The Best Jay Massey Book?

[Gen273]

What is the best Jay Massey Book, Bowhunting Alaska's wild rivers or A Thousand Campfires?

[Longbowz]

Yes!

How about the one YOU like best after reading both.

[Gen273]

Well, since they are both around $100.00 used, I will have pick one....lol

[chinook907]

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.

[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    

[Ray Lyon]

Originally 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      

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.

[Dan bree]

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.

[Longbowz]

$100??? Wow I'd better hide my copies in a vault.

[Gordon Jabben]

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.

[Steve D]

"A Thousand Campfires".

[wapiti792]

How about his third? "The Bowyers Craft"? Great book too!

[Blackhawk]

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.

[Orion]

In addition to the three already mentioned, he published a fourth, The Book of Primitive Archery, in 1990. They're all good reads.

[chubber]

Alaska's Wild Rivers.Read it in one sit as well.

[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

[Pat B]

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.

[Gen273]

Originally 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!

[Big Lefty]

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.

[jr1959]

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

[Owlmagnet]

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....)