Need a book on steelhead fishing, I’ve got several to choose from

It has become very obvious in the last 25 years that people who fish or hunt often are well-schooled, have graduated from college and are accustomed to learning new things in their leisure time.

Many anglers and hunters strive to stay well informed. They want to read things they can learn from, and over many years, I've worked with many people to help them build an excellent outdoor-related fishing and hunting library.

It's no brag, just fact: I have collected fishing and hunting books for more than 50 years, and am in the midst of compiling a major bibliography of fishing and hunting books published in the English language. This research book is only half finished, and the bibliography features some 1,300 typewritten pages that list between 25,000 and 30,000 titles.

I work on the bibliography as data and information arrive

It covers books on all types of fresh and salt water fishing, muskie fishing, waterfowl hunting, turkey hunting, decoy collecting, Atlantic salmon fishing, trout fishing, fly casting, and much more.

I know what books are out there, I know what is needed for a research library for an angler or hunter, and I'm accustomed to doing research. A teacher friend wanted an obscure book to show to his class, but didn't have the book and couldn't find it. He knew the author's name and book title, and asked for help. I found his book within 15 minutes.

It's not always that easy, but I've spent years searching for some rather obscure book titles, and this is a service some people need. They need help determining which books to buy, learn how much the books will cost, and then hire someone to do the search work.

Others  need to have their present collection checked out, and determine its value for an estate sale, for insurance purposes, or to determine what the value is for a gift donation. I perform such appraisal work on a fee basis determined by what a sporting book collector needs to have done.

And work is the right word for doing appraisals. It is a long and time consuming task.

Of the two, I most enjoy working with people who are just beginning to establish a collection of books on their favorite fishing or hunting topic. I've worked with some to build their collection of muskie fishing titles, and helped others who collect deer hunting or turkey hunting books, and some who specialize in Atlantic salmon, tarpon or trout fishing. One thing I don't do is stray out of my field of fishing and hunting titles.

Finding books for clients can be easy, very difficult, nearly impossible, or a thrilling challenge. The challenge topics are the most fun because it is like hunting for a diamond in a coal pile. It's dirty work but look how much fun it can be when you find one.

Books, like bananas, often come in bunches

I just found 12 muskie books for a client. When we spoke, and I told him of my find, he sounded just like a child at Christmas. He was pumped.

Before we start I try to sit down, or next best, via email or a phone call, and discuss what the client wants to accomplish in a particular genre. I've helped a few collectors locate some very scarce and rare African hunting books, but each collector is different in his or her wants.

I’m big on collecting turkey hunting books. I own most of them but are now looking for some of the really scarce titles for myself and some clients.

But find a key book, and their joy is similar to taking a first-time trout fisherman out and putting him or her into a 10-pound steelhead. It's fun for me and them.

There is, as is true with all types of work, some expenses involved. Doctors and attorneys have been good clients, and their busy fast-paced work life doesn't leave much time for looking for books. They give me a list of titles, or ask me to prepare a list, and I go to work.

I'm helping a muskie-book collector finish up his collection right now. Many of the books are reasonably common; some are hard to find; a few are most difficult to locate, and two or three are nearly impossible to locate.

There is a general theme to my advice for budding book collectors. Try for the hardest books first. They are very difficult to find now so get them while they are still available on occasion, and fill in the collection of lesser valued books as time and money permit.

Collectors or investors require a solid, workable plan

Many people I've dealt with provide me with a value guide that tells me how much they can spend over the period of a year, and I begin looking for key books within that price range. In every genre, there are cornerstone books that are very important acquisitions. I always suggest a new collector decide which books they want first (with some advice from me), and we work toward that goal.

I've learned that although there are many who are interested in deer hunting, there is a plethora of titles to choose from. I determine which authors and titles are most collectible.

Books -- good books -- appreciate at 10-12 percent yearly, and sometimes as much as 15 percent for a few books. I would never suggest collecting fishing or hunting books as a means of making money, but only a fool would ignore the fact that good books increase in value while poor books do not.

