations on Love, Nature, National Parks and Nonsense

By Krista Schlyer
Skyhorse Publishing; hardcover; 276 pp; $24.
At 28 years old, Krista Schlyer sold almost everything she owned and packed the rest of it in a station wagon bound for the American wild. Her two best friends joined her—one a grumpy, grieving introvert, the other a feisty dog—and together they sought out every national park, historic site, forest, and wilderness they could get to before their money ran out or their minds gave in. The journey began as a desperate escape from urban isolation, heartbreak, and despair, but became an adventure beyond imagining. Chronicling their colorful escapade, Almost Anywhere explores the courage, cowardice, and heroics that live in all of us, as well as the life of nature and the nature of life.
 

Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek, An Intimate Portrait of 399, the Most Famous Bear of Greater Yellowstone

By Todd Wilkinson with photograph by Thomas D. Mangelsen

Rizzoli/New York; hardcover; 240 pp.; 150 photographs; $60.
Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek” tells the harrowing story of famous grizzly mother 399 and her family of offspring, who inhabit Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Their lives provide a window into understanding the lives—and deaths—of both bears and people vying for space in the 21st century, grizzly conservation, the move to remove grizzlies from federal protection and the potential consequences of bringing back a trophy sport hunt.  
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest; More Than 60 Rail Trails in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, Second Edition

By Natalie Bartley
Falcon Guides; paperback and e-book; 368 pp., 71 photographs
and 49 maps; $24.95 and $23.99.
Best Rail Trails Pacific Northwest is the complete guide to walking, jogging, biking, and cross-country skiing along more than sixty of the best rail trails in one of the most beautiful and geographically varied reaches of America. Written by a local author with expert knowledge of the region, this easy-to-use book provides mile-by-mile descriptions of the most unique rural and urban rail trails in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, plus teaser descriptions of some of the region’s other rail trails—from Washington’s Elliott Bay Trail that passes through four Seattle waterfront parks, to Idaho’s Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail, renowned for its tunnels.
 

The Secret Lives of Animals: 1,001 Tidbits, Oddities, and Amazing Facts about North America’s Coolest Animals

By Ken Keffer and Stacy Tornio, Illustrations by Rachel Riordan
Falcon Guides, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press; softcover; 254 pp.; $19.95.
As kids who grew up in the great outdoors, Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer know how powerful animals can be when it comes to getting kids outside. It’s almost magical — kids can’t resist the lure of the monarch butterfly fluttering from flower to flower or the green frog hopping near a stream. Those big animals are fascinating too — the bison roaming the prairie, the whale jumping in the ocean and the alligator lurking in the swamps. Animals are cool and kids know it. Now all those cool animal facts are compiled in one place. “The Secret Lives of Animals” features more than 100 animals found in North America and a whopping 1,001 facts about these species.
 

Looking Through Water

By Bob Rich, BobRichBooks.com
Skyhorse Publishing; hardcover; $24.99.
The author of several nonfiction fishing books, Bob Rich takes on the role of a raconteur in his first novel.
“It’s an adventure and love story; filled with conflict, emotion and healing,” Rich said. “It has guns, shooting, dying set against backdrops I’ve always loved; Manhattan, the Adirondacks and the Florida Keys, with fishing too.”
Sales benefit Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. The respected business leader and author is the chairman of Rich Products. For a fun, upbeat interview with Rich, please contact Pete Johnson, Johnson Communications at 480-951-3654 or JohnsonCom@aol.com
 

Nature Guide to Yellowstone National Park

By Ann and Rob Simpson
Falcon Guides, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield, falcon.com; paperback and eBook; 288 pp., over 300 color photographs; $16.95
The ultimate national park, Yellowstone has been dubbed the “Serengeti of North America.” Home to bison, elk, bighorn sheep, bear, moose, and wolves, park visitors often witness dramatic life and death encounters in the wild. “Nature Guide to Yellowstone National Park” is an easy-to-use field guide written to help visitors identify over 200 species of mammals, birds, butterflies, insects, fish, wildflowers, mushrooms, and more. Small enough to toss in a backpack the book is packed with information to help Yellowstone’s 3.5 million visitors learn about and enjoy their outdoor experience including suggested nature hikes and wildlife viewing areas, charts for driving times, visitor services, maps, and photo tips. As biologists, photographers, and writers, Ann and Rob Simpson have designed this book to engage and inspire visitors to learn about and conserve the nature of Yellowstone.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Time Traveling Through the Great Smoky Mountains

