Does your backyard or garden look bleak and boring? Has your spouse ever told you that you need your own work building? Are your children's toys overflowing into the neighbor's yard because you have nowhere to put them? Have you ever thought about investing in a screened-in porch or a greenhouse? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the book for you.We all know that hiring a contractor or builder to take care of backyard projects can be costly and frustrating. Mon...

Time-honored practices for a more self-reliant and satisfying lifestyle.Ever have the urge to raise your own chickens, grind your own flour, or start your own compost pile? If any of these ideas sound appealing, this is the book for you.A growing number of people are intrigued by the "homesteader" experience and the idea of doing things themselves, whether they own a big spread in the wilderness or live on a small plot of land in the suburbs. Traditional Crafts and Skills f...

Here is the complete guide to a skill that may be mysterious to some, written by Monte Burch, an authority who practices many of the traditions of tanning and hiding. Starting at the beginning, Burch introduces the hunter to the tools of a tanner, and even gives complete plans for making many of these implements. Instructions are given for making fleshing beams, stretchers for pelts, fleshing knives, and many others. He also covers tanning formulas and materials, both traditional and moder...

With more than forty years of experience butchering domestic animals, game, and birds, award-winning outdoor writer and photographer Monte Burch presents this complete guide for butchering many types of livestock or wild animals. Learn how to butcher cows, chickens, goats, hogs, deer, turkeys, rabbits, and more, with simple and easy-to-follow, step-by-step photographs and illustrations. Burch also provides recommendations on which tools (knives, paring knives, meat scissors, meat grinders,...

A handy reference book on caring for your deer once it’s down.Hunting, butchering, and preparing deer has been a way of life for Monte and Joan Burch. Drawing on their years of experience living off the land and practical skills gained while butchering livestock, Monte and Joan offer The Pocket Guide to Field Dressing, Butchering, and Cooking Deer as a must-have resource for the hunter on the go. Included is essential advice on:Field dressing...

Learn effective bowhunting techniques with this concise guide.Having lived most of his life in rural Missouri, Monte Burch has a wealth of knowledge to share on all things hunting. In The Pocket Guide to Bowhunting Whitetail Deer, Burch draws on more than three decades of bowhunting experience and collects it in an easily accessible pocket guide. Included is essential advice on:Selecting the right bow and arrowsCalling and rattling for doe a...

How to catch these sought-after game fish in any season and any condition.If you want to catch a walleye on a consistent basis, you need to know its behavior-what it eats, where it prefers to hold, where it goes when water temperatures change, and more.In The Pocket Guide to Seasonal Walleye Tactics, Monte Burch gives you all the information you’ll need to catch walleyes in any season. Providing time-tested information, Burch explains walleye behav...

Bass fishing requires more than just patience-it requires cunning and insight.Largemouth bass are the most popular game fish in the US. Found in nearly every state, they present an exciting and powerful challenge to anglers of all levels.In The Pocket Guide to Seasonal Largemouth Bass Patterns, author Monte Burch offers advice on determining where to find big bass, and how to effectively catch them. This guide is broken into eight sections covering...

Build your own outbuildings and enjoy the space to do more of what you love. From simple toolsheds and animal shelters to smokehouses and low-cost barns, Monte Burch guides you through everything you need to know to make your small building projects a reality. Detailed blueprints, easy-to-follow instructions, and expert advice are suited to even the first-time builder. Discover how easy it is to create your own customized spaces that will allow your passions to grow.

Growing your own food is a hot topic today because of the high cost of transporting food long distances, the heightened problem of diseases caused by commercially grown foods, concerns of the overuse of chemicals in mass food production, and the uncertain health effects of GMOs. Many people-from White House executives to inner-city kids-have recently discovered the benefits of homegrown vegetables and fruits. Community gardens, and even community canning centers, are increasingly popular a...

Here is the most comprehensive guide to making your own Native American tools and weapons. This reference takes you through the steps of the basic flint-knapping of arrowheads and scrapers to the most complex decorating and finishing techniques of painting and fletching. Fully illustrated with photographs and line illustrations, this is the perfect book for the survivalist, historian, student, or Native American enthusiast.

Learn how to catch the big ones with this fact-filled manual.Catfishing provides the freshwater angler with an opportunity to catch a delicious meal while also offering the chance for an exciting catch. Growing up to one hundred pounds, depending on the breed, catfish can present an incredible challenge for even the most experienced angler. But there are surefire ways to effectively catch them.In The Pocket Guide to Old-Time Catfish Techniques, Mon...