Whitetail: Fundamentals and Fine Points for the Hunter

Having hunted whitetails for 45 years, I always enjoy reading and learning all I can, so that I'm able "fuel my passion" for the whitetail. However, my all time favorite read is still "Shots at Whitetails" by Larry Kohler.....even though the time frame is in the past, his methods and ideas are priceless. With both books,a person can't go wrong.

If George Mattis' "Whitetail" were made into a movie it would have to be called "The Deer Whisperer". For 20 years the acknowledged "best" of the deer-hunting books was Larry Koller's "Shots at Whitetails", and it's still a Classic even though the segments on deer rifles, deer camps and laws are woefully outdated. But that ended abruptly in 1969 with the appearance of George Mattis' "Whitetail". Coming on the scene before the proliferation of the made-for-TV superstar hunters with their superstar budgets (that the rest of us will never have), Mattis speaks to the deer hunter about, and from, the very essence of deer hunting. Mattis is about wild deer, not big game ranch deer, not fly-in for the weekend deer, not sit-in-the-blind, long-range deer assassination. And he is about the deer and hunting, not glorification of the author. Hundreds of books have been written about deer hunting since 1969 and Mattis' "Whitetail" is still untouchable for it's plain-spoken, advanced knowledge and well-written presentation. It is THE "primer" every gun hunter, archer, photographer or nature-observer anywhere should read. It's best attribute is it relates deer psyche and biology to the grandest, and most challenging form of all hunting - Stillhunting, and it is right on. You'll be going back to study it over and over again. Just as important, Mattis writes from the heart and mind of an outdoorsman who respects and appreciates the natural world and believes in the responsibilities we all share for its'stewardship. If you are a would-be deer-hunter, or a deer-shooter who has now decided to become a deer HUNTER... George Mattis' "Whitetail" is where you start.

I enjoyed reading the book Whitetail, by George Mattis because I wanted to know about the fundamentals of hunting and how popular the sport is. This book gave many insights into the mystery and challenge of "The Chase." The author is very knowledgeable about the whitetail deer. He doesn't just talk about the whitetail, but he discusses their environment, the best rifle to use, gun safety, the health condition of the hunter and different hunting techniques. I would highly recommended this book to anyone who is interested in deer hunting. The author expressed his ideas about deer hunting in a very understandable and enjoyable way. Anything you need to know about the whitetail deer, is in this book.