African Hunter by James Mellon, republished in 1995 by Long Beach Press, available from Safari Press.

This book is considered by most African Hunters to be the most comprehensive work publsihed on hunting the Dark Continent. 522 pages, 52 chapters covering every small, medium, and large game animal in every African country. If you want to know what is there and where it is, this is the book.

Mellon spent over 2 decades collecting animals on scientific expeditions and other hunting trips in Africa. He's a very good writer and draws on others' experience as well. Great book with incredible hunting stories, outstanding photos, and more information than any other I've read about Africa.

Because of the scientific nature of some the hunts, Mellon was able secure permits for taking endangered species such as Addax and Scimitar Horned Oryx. Not many other books relate stories of hunting these animals.

Some of the country names have changed through the last 20-30 years of this writing, so current knowledge of African countries is required.

Highly recommended. Rating 10 out of 10.

Dear alyeska338 -

You said it all. Great book. There are others but none have put so much between one set of hard covers.

I will add that John Barsness book: "The Life of the Hunt", while not limited to Africa, is, in my humble opinion, the best book which explores hunting since Ortega y Gasset. The hard cover, now out of print, has shown up for over $400.00 on Amazon but it is now it is back in print in paperback so get one soon. I bought two copies.

Bluesman


African Hunter by James Mellon, republished in 1995 by Long Beach Press, available from Safari Press.

This book is considered by most African Hunters to be the most comprehensive work publsihed on hunting the Dark Continent. 522 pages, 52 chapters covering every small, medium, and large game animal in every African country. If you want to know what is there and where it is, this is the book.

Mellon spent over 2 decades collecting animals on scientific expeditions and other hunting trips in Africa. He's a very good writer and draws on others' experience as well. Great book with incredible hunting stories, outstanding photos, and more information than any other I've read about Africa.

Because of the scientific nature of some the hunts, Mellon was able secure permits for taking endangered species such as Addax and Scimitar Horned Oryx. Not many other books relate stories of hunting these animals.

Some of the country names have changed through the last 20-30 years of this writing, so current knowledge of African countries is required.

Highly recommended. Rating 10 out of 10.

African Hunter is a great read. Unfortunately it is getting dated. Things change fast in Africa. When I go to the SCI Convention this month I'm going to get a copy of African Hunter II by Bodington and Flack.They both are good writers so the book should be another good read. Incidently, the pictures in African Hunter all black and white, and they are outstanding.

Jungli Bains,
http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=11720

I picked up my copy of African Hunter II at SCI last year (2004). I think Boddington and Flack did exactly what they set out to do, to update Mellon's original to today's new geopolitical scene in Africa. I think of these as a set now, one to be utilized with the other, neither standing alone.

Please log on to the thread linked above after you get a chance to review African Hunter II and let us know what you think. Personally I think it was worth every penny.

Boddington and Flack didn't necessarily write AFII, but served as editors to others' writing. They do provide the Foreward and of course there is input from both throughout the book, but like Mellon's original, it is a compilation of sorts.