For many across the country, hunting season is in full swing; in just a few weeks, we’ll transition from the quiet challenge of bow hunting to the booming confidence of rifle season.
And if you’re like me, you won’t get a chance in the woods until November.
Ugh.
So what do you do until then?!
If you’re also like me, you might appreciate a good book to get you into the hunting season spirit. Here are three of my favorites to tide you over until it’s your turn to get into the woods!
Girl Hunter, by Georgia Pellegrini
I didn’t really know anything about Georgia Pellegrini until picking up this book on a whim off Amazon. Pellegrini’s journey started while working at an award-winning farm-to-table restaurant, when she was tasked with preparing a live turkey for a meal later in that day. That experience awakened a new curiosity in her about what it really means to harvest what you eat, and how it can affect your quality of life.
This is a light read that I flew through in just a day. Pellegrini’s stories are captivating, diverse, and allowed me to experience hunts and places that I had never even considered before. And yes, she includes some amazing recipes that I’m anxious to try!
As a late-onset outdoorswoman, I really connected to her experience and found her perspective really relatable. Whether it’s your first deer season or your 20th, this is such an enjoyable read by a woman who truly understands the reward of meals that are truly field-to-table.
You can grab it here!
The Deer Pasture, by Rick Bass
I first came across this book at the family ranch in Goliad, Texas. One of the inside flaps of the cover marked a spot where it remained unfinished by another family member. The little deer on the front captured my interest, though I had no idea what it was about.
Maybe it’s the Texan in me, or maybe it’s the whole context of how I originally came across this book, but it’s a beautiful memoir about a very special deer camp. Rick Bass shares colorful stories about hunting with his family and the amazing memories he shared on their ranch in the Texas Hill Country.
It’s beautifully written, a quick read, but deeply emotional and meaningful. Though I haven’t spent as much time on the family ranch as my husband, there were similar stories that I felt I almost got to experience first hand through this book. Bass’s stories are the all-important reminder that hunting is so much more than going into the woods every fall; it’s about family, nature, and freedom.
You can get a copy here!
Tenth Legion, by Colonel Tom Kelly
Turkey hunters, this one is for you.
I read this book immediately after my second time spring turkey hunting and it was simultaneously one of the funniest and most relatable hunting books I’ve ever read.
Tom Kelly is a retired United States Army Colonel who has always had a deep passion for turkey hunting. After his retirement, he self-published this book about turkey hunting based on his experiences growing up.
I can honestly say it is one of the few books I’ve ever read that actually made me laugh out loud! It’s another light, quick read that’s perfect for getting into the turkey hunting frame of mind. As the Colonel would say, “this book isn’t about turkey hunting; it’s about why we turkey hunt.”
Get your own turkey hunting bible here!
These three books have sparked so much joy for me this year, and I hope they get you into the hunting spirit, too!
Jess and the Outdoors 