By Jeff Alt, illustrated by Hannah Tuohy
Beaufort Books; http://www.bubbajones.com/; paperback; 177 pp.; 18 illustrations and maps; $9.99.
“The Adventures of Bubba Jones” is a new series taking youth on an educational, time-traveling adventure through America’s beloved National Parks. The first book explores the Great Smoky Mountains. The stories are designed to engage kids with wild animals, history, science and the environment. Bubba Jones and Hug-a-Bug travel back in time and meet the park’s founders, its earliest settlers, native Cherokee Indians, wild animals, extinct creatures and learn what the park was like millions of years ago.

The Wild Inside

By Christine Carbo
Atria books; paperback and e-book; 404 pp.; $16 or $11.99 for e-book
“The Wild Inside,” a hunting crime novel set in Glacier National Park, is about a man who finds himself at odds with the dark heart of the wild and the even darker heart of human nature. It was a clear night when a grizzly bear attacked and killed 14-year-old Ted’s father. Twenty years later as an agent for the Department of the Interior, Ted is called back to investigate a crime that mirrors the horror of that night, except this time the victim was tied to a tree before the mauling.

Trout in the Desert: On Fly Fishing, Human Habits, and the Cold Waters of the Arid Southwest

By Matthew Dickerson
Linocut Illustrations by Barbara Whitehead; Wing Press, www.wingspress.com, milligan@wingspress.com; hardback and e-book; 96 pp.; $16.95.
“Trout in the Desert” begins with a childhood memory of a nameless, pristine trout stream, “small enough to straddle,” in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of New Mexico. Thirty years later, he leads us on a tour of the desert Southwest, fishing the San Juan River, the Colorado River (at the head of the Grand Canyon), the Gila River, and finally, the Frio and Guadalupe Rivers in the hill country of Texas. But more than just telling stories of discovering cold-water trout in unlikely (and often blisteringly hot) places, Dickerson examines the history of trout in these waters and the health of their delicate ecosystems.

Absolutely Positively Gundog Training

By Robert Milner

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; softcover and e-book; 135 pp.; $12.
Robert Milner has taken the latest scientific research on how dogs learn and combined it with his own vast experience and common sense training methods. The result is an approach that is as effective as it is easy. For the hunter who wants a calm, steady and obedient retriever, there’s no better training method. Whether you want your dog to be a gundog, a water dog, a shed dog, an upland dog, a deer tracker or a fishing companion, this book charts the course. You can also get a companion video on amazon.com for $4.

Fishing Northern Canada for Lake Trout, Grayling and Arctic Char

By Ross H. Shickler and Duane S. Radford
North Country Press; soft cover and e-book; 233 pp.; $22
Featuring engaging — and sometimes play-by-play thrilling — articles from leading American and Canadian authors that highlight their firsthand experiences, “Fishing Northern Canada for Lake Trout, Grayling and Arctic Char” belongs in the library of every angler. A veritable treasure trove of tips and information, the book not only explores the title fish, but also northern pike, brook trout and Atlantic salmon. With stories about many top streams and fishing lodges in northern Canada, as well as some do-it-yourself adventures in the North Country, it is a must-read for any keen fisherman.

