Book suggestions for outdoor enthusiasts

Check out these book recommendations to please any outdoorsman or woman.

A great Christmas gift for the outdoorsmen or anyone on your list is a book. They help pass the long winter evenings and are great to re-read at any time. Even if you are a snowbird, these books make reading on the beach more enjoyable. Here are some by local authors that I recom- mend.

Bob Elinskas has written many books on wild Adirondack adventures, with the focus on deer hunters or sportsmen or hunters of by-gone days. His books are well illustrated with photographs and features some well-known hunters and trapper’s tales and biographies. These are not ‘how to books’, but make very interesting reading for anyone who loves tales of Adirondack hunting, trapping, and sportsmen’s camps.

Prolific local author William J. (Jay) O’Hern has produced a variety of books about the Adirondacks and the people who live there. His special interest is the social history with a focus on the people who lived there ranging from the famed hermit, Noah John Rondeau to countless other ordinary people who shaped the history. One of his latest is an in depth look at Adirondack logging and the lives of loggers in the early 20th century. Books by Jay O’Hern are available at www.adkwilds.com, at local bookstores, and at North Country Books, Inc. 1-800-3427409.

Todd Mead is both a skilled Adirondack deer hunter and a skilled writer. His books such as “Back Country Bucks” and “A Lifetime of Big Woods Hunting Memories” are excellent combinations of adventure, hunting tips, and observations on the aesthetics or experience of challenging the Adirondacks in hunting season. His newest one is scheduled to be available before Christmas. Check www.toddmead.com.

Spider Rybaak is a local writer and expert angler who has authored many guidebooks that give anglers the information on where and how to fish the many waters of New York State. His latest book, Fishing the Salmon River, gives advice on where and how to fish the hotspots, along with other es-

sential advice. His earlier books include “Fishing Oneida Lake”, “Fishing the Great Lakes”, and “Fishing the Adirondacks.” They are available at local book outlets or www.burfordbooks.com.

“Trout Streams of Western New York” by J. Michael Kelly. Mike Kelly is the former outdoor editor for the Syracuse Post Stan- dard and award-winning author. If you are looking for some new trout waters to explore and enjoy, his books should go along with your trout tackle. The books give specific streams, seasonal tactics and tips, best methods to use, and specific hotspots. His books, including Fishing the Finger Lakes and Trout Streams of Central New York are first-hand information spiced with anecdotes gained from personal experience. The books are available at local bookstores, tackle shops, or from the publisher at www. burfordbooks.com.

“Bushwhacking Your Way To Great Landscape Photography” by Spencer Morrissey. As an Adirondack guide and hiker he often takes the seldom-used route by bushwhacking.In his new book Morrissey focuses on teaching the reader to explore hidden aspects of the landscape by getting off the beaten path. He explains how to make the most of the lighting and seasonal conditions for more exciting im- ages. The book helps the reader learn to identify unexpected images and bold compositions.It is available on Amazon or by contacting the publisher at www.AmherstMedia.com.

“Adirondack Deer Trackers” by DiNitto, Grabowski, Massett, and Williams is not a book that details or explains how-to techniques, although the reader will pick up tips and information. It is a collection of tales of adventures by individuals who take the ultimate challenge in deer hunting. They entertain the reader and give an idea of the challenge, the hard work, the excitement, or even the disappointment of the hunt.

The book is definitely for anyone who loves deer hunting, can relate to the big woods, and enjoys the experience. See the website www.adktrackers.com for more information.

“Wild Images of the Adirondacks” by Eric Dresser is a book that belongs on your coffee table or convenient location where you can look at it and enjoy it frequently. The images of the wildlife in their natural settings are stunning. Visit his website at www.NBNP. com. It is available at many bookstores or from North Country Books.

Mark Bowie’s photography books “Adirondacks, a Celebration of the Seasons”, and “Adirondack Waters” (www.northcountrybooks. com) have stunning photography and give inspiration and advice on seeing familiar scenes in a different light.