srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 (edited) Hi. I was wondering what you all would consider the classic wildfowling type books? I am especially thinking of geese but others as well. To be clear, I'm not thinking of books that are focused on -practical- hunting / shooting advice, more books that relate stories (hunting or otherwise), observations of the birds and of nature generally, etc. Books that paint a picture, capture an experience, etc. To give you a sense, I know of these books, all of which I own, and this is the vein of thing I am interested in: Peter Scott, Wild Chorus Peter Scott, Morning Flight Douglas McDougall, Goose Fever B.B. - Manka B.B. - The Idle Countryman B.B. - Dark Estuary B.B. - Tides Ending B.B. - The Sportsman's Bedside Book B.B. - The Naturalist's Bedside Book B.B. - The Shooting Man's Bedside Book B.B. - Ramblings of a Sportsman Naturalist B.B. - The Autumn Road to the Isles B.B. - Quiet Fields B.B. - Indian Summer Hawker - Shooting Diaries I have all of these and some other things as well. I think you probably get the type of book I am thinking of. The classic sportsman-naturalist-conservationist sort. I've seen some other suggestions, such as Bratby and Scott's "Grey Goose" or Cadman's "Tales of a Wildfolwer" though I'm still torn on those. The latter seems more focused on the practical and the former seems to be more about the activity of punting than it is about the birds. Any recommendations would be helpful! Edited August 7, 2017 by srtcan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 I havn't read all the BB books you list but one of my favourites is A Pattern Of Wings edited by Jonathon Young short stories by various authors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 I've wondered about that one yes. I've also wondered about "Stories of the old Duck Hunters" by Gordon Macquarrie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Make your own memories.........get out on the marsh and shoot em yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 (edited) The whole appeal of books like this is that they bring you back to your own experiences and memories and enriches your own experience of them. Edited August 7, 2017 by srtcan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feltwad Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 A favorite of mine is Snowden Slights he was a great punt gunner. Feltwad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Wildfowling - Chrispher Dalgety. And Clouds Flying - Ian Pitman Fowler's Moon - Nigel Thorneycroft. Norfolk Fowler - Alan Savory. A Fowler's World - Ian Niall. Tales of a Wildfolwer - Arthur Cadnum (it's a good read). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pushkin Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Today in E.Bay. Bookseller Image Kenzie: The Wild-Goose ManWillock, Colin Published by Andre Deutsch, London (1962) Used Hardcover First Edition Quantity Available: 1 From: Besleys Books ABA ILAB (BECCLES, United Kingdom) Bookseller Rating: Look through what they have on offer as all different prices and versions. Willock was the best in my opinion. Pushkin Price: £ 15.50 Convert Currency Shipping: FREE Within United Kingdom Destination, Rates & Spee Bookseller Image Kenzie: The Wild-Goose Man Willock, Colin Published by Andre Deutsch, London (1962) Used Hardcover First Edition Quantity Available: 1 From: Besleys Books ABA ILAB (BECCLES, United Kingdom) Bookseller Rating: Price: £ 15.50 Convert Currency Shipping: FREE Within United Kingdom Destination, Rates & Spee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 My all time favourite is Kenzie,Wild Goose Man. Outstanding read about a real character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 For me Cadmans Tales of a Wildfowler is equal to many of BBs works and harshly dismissed by srtcan! Another great often overlooked book is Wild Goose Chase by Coombe Richards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 For me Cadmans Tales of a Wildfowler is equal to many of BBs works and harshly dismissed by srtcan! Another great often overlooked book is Wild Goose Chase by Coombe Richards. Saying I'm still torn on it because it seems more directed toward practical hunting considerations is harsh dismissal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 It is some time since I read any fowling books but apart from those already mentioned, the two books by Bill Powell and Alasdair Mitchells 'Goose Shooting' both spring to mind as worth reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Saying I'm still torn on it because it seems more directed toward practical hunting considerations is harsh dismissal? Actually if you want to help sell it to me, upload some images of some of the pages. Those few that I have seen were more focused in the way I described. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Actually if you want to help sell it to me, upload some images of some of the pages. Those few that I have seen were more focused in the way I described. I don't need to sell it. It sells itself. But then you'd have to read it to know that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 I don't need to sell it. It sells itself. But then you'd have to read it to know that. Which is why I say feel free to upload some page samples if you like, precisely so that I can read some of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Which is why I say feel free to upload some page samples if you like, precisely so that I can read some of it. Tales of a fowler is one of my favourite books. Great tales of fowling trips. Excellent read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 Tales of a fowler is one of my favourite books. Great tales of fowling trips. Excellent read. I'll try and see if I can dig up some page views of it. In your view, would you say it fits the bill of the sort of thing I am looking for? ie. not practical advice / tips focused, but rather more focused on painting a picture of a wildfowling scene? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max4wildfowler Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 I've many of the books listed above, but would put: A Pattern Of Wings edited by Jonathon Young, A Fowlers world by Ian Niall, Bill Powell's and BBs at the top of my list. Arthur Cadman was a good wildfowler, but he was at odds with Bill Powell (and most local wildfowlers) over his sand-crawling on the goose roosts on the Solway. Douglas McDougall's "Goose Fever" had too much inland decoying for me to enjoy it and I always skip over BB's inland chapters when I'm picking up his books for the umpteenth time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperGoose75 Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 (edited) Glad to see another 'BB' devotee on here. I'm a big fan of fowling books and have read over 70 works plus about 25 of BB'a works amongst other shooting/Countryside works. One not mentioned here and it's up there as one of my favourites and will suit the style you are after is ' A fowler world' by Ian Niall. Oops I now see Penelope has already mentioned it. Edited August 7, 2017 by SuperGoose75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperGoose75 Posted August 7, 2017 Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 I've many of the books listed above, but would put: A Pattern Of Wings edited by Jonathon Young, A Fowlers world by Ian Niall, Bill Powell's and BBs at the top of my list. Arthur Cadman was a good wildfowler, but he was at odds with Bill Powell (and most local wildfowlers) over his sand-crawling on the goose roosts on the Solway. Douglas McDougall's "Goose Fever" had too much inland decoying for me to enjoy it and I always skip over BB's inland chapters when I'm picking up his books for the umpteenth time. Bill Powell and Peter Scott did also not see eye to eye on matters concerning Wild Geese. Although a fan of Peter Scott I tended to agree with Powell's Romantic ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srtcan Posted August 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2017 Glad to see another 'BB' devotee on here. I'm a big fan of fowling books and have read over 70 works plus about 25 of BB'a works amongst other shooting/Countryside works. One not mentioned here and it's up there as one of my favourites and will suit the style you are after is ' A fowler world' by Ian Niall. Oops I now see Penelope has already mentioned it. BB is amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjohn63 Posted August 9, 2017 Report Share Posted August 9, 2017 A Pattern of Wings..has some good stories and some great paintings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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