Bears in the Backyard: Big animals, sprawling suburbs and the new urban jungle

By Edward R. Ricciuti
The Countryman Press; paperback; 248 pp., $14.95.
Coyotes in New York City. Bears in suburban New Jersey. Cougars in metropolitan Chicago. Mountain lions in Los Angeles and panthers in Miami. Where are all these wild animals coming from, and what can we do about it? Science journalist Edward Ricciuti has spent years studying wildlife encounters and in “Bears in the Backyard,” he provides a complete guide to this increasingly common phenomenon including why large animals are more commonly found in our suburbs and cities in recent years; how these animals can impact us, for better and for worse; and what local governments and communities can do about it.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Canoeing Wild Rivers, 30th Edition

By Cliff Jacobson 
352 pp; 200 color photographs; $29.95.
This is the fifth and final revision of Cliff Jacobson’s flagship book, formerly titled “Expedition Canoeing.” Long considered the premier text for wilderness canoeing and camping, this new full color edition has been heavily revised and expanded by more than 9,000 words. Though the focus remains on canoeing wild northern rivers, this new edition now includes chapters on desert and tropical canoeing. Canoes, equipment, maps and methods have been updated to reflect the latest trends.

Long distance Fly, Spin, Bait and Surf Casting

By Randy Kadish 
Saw Mill River Press; E-book; 86 pp; $2.99.
Randy Kadish never set out to write a book or even an article. Instead, he set out to become a better fly, surf, spin and spey caster. To do so, he studied casting techniques, immersing himself in articles, books and videos. But surprisingly he still couldn’t cast more than 70-feet. He wanted a casting coach, but without one experimented on his own, taking notes that turned into magazine stories and eventually this book.

Day Hikes Around Los Angeles (6th Edition)

By Robert Stone 
softcover; 544 pp.; 233 maps; $18.95.
Despite the widespread presence of the Los Angeles metropolis, there exists thousands of acres of natural, undeveloped land and countless out-of-way hiking trails. Hikes range from boardwalk strolls along the ocean, to shady canyon trails that lead to far reaching overlooks. Highlights include year-round waterfalls, wildlife preserves, lighthouses, Griffith Park (the country’s largest municipal park), quiet canyon trails, panoramic vistas of the city and coastline, the rugged terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains and hikes along the entire length of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Day Hikes Around San Luis Obispo

By Robert Stone 
softcover; 480 pp; 208 maps; $21.95.
San Luis Obispo County is located where the white sand beaches of Central California merge with the dramatic Big Sur coastline. The unique geography and a year-round temperate climate creates an outstanding hiking environment. The trails take the hiker along the scalloped Pacific coastline to secluded coves and tide pools, to rocky promontories along the chain of volcanic morros, through wetland sanctuaries, across massive sand dunes, and up cool interior canyons. Highlights include waterfalls, bluffs, long
stretches of beach, lighthouses, lakes, rivers and swimming holes.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Today’s Deer Hunting Handbook

By Robert Amendola
Acclaim Press; soft cover; 285 pp; 140 illustrations; $19.95.
In the breast of every hunter beats the heart and never-ending desire to match their knowledge and skill against the master of the woodland, the whitetail deer. “Today’s Deer Hunting Handbook” is the first book to cover all aspects of hunting the whitetail deer from A to Z. Each chapter is packed with facts and proven techniques for the novice as well as the experienced hunter. Within its pages, you will discover how to consistently locate whitetail deer, track their feeding, bedding and traveling routes, select the best stand location and understand what it really takes to become a superior whitetail deer hunter.

Downstream: Reflections on Brook Trout, Fly Fishing, and the Waters of Appalachia

By Matthew T. Dickerson and David O’Hara
Cascade Book; E-book and softcover; 146 pp; $18.
“Downstream: Reflections on Brook Trout, Fly Fishing, and the Waters of Appalachia” is a mosaic combining nature writing, fly-fishing narrative, memoir, and philosophical and spiritual inquiry. Fly-fishing narratives and fragments of memoir provide the narrative arc for exploring relationships between humans and rivers, and the ways in which our attitudes and philosophies impact our practices and the waters we depend on for life. While each stone in this mosaic is worth a close look in its own right, seen from a distance the book offers a broader picture of the cold mountain waters of Appalachia and their famous native fish: the brook trout.

