Meet Mr. Grizzly

The author, a wealthy young college-graduate, left his native-England, upon graduation, to pursue an interest in American bear-hunting ..especially grizzly bears, in the southwestern part of the U.S. (on the New Mexico/Arizona border) in 1881.That period, in of itself, is interesting, for it was a time and place that was still experiencing Geronimo's raiding parties and a time when ranchers and travelers traveled to-and between-towns for their supplies ..and at great risk.The author mentions some of that as part of his experiences but he was never threatened, personally, by the Apache raiders. He attributed that largely to his luck or good fortune, but he noted that an encounter, was a constant concern.His focus throughout the story is on the pursuit of the American grizzly bear, a bear species now extinct throughout the southwest and the southern Rockies since the 1920's - 1930's. His hunting methods employed Russian wolf-hounds to chase ("course") the bears after they were located visually, or initially detected by traditional trailing-hounds.The book is also an easy and interesting-read about an aspect of the 'old west' that one might normally never encounter.For those interested in this period ..or who are interested in reading about early western-hunting ..or about the late 19th century grizzlies in NM or AZ, I feel it's a book worth opening.

In the west, we maintain that "the water is clearer closest to the source." This means one should learn history from those who lived it. Read the books, diaries, and letters from the people of the period in which one is studying. With that in mind, this book will thrill the historian of the area with factual and personal accounting of life on the edge of the San Agustin Plains. It covers so much more that grizzly bear hunting, although that topic is covered well. From training dogs to horses and the hardships of living in early New Mexico one can get a glimpse of the attitudes and stamina of the people that settled this land.

Bought this for my husband on his birthday, he’d been wanting it for a long time. Heard about this author when bear hunting in NM himself. Finished the book in less than a week. He really enjoyed it and said he’d need to read it again soon! Good book.

I was introduced to Mr. Stevens by the writing of Frederic Remington and Agnes Morley. Rancher and hunter in the late 1800's, Stevens first appears as avid bear hunter but soon becomes a refreshing, free thinking man of the southwest. The first part of the book relates his early bear hunting experiences, but the story soon evolves into a remarkable lesson on dogs, horses, and men. One of my favorite books.

Absolutely great book on ranching in NM at the turn of the 20th century. Montague Stevens not only tells of hunting bears but also of interesting individuals and animals he met and trained.If you like authentic, non-varnished, tales of early western US, then buy this book!

A very tough (one armed) man in tough country details training blood hounds to track his bear hounds. Some great hunts depicted you get there with him. Hard to put this book down and you will read it many times

My husband loves this book.It is like campfire chatting, in his words.

A good historical view on hounds and hunting in a prior era. Also food for thought on the use of bloodhounds for man trailing.

Great book, read about it in Fur Fish and Game, am enjoying it.