My thought is to help a new collector pursue this hobby with an eye toward acquiring very difficult books whenever possible. I urge them to enjoy the books while they are alive, and when they pass on, the books will probably be sold in an estate auction. I can lend assistance in planning ahead for this unfortunate day when the beloved books will eventually pass into someone else's hands for a tidy sum of money.

Planning ahead is what makes precision collecting not only a hobby, and provide good reading while allowing the sportsman to acquire more angling and hunting skills, but in the end, provide loved ones with a significant investment.

I buy fishing and hunting books, sell them, and will help collectors get started or improve their collection.

If you are interested, drop me a note at dave@daverichey.com. I'll be happy to help whenever possible.

MY MYTHICAL ADVENTURES WITH BIRD DOGS, by Bob Jennings.

Bob Jennings has this book available for $30 postpaid. Send payment to: 3302 N 190 W., Switz City, IN 47465. Or call, (812)798-0783.

This book is for any hunter who has owned bird dogs, and learned to love them like the author does.

The Dedication of this book states: This booklet is dedicated to all dogs that have passed on and made their way back into the hearts of their owners. I think this wonderful dedication will pertain to any dog lover.

This book, at 42 pages (twice the length of the first book) shares with readers the thoughs about three of his dogs. Anyone who has owned bird dogs, and raised them from pups to adults, can clearly find something in this book to jog their memory about pets they have owned in the past.

I read the book at one setting, and couldn't put it down. The first of the three stories I read was one of the finest dog pieces I've ever read, and the entire book was a great read except for a few misspelled words.

I'm not going to go into great detail, but will keep this short. If you've got a good imagination, I strongly suggest you take my word for it, and buy this book. You'll be reading some of the finest dog stories I've read in a very long time. This book is a spiral bound paperback with many drawings and photos.

Praise doesn't come any higher than that. Happy reading.

Anyone who has read my daily weblog over the past eight years knows that I write about fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. I cover some of the Department of Natural Resources' issue, and have some 500 fishing and hunting books for sale.

A few examples of some of my outdoor books for sale.

Well, at least as of last weekend. Putting up that many books doesn't happen overnight. It doesn't happen over the period of a week or two. It takes time, lots of time, to post a write-up of each individual book and post a photo of the book to the description of each book sale.

Who knows what happened last weekend. The most common accident of all is one known as operator error. That doesn't apply in this case because I wasn't on-line nor was I working in the Scoop's Books portion of my website.

Listings for more than 500 fishing-hunting books and magazines were lost.

I opened up the machine, and went to check on the availability of a particular book on Scoop's Books, and was notified that there had been a fatal error. Everything was gone, and couldn't be found, My webmaster is a great friend, and knows how much Scoop's Books means to me, but when he tried to get in, there was that 'fatal error' message staring him in the face.

He tried to work his customary magic, but could not pull this white rabbit out of the hat. It was gone to that great never-never land in the sky … or wherever.

Anyone who wants to buy a book, I will work with you on it. I have a personal copy of the entire text of Scoop's book, but it is a voluminous documents. If you know the author and title, email the information and your message. I will comb through the files, examine the book and try to match things up with clients. I was offering a 10 percent off discount off all books, and will honor that discount until I can get my book list up and rolling again.

One of the hottest book topics right now are turkey hunting titles. I have a large number of common and very scarce books on various topics besides just common turkey books. Turkey books are increasing in value, and in many cases, I can't keep certain books in stock.

I stock many muskie fishing and turkey hunting books.

I also offer my clients counseling on trying to acquire a complete turkey library, Frankly, it is very difficult to do these days and some books are almost prohibitively expense to all but some of the wealthiest people.

I specialize in fly fishing books, muskie fishing books, duck hunting titles, decoy books, and a generous mix of other fishing and hunting titles. I also have a large number of bibliographies (books about books) on fishing and hunting related topics.These books often are used by sporting and fishing booksellers, and it allows people to study our sports from an earlier era.

