"Thrilling and always intensely interesting." - Book Buyer, 1912
"Interesting narrative ... of places hitherto entirely unknown and unexplored by hunters ... as thrilling as they are novel." - The Publishers Weekly, 1912
"The sportsman will find thrilling tales, especially of the bear hunts." - Nature Study Review
In Charles Sheldon's 1912 narrative "The Wilderness of the North Pacific Coast Islands" the story of hunting big game on the large coast islands of British Columbia and Alaska is graphically told by the hunter himself, who in rain, snow, hail or wind-through unbroken country, much of which was not only unknown to white men, but to the natives themselves- hunted wapiti, bears and caribou.
It was the first volume to describe at all intimately and adequately the islands of the North Pacific , Vancouver, Montague, Queen Charlotte, and Admiralty islands. It tells about a country much of which had never before been traversed by white men indeed some of it had not even been trodden by the natives.
Mr. Sheldon was a born hunter. Nothing was too much trouble, no difficulties and dangers too great to be overcome or braved in the business before him- that of collecting specimens for the Biological Survey in Washington. The history of his efforts-and they were very great efforts indeed-is told in such a way that it reads like a fascinating story. One is soon so absorbed in the tale that it is hard to find a stopping place. Possibly a part of the charm of the book is the unconsciousness of the author in his story-telling power.
The book is filled with many exciting close calls, as for example his encounter with a bear, which he confessed may tax the credulity of even his friends:
"I had proceeded in this way a few steps when suddenly I saw, about eight feet away, on the curving border of the spruces, running directly at me, what appeared to be a huge bear. I had just time to push forward the butt of my rifle and yell, when the bear collided with me, knocking me down ...."
About the author:
Charles Alexander Sheldon ( 1867 - 1928) was a conservationist and the "Father of Denali National Park". He had a special interest in the bighorn sheep and spent time hunting with the Seri Indians in Sonora, Mexico, who knew him as "Maricaana Caamla" (American hunter). Another favorite haunt was the lakes and rivers which later became Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia where Sheldon built a cabin at Beaverskin Lake.
In December 1905, Sheldon was elected member of the Boone and Crockett Club, a wildlife conservation organization founded by Theodore Roosevelt in 1887. The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Nevada is named in Sheldon's honor.