Mount Misery

By Angelo Peluso
Skyhorse Publishing; E-book, audio book and softcover; 227 pp.; starting at $10.49.
“The first time the creatures tasted human blood, their savagery went undetected.” Thus begins Mount Misery, a science-fiction horror tale by writer Angelo Peluso. Located on the Long Island Sound, random attacks by unknown
creatures are terrorizing local residents. Marine biologist Katie DiNardo and ichthyologist Nick Tanner have seen the damage caused by their mystery creatures but are at a complete loss as to the attacking species. All they know is that they need to get to the bottom of this . . . and fast.

Nature Guide to Yosemite National Park

By Ann and Rob Simpson
Falcon Guides, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield, falcon.com; paperback; 240 pp; 284 color photographs; $16.95.
Biologists, photographers and writers, Ann and Rob Simpson have added another book to their unique series of nature guides for the national parks. “Nature Guide to Yosemite National Park” is filled with user-friendly descriptions, quick identification aids and color pictures of over 200 of the most commonly seen plants, animals, birds, insects and other organisms. Small enough to toss in a backpack, the book is packed with information to help Yosemite’s 4 million visitors learn about, and enjoy, their outdoor experience, including suggested nature hikes and wildlife viewing areas, charts for driving times and elevations, visitor services, maps and photo tips.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

More Than a Fisherman

By Jim Grassi
Thomas Nelson Publishers; soft cover, 145 pp.; more than 22 images; $10.99.
Through the use of stories from modern day fishermen, readers are guided on a unique journey of how Jesus used eight of his 12 fishermen disciples in his ministry. This book gives insights into what it means to be a fisher of men and a great fisherman. An accomplished fisherman, storytelling comes easy for Grassi. He is able to mix his knowledge of God’s word, fishing experience, wit, humor and perspective into an enjoyable product that creates within us an appetite to live a more effective life.

Beyond my Wildest Dreams

By John Paul “Jack” Harris, Jr.
Self-published; soft cover, 172 pp.; $18.95.
This book has something for everyone, from the novice outdoorsmen to the journeymen enthusiast, taking you from the Alaskan wilderness to the deep Sea of Cortez and beyond. Share close encounters working with hundreds of bears. Scuba dive at some of the world’s most exciting locales. Go on an African safari trophy hunt. Observe animal species on the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Come along with Jack Harris as he offers hunting and fishing tips and tales grained through years of personal experience and professional guiding.

Successful Turkey Hunting

By John Higley and J.J. Reich
Skyhorse Publishing; hardcover; 304 pp.; $24.95.
“Successful Turkey Hunting” is based on five years of columns written for the publications of the National Wild Turkey Federation, with a few stories from other publications tossed in the mix. Authors John Higley and J. J. Reich have expanded and updated the articles for this book. Included are such subjects as what drives turkey behavior, the importance of calling, how anyone can learn to call, and the part woodcraft plays. Also included are thoughts on basic equipment and how to deal with a wide range of scenarios encountered while hunting wild turkeys.

Big Trophies, Epic Hunts: True Tales of Self-Guided Adventure from the Boone and Crockett Club

Introduction by Jason Matzinger, Boone and Crockett Club
Http://www.boone-crockett.org/epichunts/; hardcover and paperback; 280 pp.; $29.95 and $19.95.
Thirty amazing-but-true stories, each starring a determined hunter and a world-class trophy — most taken without a guide on public land — are the featured attractions in a new book by the Boone and Crockett Club. “Big Trophies, Epic Hunts” is a collection of incredible tales from Boone and Crockett’s trophy archives. Boone and Crockett members receive a discount if purchased directly from the club.

