Hunting Trips of a Ranchman: Sketches of Sport on the Northern Cattle Plains

by Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was one of most remarkable presidents to have ever lived.

From stalking wild geese to hunting elks to protecting the camp from a grizzly bear, this book documents his life out in the plains and mountains of the Midwest.

Never one to shy away from an adventure, Roosevelt’s record of life as a ranchman and hunter has endured today as part of the classic folklore of the West.

This book focuses on Roosevelt’s life as a hunter in the American frontier where he had gone to overcome the grief of losing his mother and wife in 1884.

Vivid descriptions of the scenery, flora and fauna as well as people that populated the frontier abound within this book that covers Roosevelt’s life throughout 1885.

It is on these plains that Roosevelt began to understand the true American spirit and allowed him to forge his life as a politician.

“Could claim an honourable place on the same shelf as Walton’s Compleat Angler." The Spectator

“Part memoir, part travelogue, part nature essay, and part sociological study … a peculiarly comprehensive documentary of life on the Plains, encompassing wildlife survey, cowboy culture, geographical study, and environmental exigency.” Love of the Land, Zachary Michael Jack

Hunting Trips of a Ranchman provides a fascinating insight into the early life of one of the United States’ most interesting presidents.

Theodore Roosevelt was an American statesman, author, explore, soldier, naturalist and reformer who served as the 26th President of the United States. He died in 1919.

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., also known as T.R., and to the public (but never to friends and family) as Teddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States, and a leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement.

He fathered Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a daughter.

He became the youngest President in United States history at the age of 42. He served in many roles including Governor of New York, historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his role at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War).

Roosevelt is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. This came out of left field for me. Teddy begins the book by describing the culture of his ranchmen and then parcels out the rest of the book amongst different game: Waterfowl, prairie chicken, white tail, and black tail (mule) deer.

This book was a completely fascinating look into the hunting lifestyle he led near his ranch in the days before wildlife management. He is an eloquent writer and really knows his shit about the wildlife he's describing.

This is a must-read for hunters especially.

[Mark Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt, reading the many books he authored is a great way to do so. Placing yourself back into what is now history, but was a current event for him, you find details and adventures.

I would recommend this book for anyone, but specifically for someone wanting to learn more about TR and life on the plains.

[Arlingtontexican · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already regret not giving five stars...it took me a long time to read this short work...not because I lost interest...I chose to savor the experience president Roosevelt had to share. Intelligent, boastful (with good reason), boisterous, entitled.... he wrote a number of books...time to line up the next on, I want to read them all.

[Ronda Wian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right in to the bad lands.

I enjoyed the book it gave an account of young Roosevelt .as a meat hunter. I enjoyed the details of the story.