The Deer Stalker's Bedside Book - Charles Smith Jones

The Deer Stalker's Bedside Book provides an entertaining read for every deer enthusiast, whether experienced stalker, novice who would like to learn more, or indeed anyone who has an interest in these enigmatic and graceful creatures. Packed with a wealth of information – factual, practical, historical and biological – as well as anecdotes, advice, stalking tales, trivia and quotations, all backed up with personal observations and experiences, this expertly researched and authoritative book offers something for everyone. This treasury of all things deer is presented in an articulate, accessible and often humorous style, enabling the author to share his knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the subject in an effortless and absorbing way. Above all, this is a book to enjoy, to savour and to return to, again and again!

'Writing about actucual stalking occurences and observations, creating sporting stories and researching bits of stalking lore from a mass of sporting literature to make an anthology both interesting and informative needs all-out enthusiasm for the deer themselves and some considerable practical experience of stalking. In presenting this Bedside Book, Charles Smith-Jones has done a masterly job. I wish I had written this myself!' Richard Prior


THE AUTHOR 
Charles Smith-Jones has always been fascinated by deer. He has actively stalked and managed them for almost 35 years, with wide experience across the British species. He currently lectures in Game and Wildlife Management at Sparsholt College in Hampshire where he specialises in deer and firearms. He is a regular contributor to the Shooting Times and Deer magazines, and has also written, Muntjac: Managing an Alien Species, which received widespread praise as a groundbreaking work on the subject.

Reviews:
Charles Smith-Jones's latest book perfectly hits the mark for the deer stalker. It does exactly what it says on the tin, and it may be dipped into at any time for pleasure and amusement, day or night, whether the reader be dressed or undressed. It is after all, a bedside book.' Graham Downing, The British Deer Society 

'The illustrations are by Keith Sykes and they are so good I just wish there had been more of them... A must to be read by stalker and non-stalker... While this book may have been written with the stalker in mind, it goes much further and will appeal to the general naturalist. You could have left out the word Stalker's in the title and it would have been better still. From antlers to "A Macnab" and venison to myths, this is a must for your bookshelf.' Ray Collier, Highland News Group

'It is the ideal book for both the novice and experienced stalker which can be read in its entirety or dipped into at bedtime. It is also one of those books which can be re-read with equal enjoyment to that of the first time.' Ray Charles, The Countryman’s Weekly

'This is a really good book - informative and readable with some old and some new. I let my coffee get cold and was late for a fishing appointment - that's saying something for its quality. Well done indeed - wish I had written it.' Richard Prior, Leading international authority on Deer

'The Deer Stalker's Bedside Book, by Charles Smith-Jones, sets out to be an "entertaining read for every deer enthusiast." The book is a wonderful miscellany of deer facts and trivia, allied to stalking stories, advice and the personal observations of the author, based on his own long experience. It even includes a little sporting fiction from the imaginary Glen Carron Estate in the Highlands... plus a piece of untrue trivia for readers to hunt for. It is the kind of book that is just as much fun to dip into at random as to read through from start to finish, and Smith-Jones's fascination with all things deer shine through from every page. I defy any stalker to read this and not learn something new!' Sporting Shooter

'Full of fascinating stories, facts, trivia, advice and personal observations, this book can be enjoyed at any page.' Sporting Gun