Inside the Wild 2

By Larry Oakley
General Store Publishing House; softcover; 142 pp., 38 photographs; $20.
Larry Oakley takes you deep inside the Ontario wilderness using vivid storytelling and poetic writing to provide simple, powerful insights into life and death in “Inside the Wild 2.” It gets you thinking about the hidden world of the hunter, and the thin grey line separating each of us from that world. It’s for hunters because Oakley captures in words what they feel in their hearts, and it’s for those who wonder why hunters hunt. Read about the predatory lives and minds of the animals that live in the wild, and the fascinating rituals of the ultimate predator — the hunter.

Black Bear Hunting: The Ultimate Reference, 2nd Edition

By Richard P. Smith
Smith Publications, www.richardpsmith.com; softcover; 384 pp.; $34.95.
With the recent release of the 2nd edition of “Black Bear Hunting: The Ultimate Reference” by expert Richard P. Smith from Marquette, Michigan, bear hunters can now get more information on the subject for far less money. As the book’s subtitle states, the new edition of “Black Bear Hunting” is the ultimate reference. A number of the book’s 37 chapters are devoted to each of the two most popular bear hunting methods — baiting and dogging — but all other techniques are also covered.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

50 Best Hikes in New England

By Marty Basch
Countryman Press, countrymanpress.com; softcover, 254 pp., more than 75 color photographs, maps; $19.95.
No matter where you are in the great Northeast, there are bound to be excellent walking trails. This collection of 50 of New England’s can’t-miss hikes takes you from the relatively flat lands and easy rambles of Rhode Island to prime hiking real estate in Connecticut; from challenging terrain in the Pioneer Valley and Berkshires of Massachusetts to breathtaking seaside treks in Maine’s Acadia National Park. Find great hikes to the heights of New Hampshire’s White Mountains and over to the verdant Green Mountains of Vermont — all the best hikes in New England are no more than a few hours from each other, so you’ll want to keep this guide close at hand.

Fisherman’s Bible: The World’s Most Comprehensive Angling Reference

Edited by Jay Cassell with a foreword by Kirk Deeter
Skyhorse Publishing, www.skyhorsepublishing.com; softcover; $29.95.
A complete reference guide for new and in-production fishing equipment, with all the pertinent specifications, the Fisherman’s Bible, lets anglers see all the gear that’s out there, and gives them all the information they need to make educated buying choices. The comprehensive new products section includes color photographs of new rods, reels, lines and lures, with extensive product details and feature listings. All the products are divided into freshwater and saltwater and further seperated by spin, spincasting, baitcasting and fly-fishing. Nearly every fishing gear manufacturer in the world is included in this unique compendium making it the essential authority for all anglers.

Photographing Acadia National Park: The Essential Guide to When, Where, and How

By Colleen J. Miniuk-Sperry
Analemma Press, www.photoacadia.com; soft cover and eBook (PDF), 224 pp., 183 color photos; $24.95.
Discover the most photogenic locations in Acadia National Park in all seasons! Based on author Colleen J. Miniuk-Sperry’s extensive experience, including three terms as an Acadia artist-in-residence, this award-winning guide is jam-packed with detailed information for 50 park locations, inspiring color photos, and practical photography tips for novice and expert alike. Learn the professional secrets and be in the right place at the right time to create your
own treasured photographs of Acadia. Ten percent of the book’s profits is being donated to the Schoodic Education Adventure, a residential program where children learn about science and art in Acadia National Park.

Bears in the Backyard

By Ed Ricciuti
Countryman Press, countrymanpress.com; hardcover; $23.95.
Fang and claw have jumped the white picket fence as encounters with cougars in Chicago, alligators in Florida and bears virtually everywhere have become increasingly commonplace. Author Edward Ricciuti explores cutting- edge research into why it’s happening, how it impacts all of us and how to deal with it on both societal and personal levels. As cities and suburbs sprawl and conservation efforts enable wildlife populations to recover; large wild animals are encroaching on human turf. These creatures might be thrilling to see, but they can bite, scratch and even kill. Attacks on humans will only increase as we come face to face in the man-made landscape. Readers will learn how to protect against potential dangers even as they are being thoroughly entertained by hair-raising tales of real-life encounters.
[/level-membersupporter]

The post Bookshelf appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.