Gift Thoughts for the Holidays

As a lifelong lover of the printed word, reading has been one of the constants, and a constant joy, throughout my years. My mother was a librarian, and while she had no formal training for the job her love of books, combined with being a real “people purpose,” made her an ideal fit for the position in the small North Carolina mountain town where I grew up. From early on she and Dad encouraged me to read, and they had an excellent feel for what way likely to appeal to my reading tastes. Some indication of this is given by the fact that one memorable Christmas stocking stuffer was an inexpensive copy of Zane Grey’s Spirit of the Border. I still own and cherish the book.

A few years later Mom procured an original edition of Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders and gave it to me. That was of considerable significance because Kephart, a noted expert on rifles, ballistics, and woodsmanship, spent the final 33 years of his life living in and around (he spent a lot of time in backwoods tent camps) my hometown of Bryson City. Today I own a large collection of Kephart’s papers and have written extensively on him, including a 50-page Introduction to a reprint of the book which earned him the title of Dean of American Campers, Camping & Woodcraft.

Another consideration which shaped my love of reading and contributed to my becoming a hopelessly happy bibliophile was the fact that we did not have a television in our home. Today that would be seen as a matter of serious deprivation, but from my perspective it was actually a blessing. I sought and found escape in books and magazines, and those dealing with the outdoors were my favorites. We didn’t have much money and couldn’t afford to subscribe to outdoor magazines, so I always timed my visits to the barber so that lots of folks would be in line before me. That gave me to chance to peruse the latest issues of Field & Stream and Outdoor Life. In their pages I met icons such as Robert Ruark, Archibald Rutledge, Jack O’Connor, Ray Bergman, Nash Buckingham, Havilah Babcock, Charlie Elliott, and a whole bunch more. They were my boyhood idols, and I feel singularly blessed to have had the opportunity, many years later, to compile anthologies based on the work of many of these men.

That leads me to the central purpose of this shameless seasonal piece of self-promotion; namely, to remind you that books make a wonderful holiday gift. My Grandpa Joe, who was as full of tricks as a pet ‘coon and an exceptionally humble man, nonetheless was fond of stating: “If a man don’t blow his own horn, it ain’t likely to get tooted. Far be it from me to go against the grain of Grandpa’s homespun philosophizing, so I’ll make so bold as to suggest that books I’ve written, edited, or contributed to have great potential as Christmas gifts. After all, they are a gift that keeps on giving each time the recipient turns to their pages, and my list includes something for a wide variety of interests and reading tastes.

Anthologies from “Greats” of American Sporting Letters

At the top of my list of suggestions would be one or more of the anthologies bringing together some of the finest (and in most cases, largely forgotten) writings of great American sporting scribes. If you like Robert Ruark’s folksy tales of growing up in North Carolina or hunting in Africa, The Lost Classics of Robert Ruark ($35) might be just the ticket. Another book that takes the same approach, The Lost Classics of Jack O’Connor (trade edition $35, limited edition in leather binding and with a slipcase and four extra stories, $100) offers writings of his that have never previously appeared in book form. Then there are my three collections of material from the most prolific outdoor writer of the last century, Archibald Rutledge – Hunting & Home in the Southern Heartland, Tales of Whitetails, and America’s Greatest Game Bird: Rutledge’s Turkey Hunting Tales (each book is $29.95). Quite different in nature is an anthology of the obscure outdoor writings of Theodore Roosevelt, Forgotten Tales and Vanished Trails ($40, and the book is leather bound).

Turkey Hunting

Anyone familiar with my writing knows that turkey hunting is one of my enduring passions. I’ve done two books on the subject, America’s Greatest Game Bird (mentioned above – $29.95) and an original work, Innovative Turkey Hunting ($19.95), and edited or contributed to a whole bunch more. You can get full details from the books section of the Web site.

Fly Fishing

If there is an outdoor pursuit where I have a reasonable degree of expertise, it is fly fishing for trout. I’ve done two books on the subject, Modern Fly Fishing ($20) [out of stock] and Beginner’s Guide to Fly Fishing ($13).

Game & Fish Cookery

In company with my wife, I have written, edited, or contributed to a bunch of cookbooks featuring the bounty of the good earth. Any of these books make a wonderful, and practical, gift for those who realize that culinary joy is an integral part of the sporting process. On venison, try The Complete Venison Cookbook ($12.95) or The Ultimate Venison Cookbook ($14.95). Incidentally, there is no duplication of recipes in the two books, and together they offer around 500 ways to enjoy venison. If you want both books, they are offered at a special combined price of just $25 (plus shipping) for the pair. Our Wild Bounty ($20) won a major award, and it covers all types of game cookery as well as including a bunch of recipes for wild fruits, nuts, and vegetables. We edited and compiled (and contributed roughly 50 percent of the recipes) to Wild Fare & Wise Words ($20), and I wrote all the essays in the book. I feel the narratives are some of my finest work but will leave the ultimate judgment to others. For the backyard chef, Backyard Grilling ($20 – we wrote it in company with Kate Fiduccia and Teresa Marrone) might be just the ticket. Finally, our most recent cookbook, The Remington Cookbook ($35) is a thing of beauty. It features art work from the Remington Art Collection, is a hardback with an innovative binding that lets it lie flat, and covers all types of game along with having suggestions for wine and complete menus. There is also a limited edition of 350 copies bound in leather ($75).

There should be something among the above suggestions to suit the tastes of every outdoorsman, and I promise you that we’ll get all orders out within three days of receipt. Happy holidays to one and all.

---

Thank you for subscribing to the Jim Casada Outdoors newsletter.
Feel free to contact Jim with your comments, questions or suggestions at jc@jimcasadaoutdoors.com.