I'm easy to find. Email me and put books in subject line

Do touch base with me with any questions about certain books. I've worked on and off for more than 40 years. Feel free to quote any books with author and title name, and for me to sell books I have to buy them. I've been a full-time outdoor writer for all these years, and although my book supply peaks and ebbs, there are always some excellent titles in stock.

In the meantime, I'll try to get my Scoop's Books listing back up on the Internet so you can see what else we offer. I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for your patience during this difficult period.

Dave Richey looks for a specific book in his books for sale.

The late Clyde Harbin, unless you happened to be a lure collector 20 years ago, was hardly a household name. Clyde, over many years, amassed a huge collection of fishing lures and wrote several notable books about Heddon lures.

He was called "The Bassman" by all who knew him, and he was a wise investor in fishing lures. He and I knew each other fairly well, and he had a profound saying that he applied to buying and selling lures, and it's one I've never forgotten: his classic phrase was "Ain't nothin' worth nothin' 'less somebody wants it."

It also applies to the buying and selling of fishing and hunting books, which I do a good bit of, and almost anything else of value. You can't sell me your books unless you have something I want, and I can't sell my books if no one wants to buy them. Somewhere during the buying and selling process, Clyde Harbin's southern drawl and his comment always comes home to roost and it was never far from my mind.

Harbin's saying makes as much sense to a buyer as to a seller.

I have bought and sold books for over 40 years. I've missed some sales because people dislike selling books to a person they don't know, but people like me cannot buy books sight unseen. I try to tell potential sellers that I am honest, but need to see what is for sale before I spend money on it. Verbal descriptions, unless the other person is in the book business, often are not very accurate or reliable. The reason; they don't know the terminology and they don't know how to grade books.

I've had two major sales this week. The money made is hardly enough to send me joyfully on an Alaskan hunting trip. But those two people trusted my name and reputation, sent me their hard-earned money, and I sent them good books. The reverse is true: someone sends me fishing or hunting books, I look them over, determine their value, and if my offer seems fair to them, I buy them.

This should be a very simple and easy plan. Somewhere between beginning and end, the wheels occasionally fall off.

All of this began many years ago because I love to read. Reading is something that comes naturally to me. You see, I grew up reading.

Many readers know I collect books on fishing and hunting. How many of you know that I buy fishing and hunting books, and sell such books as well in my Scoop's Books portion of this website?

The days of getting ready for spring are here, and probably sooner than later, our spouses will suggest cleaning the attic, basement, barn, garage or spare room. Often, in one of these spots, will be some books. There invariably will be some Reader's Digest books, which are very common and virtually worthless, and there may be some children's books from an earlier era. In some cases there may be books on fishing and hunting, and it is those I am most interested in.

Spring cleaning is when many people run across old fishing or hunting books.

They may be common, fairly common or scarce. There are literally thousands of common fishing or hunting titles out there, which may sell for $5 or less. Some are worth more money, and a very select few are worth a hundred dollars or more.

How do you know which ones are worth good money and which are not? You ask Dave Richey.

I've bought and sold outdoor (fishing and hunting) books for more than 40 years, and also do book appraisals, especially in this genre. I've spent 20 years compiling a bibliography of fishing, hunting and natural history titles written in the English language. This book will be published when completed, but it lists values (where known) of over 30,000 different fishing or hunting titles so far, and I'm only halfway through collecting information.

Modesty aside, I am an expert on fishing and hunting book values. I know what they are worth, and pay fair prices when I buy them.

What am I looking for? I'm looking for a list of books you have that contain the:

• authors name
• book title
• publisher
• date of publication
• and whether it is a hardcover
• (with or without dust jacket)
• or paperback

I am not looking for books that have childish crayon scribbling, whiskey glass sweat rings and I do not want ex-library books with card pockets, ink stampings of a library, and I don't buy musty and mildewed books or those with covers ripped off or missing.

Buying books is much like buying a car. Neither you nor I would buy a car that won't start, is missing two tires, the windshield wiper is broken and the door handle is missing on one side. But, people with books for sale often think a book with a missing page, photo plate or cover is worth money. A first printing of the Gutenberg Bible with the front cover detached but present would be worth thousands, but such is not the case for the books I collect, buy, sell and read.

