How Legendary Hunters Shaped America

Willie Robertson, famous for the Duck Dynasty television program and Duck Commander line of hunting products, and William Doyle, author of American Gun, joined to write a collection of true stories of hunting heritage. Robertson’s first book, Duck Commander Family, was a New York Times bestselling success. American Hunter details how legendary hunters shaped America’s history and compiles a chronological history of America’s greatest hunters, covering their backgrounds and personalities. Beginning with the Plains Indians, the book details legendary hunters such as Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill, Teddy Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, Lyndon Johnson, and more. Also included are the histories of American fox, rabbit, deer, squirrel, duck, goose, and big-game hunting, as well as action biographies of classic hunting weapons.

Divided into twelve chapters, the book opens with personal anecdotes from Robertson and continues to the hunting and species of early North America. Hunting by our nation’s founders, settlers, explorers, and expansionists follows, as well as detailing hunts by U.S. presidents. A section on women hunters and the state of hunting in America today follows. All of the history is interspersed with numerous hunting tales by Robertson. The book finishes with an extensive bibliography of source notes, making it a good start for further history and learning.

Teddy Roosevelt said, “The virility, clear-sighted common sense and resourcefulness of the American people is due to the fact that we have been a nation of hunters and frequenters of the forest, plains, and waters.” This book honors American hunting history and is filled with incredible stories of skill, courage, and survival. American Hunter is a good synopsis of American history from the perspective of those who love hunting.

Read more in the July 2016 issue.

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