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I have to admit that I almost judged Petersen’s Hunting Guide to Big Game by its cover. Almost taking a pass on what appeared to be just another volume on hunting basics, I decided to flip through and peek inside. But that peek led to a perusal which led to a place on my nightstand.
OVERVIEW
Packed with fantastic photos, the guide reads like an expanded edition of one of Petersen’s hunting magazines. The sections are nicely organized and cover pronghorn to predators, with various tips and opinions on firearms, optics, and special draw areas interspersed throughout.
“As you begin working a herd or a bull, just listen, feel, and watch. Join the conversation as you get a feel for it and then don’t dominate it. Be polite.” – Joseph Von Benedikt in Petersen’s Hunting Guide to Big Game
As a hunting world authority since 1973, Petersen’s is like the Webster to a hunter’s dictionary. I appreciate that the writers and chief editor (Mike Schoby) of the Hunting Guide are experienced hunters who actually “practice what they preach”. The stories they tell are sometimes funny, sometimes astonishing—but always told with a takeaway in mind.
VERDICT
While I confess to merely skimming the chapter on alligator hunting (not really my thing), the rest of the book proved to be thoroughly entertaining and enlightening. If you can forgive a few typos and be willing to hold the pages a bit closer to your face when the type becomes minuscule, Petersen’s Hunting Guide to Big Game will prove to be an enjoyable read. 4.5 out of 5 stars for me.