I want to buy books in good to fine or better condition. I ask you to spend 15 minutes and print out the authors name, book title, year published, and if it is hardcover or paperback. Send the list to me via email, and I will respond within two days. I am not in the market to spend time haggling (although I gladly will if someone wants to sell me a book that really turns my crank) over price. Set a price for each book, and if you are too low, I will make a higher counter-offer. If the book(s) are not what I can use, I will let you know immediately.

Some books are very common, and I am not in the market for Byron Dalrymple or Vlad Evanoff titles at any price. There are many others I don't want, but bear one thing in mind: good books have a look about them. They are well done, printed on good paper, the bindings are tight, and the book has all its pages. A book missing just one page is next door to worthless. A book with an inked owners signature is worth less than one without it unless the book was signed by the author.

A good book is worth more with a dust jacket or with a leather cover and slipcase. Paperbacks are generally worth less than a hardcover book, although there are a very few exceptions to that rule.

What am I looking for? Many things. You may not know unless you ask me.

What do I want to buy? I'm looking for:

• books about ruffed grouse or wild turkey hunting
• I need good trout fishing titles
• Some deer hunting books published before 1980 are desirable
• Some muskie fishing titles are ones that can find a home with me
• As is true with books by Robert Traver
• Books published by Amwell Press
• Safari Press
• Derrydale Press
• Premier Press
• Trophy Room Books

These are some publishers I look for, and I'm not interested in most anthologies, bass books, titles about raccoon hunting, and books that cover many different outdoor topics.

I also have books I will trade for your desirable titles. Remember one thing: outdoor books, by and large, sell for $5-10 on the used-book market. Some sell for hundreds of dollars. Not all outdoor books are scarce and worth big money; in fact, very few are. However, that doesn't mean you can't have several books that may make you a few hundred dollars, but remember that such books are scarce. Scarce means they were printed in very low numbers, and time has seen many lost to fires or landfills. A scarce book is one that may be found perhaps once or twice over several years by a busy bookseller.

Know too that booksellers (and buyers like me) must make a profit if we are to stay in business. Show me a $100 book, and depending on author and title and my needs at the time, I will offer $50-60 for it. If it is a $10 book, and I want it for a customer, I may spend $3-5 for it. Some may think this unfair, but doing business means making some money and books may not sell for one or two years. That means I have money tied up for up to two years on a hunch it will sell. This requires me to buy books at a fair but discounted price. Any honest bookseller will tell potential sellers the same thing.

If you have a $100 book, and try to sell it yourself for that price, it's very likely you'll have the book for two or more years. It's entirely possible you'll never sell it.

Books also go up and down in price according to the never-ending law of supply and demand. If the demand is high, and the book is difficult to find, people (including honest booksellers) will pay more money for it. If the book is common, and there is no demand, no one will buy it. That is why they call it doing business.

So, with these thoughts in mind, if you find some fishing and hunting books this spring while cleaning out the attic, barn, basement or garage, or if you inherit some books from a deceased relative, 15 minutes of your time may provide some extra money. If the book is scarce, and I ask to examine it, I will pay your postage for mailing it to me for a seven-day examination period plus an offer of whatever I feel the book is worth to me. When books are mailed, they should be:

• Sent by Express Mail
• Insured
• Provide delivery confirmation that the book has been delivered and received by me
• This guards you and/or me from someone saying they didn't get the book(s)

I'm running out of space. In the coming weeks, please look over your spare fishing and hunting books, and let me know what is available. I will make a fair offer for any book I decide I may buy, and will pay your shipping fee. One doesn't stay in this business long without being fair and honest, and I'd like to prove it to you. In the event you are looking for a specific book, check out Scoop's Books. If you seek a specific title, and it's not listed here, let me know what book you want and I will do a no-charge search.

I have conducted no-charge searches for many people. It's one of my services, and although there are many books that are very difficult to find, if a copy exists and it is for sale, I can often track it down.

