Quiz: Classic Hunting Books From The Golden Age Of Outdoor Writing

Take our quiz and find out how much you really know about the golden age of outdoor writing and the authors of timeless hunting books.

by
posted on November 16, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Faulkner Bigwoods 1
Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner recounted his best hunting tales in the book “Big Woods: The Hunting Stories” published in 1955. See the book cover above, along with a 1954 photo of Faulkner by Carl Van Vechten.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Carl Van Vechten Collection, LC-DIG-PPMSCA-10445

The golden age of outdoor writing, especially hunting books, occurred during the 20th century. But how many of those classic books and their authors are you familiar with? Take our 10-question quiz to find out by matching the book titles below with the authors. Place the letter located beside the author’s name in the blank space provided in front of the book title. We guarantee that you’ll get at least one right. The answers are at the end of the quiz, but don’t peek ahead, we’ll know!

BOOK TITLES
  1. _____ “Big Woods” (Hint: this book contains the story titled “The Bear.”)
  2. _____ “The Old Man and the Boy”
  3. _____ “De Shootin’est Gent’man”
  4. _____ “Where the Red Fern Grows”
  5. _____ “Death in the Long Grass”
  6. _____ “Hunting Trips of a Ranchman”
  7. _____ “Hemingway on Hunting”
  8. _____ “The Hunting Rifle”
  9. _____ “My Health is Better in November”
  10. _____ “Tenth Legion”
BOOK AUTHORS
  1. Tom Kelly
  2. Havilah Babcock
  3. Jack O’Connor
  4. Ernest Hemingway
  5. Theodore Roosevelt
  6. Peter Hathaway Capstick
  7. Wilson Rawls
  8. Nash Buckingham
  9. Robert Ruark
  10. William Faulkner
ANSWERS
  1. J. (William Faulkner)
  2. I. (Robert Ruark)
  3. H. (Nash Buckingham)
  4. G. (Wilson Rawls)
  5. F. (Peter Hathaway Capstick)
  6. E. (Theodore Roosevelt)
  7. D. (Ernest Hemingway)
  8. C. (Jack O’Connor)
  9. B. (Havilah Babcock)
  10. A. (Tom Kelly)
SCORECARD

Well, how did you do? Did you notice that the correct answers to the book titles are in reverse order of the authors listed? Sneaky, huh …

0 to 3 answers correct: Put away the comic books.

4 to 6 answers correct: Better get a library card.

7 or 8 answers correct: Well done, but keep reading … and shooting.

9 or 10 answers correct: Excellent! When will you write your own shooting and hunting book?

Latest

Federal Subsonic Target 1
Federal Subsonic Target 1

New: Federal Subsonic Rifle Target Loads

Federal Ammunition’s new Subsonic rifle target loads eliminate the supersonic crack that suppressors cannot silence, shipping now with three cartridges at 1,000 fps from $36.99 to $54.99.

New: Ruger 250th Anniversary Series

Ruger’s 250th Anniversary Series marks the U.S. semiquincentennial with eight limited-production items.

Erich Mietenkorte Sweeps Smallbore, High Power at 2026 Bernd Meier Silhouette Championship

Team Lapua’s Erich Mietenkorte wins both discipline titles at 2026 Bernd Meier Silhouette Invitational Championship in British Columbia in March.

Jessie Harrison’s Dominant Run at the 2026 US Steel Nationals

Taurus Team Captain Jessie Harrison claims Ladies Carry Optics, Ladies Open and Ladies Overall honors at 2026 US Steel Nationals.

Bethel University Clears the Board at SASP College National Championship

Bethel University becomes first team in history to sweep all 11 discipline titles at 2026 SASP College National Championship at Talladega Marksmanship Park.

MAC Athletes Shine at 2026 ASSA Intercollegiate Nationals

Coast Guard Bears earn team bronze in smallbore, aggregate; Rhode Island’s Sophia Wood ranks third at 2026 ASSA Intercollegiate Rifle Club Nationals.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.