Outdoor columnist Dan Geddings: An outdoorsman's library

I have a copy of "The Yearling" in my bookshelf that my wife, Ginger, bought me recently. It's been 60 years, so I might read it again, even though I rarely read books a second time.
My school books didn't interest me very much until I took a literature course in high school. Back then we went in about a week before school started to register and pick up our books. The literature book was a very thick collection of classics and short stories; I read the entire book before classes started.
In college, I was somewhat disdainful of the assigned reading but visited the Thomas Cooper Library nearly every day searching out topics that interested me. It was my favorite place on campus.
After college and a tour of the world provided by the United States Army, I came home and took a job at the highway department in Manning. If I was in town at lunch time, I would go to the new library. It was much bigger than the old library and had an excellent magazine section.
About that time, a relative gave me a copy of "An American Hunter" by Archibald Rutledge. The book was illustrated by Lynn Bouge Hunt with beautiful pen-and-ink drawings. For days, I couldn't put it down. That one book was the start of a lifetime collection of books.
I sought out other Rutledge books and found "Home By The River." Some others caught my attention, but I couldn't afford them all. I bought "Those Were The Days," "My Colonel And His Lady," "God's Children" and several others. Most of these books are out of print now but can be found in used bookstores. My favorite haunt.
Eventually I found "Tales of Quails 'n Such" by Havilah Babcock. His classic book and story "My Health is Better in November" would resonate with anyone. I have "The Best of Babcock" and several of his other books. They are all good.
I discovered "A Sand County Almanac" by Aldo Leopold. Browsing through an antique store at lunch one day, I found a copy of "Game Management." It was published in 1936 and is filled with sketches, charts and handwritten notes. Of particular interest in that book is a cut-out newspaper article by Harry Hampton. On the back of the article are ads from a Columbia newspaper. There are no dates, but the phone numbers are only four digits.
Tom Kelly books caught my attention when I started turkey hunting. His first, "Tenth Legion," is considered the best. I have "The Season," "A Fork in the Road," "Dealers Choice" and several others. Reading his books gave me some insight into a hunter's world and mindset.
Sitting in a doctor's waiting room one day, I picked up a magazine and read a story by Worth Mathewson about his search for a shotgun that had been lost in a duck hunting incident. It was a superb story, and I sought out his books. I found "Big December Canvasbacks." It is filled with duck hunts and adventures on the northwest coast.
I have a copy of Nash Buckingham's book "De Shootinest Gent'man and Other Tales." The original was published in 1934. It has been reprinted many times. It is a classic.
One of my favorite books, "The Everlasting Stream," was written by a newcomer to hunting, Walt Harrington. It is a true story of rabbits, guns, friendship and family. For some reason, it has made the greatest impact on my thoughts about hunting and life in general.
There are many, many more books in my shelves, and I cannot name them all, but they have enriched my life in so many ways. My library continues to grow.
Reach Dan Geddings at cdgeddings@gmail.com.