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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Gen273 on January 27, 2014, 09:21:00 PM

Title: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Gen273 on January 27, 2014, 09:21:00 PM
What is the best Jay Massey Book, Bowhunting Alaska's wild rivers or A Thousand Campfires?
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Longbowz on January 27, 2014, 09:58:00 PM
Yes!

How about the one YOU like best after reading both.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Gen273 on January 27, 2014, 10:45:00 PM
Well, since they are both around $100.00 used, I will have pick one....lol
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: chinook907 on January 28, 2014, 02:46:00 AM
I bought Wild Rivers off the shelf in Fairbanks around 1984 or so.  Still have it and enjoy it.  Campfires is good, but I sold my used copy after reading it.  Both great reads.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Roger Norris on January 28, 2014, 08:08:00 AM
A neat story....I took LaClairs copy of "A Thousand Campfires" out into the woods one day, intent on staying in my ground blind as long as I could. I read the whole book in one sitting, I literally could not put it down. As I read the last word, closed the book, and tucked it into my pack, I looked up to see a fat doe standing broadside, completely unaware of my presence. I had a smile on myself the entire time I was dragging her to the truck    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Ray Lyon on January 28, 2014, 09:13:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Roger Norris:
A neat story....I took LaClairs copy of "A Thousand Campfires" out into the woods one day, intent on staying in my ground blind as long as I could. I read the whole book in one sitting, I literally could not put it down. As I read the last word, closed the book, and tucked it into my pack, I looked up to see a fat doe standing broadside, completely unaware of my presence. I had a smile on myself the entire time I was dragging her to the truck     :bigsmyl:  
That's as good as it gets buddy. I loved Alaska's Wild Rivers. Great read-it's kind of like a modern day Fred Bear Field notes.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Dan bree on January 28, 2014, 09:18:00 AM
Campfires for me  roger , I had the same thing happened  to me , it was a small 6point 25yrds away making a rub , let him walk ,but I cut the rub down and it's in my bow room . A different. Trophy.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Longbowz on January 28, 2014, 09:26:00 AM
$100??? Wow I'd better hide my copies in a vault.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Gordon Jabben on January 28, 2014, 10:26:00 AM
Being from Oklahoma, Jay Massey was around our area quite a bit and would be at the traditional events.  I remember him saying "A Thousand Campfires" was most popular of his books and it would get my vote.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Steve D on January 28, 2014, 10:29:00 AM
"A Thousand Campfires".
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: wapiti792 on January 28, 2014, 11:42:00 AM
How about his third? "The Bowyers Craft"? Great book too!
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Blackhawk on January 28, 2014, 12:09:00 PM
I believe Jay has four books out there, but I've only read "Thousand Campfires" and know you cannot go wrong with that one.  He was a wonderful writer who left us much too soon.

The rarity and expense of his works should tell us how good and popular he was/is.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Orion on January 28, 2014, 12:20:00 PM
In addition to the three already mentioned, he published a fourth, The Book of Primitive Archery, in 1990. They're all good reads.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: chubber on January 28, 2014, 01:49:00 PM
Alaska's Wild Rivers.Read it in one sit as well.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: TRAP on January 28, 2014, 02:53:00 PM
Flip a coin, both are great reads. Buy whichever one wins the coin toss, read it and then trade it for the other.

DD
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Pat B on January 28, 2014, 02:54:00 PM
I have "The Book Of Primitive Archery" and "The Bowyers Craft" both signed to me by Jay. One is copy right 1987 and the other 1990. I also have a Jay Massey sinew backed osage bow with halibut skin covering. A very special part of my collection.
The Bowyers Craft(1987) was my first bow building book and helped me get started building selfbows.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Gen273 on January 28, 2014, 06:59:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by TRAP:
Flip a coin, both are great reads. Buy whichever one wins the coin toss, read it and then trade it for the other.

DD
That sounds like a pretty good idea!
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Big Lefty on January 28, 2014, 10:19:00 PM
I picked up a copy of "A Thousand Campfires" last year.  It is one of my all time favorites.  Can't speak for his other books, but I wouldn't pass any of them up if given the chance.
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: jr1959 on January 29, 2014, 11:31:00 AM
Both are great books, Wild Rivers has several chapters by Jay's hunting buddies.  I loaned out Wild Rivers and never got it back ,  Paid $100 for a rough copy 20 years later.  JIm
Title: Re: The Best Jay Massey Book?
Post by: Owlmagnet on January 29, 2014, 12:38:00 PM
Jay's, "The Bowyer's Craft", continues to be a great read and a valuable resource. Last year, I resolved to stop lending out archery books after I purchased my FOURTH copy of Asbell's, "Instinctive Shooting"! (I must be getting cranky in my old age....)