It seems as though wherever wingshooters and dog
people get together, and the talk turns to the things
they read and the writers they respect, the name
Steve Smith is one of the first mentioned.
As an editor, he is one of the two longest-serving,
continuous outdoor editors in history thirty-five
years and counting. In his long career as a writer, he
has written hundreds of magazine articles, and
Woodcock Rising is his twentieth book. His friends,
hunting partners, cohorts, and ...
Read More
It seems as though wherever wingshooters and dog
people get together, and the talk turns to the things
they read and the writers they respect, the name
Steve Smith is one of the first mentioned.
As an editor, he is one of the two longest-serving,
continuous outdoor editors in history thirty-five
years and counting. In his long career as a writer, he
has written hundreds of magazine articles, and
Woodcock Rising is his twentieth book. His friends,
hunting partners, cohorts, and collaborators include
the likes of the late Michael McIntosh and Gene Hill.
As a publishing executive, Smith has launched
eleven magazines, including the prestigious
Shooting Sportsman; started two book-publishing
houses; and has been responsible for a division of a
company that produces thirty-six titles.
But through all of this, there was always woodcock.
Smith did his graduate work on them, has
hunted them in a dozen states and provinces, waits
impatiently for the spring skydancing displays, and
still can't sleep the night before the season opens.
In the words of famed author Tom Davis:
"Other gamebirds excite; the woodcock beguiles.
With his inimitable blend of wit, insight, expansive
knowledge, and deep but lightly worn wisdom,
Steve Smith beautifully chronicles his lifelong love
affair with this enigmatic charmera journey sure
to delight all of us who've had our hearts similarly
stolen. For a long time, I've been of the opinion that
one book, Guy de la Valdne's Making Game,
belonged in the library of every woodcock devotee.
Now, with Woodcock Rising, there are two."
Read Less