Hope to hear from you soon, and let's share this love of books. If you are done with a fishing or hunting title, and I take an interest in it, why not sell? Bad economic times often are when books do get sold, and you owe it to yourself to deal with an honest and reputable person. E-mail me with your information and please, put books for sale in the subject line.

I will get back to you as quickly as possible, usually within one or two days.

Books like the ones shown here are just an example of some titles available.

Shop early for great fishing-hunting books for Christmas gifts.

Get a 10 percent discount by ordering before Dec. 15. Mention code.

Query with me at <dave@daverichey.com> before ordering.

The first installment of an expanded version of Scoop’s Books e-catalog, a collection of fishing, hunting and natural history books, is done. Oh, there will be some other stuff added to tempt an angler of hunter’s reading pleasure, and there is much more to come.

In upcoming weeks, I will be offering a wide assortment of old outdoor magazines, which people enjoy for the sheer pleasure of reading about fishing and hunting from the 1920s through the 1950s, which was the heyday of original color outdoor art on the covers of old magazines.

Once completed, there could be as many as 500 old magazines for sale, and another 500 fishing and hunting books. If I’m nothing other than a writer on fishing and hunting, I also am an historian with interests that run deep into the world of outdoor literature.

Richey shows off but one book that he has for sale.

Some people would have us believe that reading has become a lost art. For those with that incorrect belief, just jump on an airplane for a 100- or 1,000-mile flight. Walk up and down the aisles, and check out how many people are reading a book, magazine or newspaper.

The historian part of me encourages reading about our fishing and hunting heritage and pastimes. I want to know why things outdoors occur. For instance, I know why ducks take off and land into the wind; how many different riseforms a stream trout could make as it takes a mayfly off the surface; why rabbits run in a circle and why hares run an egg-shaped route. and much more. But at age 71 (on July 22) there still remains much I want to learn.

Not only have I spent a lifetime outdoors, fishing and hunting, but during that same period I’ve collected fishing and hunting books for more than 50 years. I’ve bought and sold outdoor books for more than 40 years, and it’s a never-ending adventure for me.

I don’t stock all outdoor books but do stock and sell books on topics of interest to me and other sportsmen. Many books are relatively inexpensive, some are expensive, and a few would make any sane person wonder what would make that book worth so much money.

Good books in fine or better condition are the best buys.

Two things determine book prices. Supply and demand, and scarcity. A book can be scarce, but if there is no demand for it, the book is virtually worthless.

An interesting fact about selling fishing and hunting books is that I also must buy books to stay in business. A bookseller without inventory has little to sell. I want to buy books from you.

I have more than 7,500 different books on fishing and hunting in in my inventory. If, by chance, I don’t have what you need, it’s quite likely I can find it for you. I don’t list all of my books at once because it can be such a time-consuming and tedious project to put everything up at once, and that would mean no fishing or hunting for me. That is something that won’t happen.

All I ask is to have my readers take a look at what I have and what I do. Don’t be nervous about telling your buddies, friends, neighbors and relatives about my booksite that sells used fishing and hunting books. Books always make a wonderful gift for the sportsman in your life at any time of the year, and everything can be easily handled on the internet.

I take PayPal, personal checks, business checks, bank money orders but I do not take credit cards although PayPal does. There is a short wait for business or personal check while they clear my bank but bank money orders of PayPal provides instant shipment.

One caution, and this is vitally important to both you and me: E-mail me at <dave@daverichey.com> before ordering a book. Check with me by email to determine book availability, and I will inform you if the book is still in stock. Many books are one-of-a-kind, and I may have just sold the desired book. It’s a possible waste of your time and mine to order a book that has just been sold. This problem happens more often than I’d like.

Great books appreciate in value, especially in today’s confusing market.

If you love to fish and hunt, then we share a bond. If you love to read, that makes our budding relationship even more  special. I’m honest, helpful and want to be of service to you. If you wish to contact me by snail mail, write to: David Richey, PO Box 192, Grawn, MI 49637.

