The Hunter's Way: A Guide to the Heart and Soul of Hunting

“Craig Raleigh puts hunting into modern perspective, combining higher sensibilities and his firsthand insight into the hunting world to gently illuminate a part of human nature that was, and still is, among the purest of human endeavors.” —Jim Shockey, award-winning writer and host of Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures and Uncharted

A thoughtful appreciation of hunting and a celebration of the outdoors that illuminates the hunter’s psyche, role, and influence on our culture.

"As we began to set foot in the outdoors we didn’t expect to learn something beyond where the deer were running or where the ducks were flying. Once we realized what these creatures really wanted, it was the opening of truth for us as hunters."

A long-time hunter and fisherman and senior writer at Wide Open Spaces, Craig Raleigh has spent most of the last forty-five years of his life trying to find that elusive Holy Grail of hunting, that unimagined outdoor reality where one’s training, instinct, and experience converge into extraordinary bliss and accomplishment. He is the first to admit, that this does not entail the capture of a deer or an ever-evasive pheasant. It is the freedom to give back to the outdoors as much as one takes from it. For hunters, a life lived in the outdoors is massively rewarding and offers non-stop pleasures. It comes with the love of camaraderie, choice, and reward, and provides a deep appreciation for the nature world.

The Hunter’s Way is his meditative and philosophical journey into the soul of a hunter. Divided into four parts that mirror the hunting experience—the background, the preparation, the hunt, and the harvest—it addresses the paradox of hunting as conservationism, ruminates on the failures and successes of hunting as sport and as a way of life, and reveals how hunting influences our society.

As Raleigh explains, the hunt is so much more than the kill. Most often, the hunter leaves the woods and fields empty-handed. Rather, the beauty of hunting is in the experience itself. As a hunter, you are constantly looking for clues. Yet in nature, signs are changeable, confusing, and never the same the second time. A captivating synthesis of On Trails, Norwegian Wood, and Shop Class as Soulcraft, The Hunter’s Way is a literary reflection and love letter to the value of hunting as both sport and way of life.

“He could see it in the way the forest climbed its way toward the sky, and in the way it fell precariously down; how it showed what was obviously the crest of the hill and the way that the trees spilled over the sides. . . . Some lucky young men and women would see elk, bear, and moose before those same trees would hide them completely. If he thought he saw something, he had only fallen prey to his imagination.”

In this love letter to hunting and outdoor appreciation, longtime hunter and fisherman Craig Raleigh takes readers on a meditative journey into the psyche of a hunter—from addressing the paradox of hunting as conservationism to exploring the egos of hunters to detailing the hunt itself. He ruminates on the failures and successes of hunting as an integrally cultural way of life and explains how hunting finds its way into everyday practice—from its generational wisdom to how we think about and consume our food. Divided into four parts that mirror the hunting experience—the background, the preparation, the hunt, and the harvest—The Hunter’s Way transports readers into the lush forests and backwoods of this ancient ritual to examine and reflect on its perennial importance.

As Raleigh explains, the hunt is so much more than the kill. More often than not, the hunter walks away from the woods and fields empty-handed. Some see in this fate a profound beauty, while others see shame and disappointment. But whether the result is meager or bountiful, the experience comes with the love of camaraderie, choice, and reward, and provides a deep appreciation for the natural world.

The hunt is upon us, and it’s an undeniable part of us all.

“We’re fortunate to be at Craig Raleigh’s side as he eloquently relates his passion for the hunt and contemplates the hunter’s place in nature. Compelling reading for anyone who cares about issues impacting wildlife and wilderness.” - Philip Dray, 2003 Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Fair Chase: The Epic Story of Hunting in America

“In The Hunter’s Way, Craig Raleigh puts hunting into modern perspective, combining higher sensibilities and his firsthand insight into the hunting world to gently illuminate a part of human nature that was, and still is, among the purest of human endeavors.” - Jim Shockey, award-winning writer and host of Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures and Uncharted on the Outdoor Channel

“The Hunter’s Way is a joyful book, animated by Craig Raleigh’s infectious love of the whole natural world. He has written a compelling plea to simply get outside and get lost in the wild, one that resonates even with those of us who have rarely taken aim.” - John Lingan, author of Homeplace: A Southern Town, a Country Legend, and the Last Days of a Mountaintop Honky-Tonk

“Raleigh always keeps one foot on the ground by seamlessly melding introspective thoughts with humorous anecdotes, giving this work a wider-appeal than just the avid hunters for whom it will intrigue and inspire.”  - Publishers Weekly

“Quotable truths about the hunting lifestyle jump off of nearly every page. [Raleigh] is every bit a philosopher and eloquent proponent of the valueof hunting in the human experience. Buy this book, read it, and give it to a friend.” - Wisconsin Outdoor News