The Complete Sportsman's Encyclopedia (ISBN 1599213303)

Amazon.com Review:
Francis H. Buzzacott's comprehensive guidebook for those turn-of-the-last-century hearties intent on venturing into the wilderness for fishing, hunting, and camping has the aura of an archeological curiosity. It's so oddly engaging at times that it's hard to put down once you've picked it up. Originally published in 1913 and designed to be taken along on any outdoor excursion, The Sportsman's Encyclopedia--a collection, really, of several individual manuals and commercial catalogues that Buzzacott issued over time--offers a fascinating window onto a preconservation era when adventurers approached nature as an adversary fit to exploit and trample. Pack light? This is a concept Buzzacott never heard of; the great tent he created resembles a prefab that needs trucking in. The modern notion of leaving no trace of your presence behind? Buzzacott prefers chopping down a tree and turning its stump into a table. This is a real piece of Americana, issued in facsimile form; what makes it such an appealing artifact is its very political incorrectness and how far we've hiked from some of its less enlightened corners. Yet, for all that's dated about it, the Encyclopedia remains a spirited and remarkably useful instructional for anglers and hunters. It's filled with practical pointers--"open the stomach of your first fish and see what they are feeding on and follow the 'tip'"--and detailed advice on equipment, reading weather, cleaning guns, tying knots, setting decoys, selecting flies, and choosing bait that has stood the test of time. In the end, though, it's the oddities that dazzle as they raise your eyebrows, like this pre-Heimlich maneuver should someone in your party be choking: "If possible force water down the throat or push down substance with spoon handle. Hearty slapping on the back is also effective. Getting on all-fours will help matters." It's not easy finding advice like that anymore. --Jeff Silverman

The best hunting and fishing book ever. A great classic!:
I once had a copy of this book but lost it (on a camping trip, what else?). It was old and ragged, it was published around the turn of the century. I almost flipped when I saw it had been reprinted! (I also almost flipped when I read in the new introduction about what a bizzare guy the famous "Buzzacott" was!) This book has everything in it! Even if you only go into the woods once a year, this is the ultimate outdoorsman's guide. Take it with you, but don't be like me and lose your copy!

Go forth and conquer the woods!:
Yes, the woods are mine, mine, mine. The tree huggers do not want to read this book. Francis is a believer of taking and using what is presented to you as opposed to lugging with or buying fancy gear. I especially enjoyed his camp cooking and food preporation section. I also am going to run out and make his highly recomended " The Camp Combination" (five in one) outfit featured on page 41. Francis has saved the day for me in looking for an answer to sleeping comfortably and sensibly in the outdoors. Do youself a favor before you take your wallet out and buy all the gear you think you need, and buy this book first!

Backwoods Bible:
I know that a lot of modern camp-weenies will say this book is dated, etc. Well, it IS. It's from the turn of the century, and while it might not have a bunch of reviews of 2-ounce tents, it has a tremendous amount of great lore and information. It's an amazing book. The introduction by Denis Boyles is funny and fascinating. As one reviewer here said, who knew "Buzzacott" was such a strange bird?