Book dossier

Hunting with the bow and arrow

by Saxton T. Pope

A fascinating book about the resurgence of practical hunting with the bow and arrow. Saxton Pope was a surgeon in California who treated Ishi, the last member of an extinct American Indian tribe called the Yahi, who staggered out of the wilderness into civilization in the early 1900's. Pope became friends with him and learned native techniques for hunting and for bow and arrow building. Saxton and Arthur Young later received permission to hunt grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park with hand made bows and arrows modeled on English longbow design. They were successful in their endeavor and helped to lead a resurgence in hunting with bow and arrow. The book is a mix of how-to instructions on building bows and arrows and accounts of Pope's relationship with Ishi and his adventures hunting, particularly in Yellowstone. The is a book well worth reading.