Meshach Browning spent decades as a professional hunter and trapper of bears, boars and deer in rural Maryland during the early 1800s - this is his story, in his own words.
Born in modest circumstances, Browning grew up at a time when the United States as a nation was in its infancy, with much of the population living in rural areas. From his youth, the author vowed to be self-sufficient, leaving his home and first love to hone his abilities as a hunter. Returning with money gained from selling pelts and meat, it is then that Meshach contemplates hunting as a career.
The equipment used by the author is much inferior to that of the modern day. Meshach's use of a musket - a gun whose reliability is demonstrated as poor in several instances - leads him to rely on his skills in close quarters combat. On multiple hunts, described with stunning vividness in these pages, Browning's ability to battle animals in melee saves his life. The dangers of his trade are balanced by its lucrativeness: bear meat and pelt for instance fetched high prices on the open market.
Though his life's work is the primary subject, Meshach Browning shows a tender side when describing his first marriage; his loving wife Mary bore him several children. In later chapters, he proudly teaches his sons the craft which sustained their family for so many years.
Forty-Four Years or The Life of a Hunter by Meshach Browning is an autobiographical account of the author's adventurous life as a hunter and frontiersman in the early 19th century American wilderness. Set primarily in the rugged landscapes of western Maryland and the surrounding Appalachian region, the book captures Browning's thrilling encounters with bears, deer, and other wildlife, as well as his reflections on survival, community, and the natural world. Through vivid storytelling and detailed descriptions of hunting techniques, Browning offers readers a glimpse into the challenges and rewards of frontier life. Both a historical document and a personal memoir, the book stands as a testament to the grit and resilience of early American pioneers.
Forty-Four Years of The Life of a Hunter by Meshach Browning is an autobiographical account of the author's adventurous life as a hunter and frontiersman in the early 19th century American wilderness. Set primarily in the rugged landscapes of western Maryland and the surrounding Appalachian region, the book captures Browning's thrilling encounters with bears, deer, and other wildlife, as well as his reflections on survival, community, and the natural world. Through vivid storytelling and detailed descriptions of hunting techniques, Browning offers readers a glimpse into the challenges and rewards of frontier life. Both a historical document and a personal memoir, the book stands as a testament to the grit and resilience of early American pioneers.
Meshach Browning spent decades as a professional hunter and trapper of bears, boars and deer in rural Maryland during the early 1800s - this is his story, in his own words.
Born in modest circumstances, Browning grew up at a time when the United States as a nation was in its infancy, with much of the population living in rural areas. From his youth, the author vowed to be self-sufficient, leaving his home and first love to hone his abilities as a hunter. Returning with money gained from selling pelts and meat, it is then that Meshach contemplates hunting as a career.
The equipment used by the author is much inferior to that of the modern day. Meshach's use of a musket - a gun whose reliability is demonstrated as poor in several instances - leads him to rely on his skills in close quarters combat. On multiple hunts, described with stunning vividness in these pages, Browning's ability to battle animals in melee saves his life. The dangers of his trade are balanced by its lucrativeness: bear meat and pelt for instance fetched high prices on the open market.
Though his life's work is the primary subject, Meshach Browning shows a tender side when describing his first marriage; his loving wife Mary bore him several children. In later chapters, he proudly teaches his sons the craft which sustained their family for so many years.