BOOKS

Everyday life in Southwest Montana is not everybody’s normal every day. In this book, Matt Wemple, local resident and writer for the Lewis and Clark Journal based in Three Forks, Montana takes us on a journey through the history, landscape, weather, climate, and wildlife that define Big Sky Country. From the depths of winter to gentle days of summer, this anthology of writings published in the Lewis and Clark Journal over 8 years introduce the reader to everyday Montanans who live extraordinary lives, everyday weather that can turn your day upside down, everyday wildlife that bring a magical touch to the landscape, and how everyday people engage with the land among its magnificent natural surroundings. Soft Cover, 376 pages

To Hunt Ducks is a book about duck hunting that spans three flyways and takes you into the blind with every day, working stiff waterfowlers who like it best when its cold, wet, and muddy. Hunts run the gamut of North American duck country—coastal marsh, flooded timber, rice fields, high lonesome prairie, and sprawling valleys flanked by snowcapped peaks. Many hunts occur on public land accessible to all. There are also hunts on private land in duck clubs that for many are a staple of the waterfowling tradition. From the author’s late teens into his mid forties, the stories herein tell the tale of American duck hunters who pursue this passion in their own unique way. If you’re a duck hunter, you’ve been here, and done this and know what its all about. Duck Hunters everywhere are unique for the absurd lengths they will go to be where the ducks are. The theme runs through this collection of short stories. There are tales of youthful folly, exploration, family, old friends, new friends, good dogs, wild ducks, wild country, muddy water, self-reflection, and wide horizons. The constant theme is no matter where one goes, the drama of a duck hunt often plays out the same transcending regional differences while capturing the nuances of culture in a pursuit that has long defined the history of hunting in North America. Softcover, First Edition, 314 pages

Duck hunting is a long and storied tradition in the Bayou State. Journey to the remote and wild reaches of southwest Louisiana where hunting and fishing isn’t just a pastime but a job description. It is here the Miller Hunting Club has hunted, fished, and trapped for generations from their lodge, The Duck Camp. With roots going back a century, see how they’ve kept a duck hunting tradition alive through the most formative period in American waterfowling. They saw duck hunting at its best and worst throughout the 20th century and beyond. Their story is that of many who have built their own hunting traditions that epitomize Louisiana’s rich outdoor heritage and earn it the name Sportsman’s Paradise Soft Cover, 284 pages