Thank you and kindly think of me when you need a fishing or hunting book. Tight lines. -- Dave

There is a new change coming on my Scoop's Books, and we'll be finished with it by this July 4 weekend. It's pretty exciting stuff for me

It's bigger, and better, and there will be another 200 or so new and used (mostly used) books listed. That means roughly 600 fishing and hunting books will be available on line. Just go to www.daverichey.com or  www.davericheyoutdoors.com/books/.

Most books will feature a color photo of the cover, and it often shows any flaws, such as a chipped dust jacket (DJ) or something else. Most of my books for sale are in Fine or better condition, and most have a DJ if it was issued.

This fly fishing book is scarce & hard to find.

There are some books in the $5-10 ramge, quite a few costing more than $20, and some that are priced from $100 up to $200 or more. All are accurately graded. and described well. There is a full seven-day return privilege  providing the book is not as described, and is returned in the same condition as when mailed.

There are some paperback books but many are hardcover with dust jackets. A handful of books come in a slipcase or are leather bound. Some are limited editions, and one book is Extremely Rare and is limited to 26 signed copies and lettered from A-Z. This particular book is a special limited edition by Claude Pollington, and the going price is $175 plus postage. It is probably deer hunting's rarest book.

What else? There are several books by me, one by my wife and two by my late twin brother, George Richey. He was as passionate about Michigan-made fishing lures as I am about buying fishing and hunting books. My Great Lakes Steelhead Flies is mint, and limited to 900 signed copies. It has been out of print for many years.

Want more? There are several books by Robert Ruark, including Horn Of The Hunter, The Old Man & The Boy, a wonderful copy of The Old Man's Boy Grows Older and a great copy of Use Enough Gun.

The above Robert Ruark books are in stock.

There's a hard-to-find copy of Bob Swinehart's In Africa book. Another scarce deer book is Gene Wensel's One Man's Whitetails.

Looking for a copy of one of the scarcest of all original  Derrydate Press books. There is a reprint copy of the first Derrydale Press book, and it's by Eugene V. Connett 3rd called Magic Hours. I've only seen two copies of the reprint edition, and I own them both. Only one is for sale.

A reprint of the Magic Hours reprint is here.

There are some nice trout fishing books by the late Ernie Schwiebert. Interested in target archery, check out two books about the National Archery Association by Robert Rhode. Another very scarce deer book called Trailing Tips, and it was written by Art LaHa of northern Wisconsin.

There are books to suit almost any fishing or hunting interest who enjoy reading. It's what I do, what millions of other sportsmen do, and because you are reading this blog, it's what you do.

It's been mentioned before in my ads but I will mention it again here. Email me first to determine the availability of any book on my list. Most of my books for sale are one of a kind, and if I sell a certain book early today and you order the same book this afternoon, it may not be available. I try to remove sold books from the list immediately, but a quick email will help and you. Don't forget to tell me the author and book title when you offer.

A guy bought a book from me last week. He sent his name and address and a note staying "Send it" to me. Send what. I had to try calling but no listed number. I emailed him and got no reply. I sat on his check for three days before I heard from him. Too much wasted time and headache. An email is fast and efficient. Just ask me if such and such a booi is still available, and I'll answer you as quickly as possible and will hold the book for seven days pending payment.

My mailing address is David Richey, PO Box 192, Grawn, MI 49637. Email me at <dave@daverichey.com> . If you have questions, ask before you order. My goal is to sell you a great book at a fair price, and hopefully that will make both of us happy.

The late Clyde Harbin, unless you happened to be a lure collector 20 years ago, was hardly a household name. Clyde, over many years, amassed a huge collection of fishing lures and wrote several notable books on Heddon lures.

He was called "The Bassman" by all who knew him, and he was a wise investor in fishing lures. He and I knew each other fairly well, and he had a profound saying that he applied to buying and selling lures, and it's one I've never forgotten: his classic phrase was "Ain't nothin' worth nothin' 'less somebody wants it."

It also applies to the buying and selling of fishing and hunting books, which I do a good bit of, and almost anything else of value. You can't sell me your books unless you have something I want, and I can't sell my books if no one wants to buy them. Somewhere during the buying and selling process, Clyde Harbin's southern drawl and his comment always comes home to roost.

I have bought and sold books for over 40 years. I've missed some sales because people dislike selling books to a person they don't know, but people like me cannot buy books sight unseen.

I try to tell potential sellers that I am honest, but need to see what is for sale before I spend my money on it. Verbal descriptions, unless the other person is in the book business, often are not very accurate or reliable. The reason; they don't know the terminology and they don’t know how to grade books.

I've had two major sales last week. The money made is hardly enough to send me joyfully on a hunting trip. But those two people trusted my name and reputation, sent me their hard-earned money, and I sent them good books. The reverse is true: someone sends me fishing or hunting books, I look them over, determine their value, and if my offer seems fair to them, I buy them.

This should be a very simple and easy plan. Somewhere between beginning and end, the wheels occasionally fall off.

All of this began many years ago because I love to read. Reading is something that comes naturally to me. You see, I grew up reading.Many readers know I collect books on fishing and hunting. How many of you know that I buy fishing and hunting books, and sell such books as well in my Scoop’s Books portion of this website?

Cleaning attics, barn, basement or garages can yield treasures.

The days of getting ready for summer are here, and probably sooner rather than later, our spouses will suggest cleaning the attic, basement, barn, garage or spare room. Often, in one or more of these spots at home or work, will be some books. Invariably, there will be some Reader's Digest books, which are very common and virtually worthless, and there may be some children's books from an earlier era. In some cases there may be books on fishing and hunting, and it is those I am most interested in.

They may be common, fairly common or scarce. There are literally thousands of common fishing or hunting titles out there, which may sell for $5 or less. Some are worth more money, and a very select few are worth a hundred dollars or more. How do you know which ones are worth good money and which are not?

You ask Dave Richey. I've bought and sold outdoor (fishing and hunting) books for about 40 years, and also do book appraisals, especially in this genre. I've spent 18 years compiling a bibliography of fishing, hunting and natural history titles written in the English language. This book will be published when comwpleted, but it lists values (where known) of over 30,000 different fishing or hunting titles.

One Man's Whitetail sells for $250. I've got one for sale!

Modesty aside, I am an expert on fishing and hunting book values. I know what they are worth, and pay fair prices when I buy them.

What am I looking for? I'm looking for a list of books you have that contain the authors name, book title, publisher, date of publication, and whether it is a hardcover (with or without dust jacket) or paperback. I am not looking for books that have childish crayon scribbling, whiskey glass sweat rings and I do not want ex-library books with card pockets, ink stampings of a library, and I don't buy musty and mildewed books or those with covers ripped off or missing.

Buying books is much like buying a car. Neither you nor I would buy a car that won't start, is missing two tires, the windshield is broken and the door handle is missing on one side. But, people with books for sale often think a book with a missing page, photo plate or cover is worth money. A first printing of the Gutenberg Bible with the front cover detached but present would be worth thousands, but such is not the case for the books I collect, buy, sell and read.

I want to buy books in good to fine condition. I ask you to spend 15 minutes and print out the authors name, book title, year published, and if it is hardcover or paperback. Send the list to me via email, and I will respond within two days. I am not in the market to spend time haggling (although I gladly will if someone wants to sell me a book that really turns my crank) over price. Set a price for each book, and if you are too low, I will make a higher counter-offer. If the book(s) are not what I can use, I will let you know immediately.

Some books are very common, and I am not in the market for Byron Dalrymple or Vlad Evanoff titles at any price. There are many others I don't want, but bear one thing in mind: good books have a look about them. They are well done, printed on good paper, the bindings are tight, and the book has all its pages. A book missing just one page is next door to worthless. A book with an inked owners signature is worth less than one without it unless the book was signed by the author.

A good book is worth more with a dust jacket or with a leather cover and slipcase. Paperbacks are generally worth less than a hardcover book, although there are a very few exceptions to that rule.

What do I want to buy? I'm looking for books about ruffed grouse or wild turkey hunting. I need good trout fishing titles. Some deer hunting books published before 1980 are desirable. Some muskie fishing titles are books that can find a home with me, as is true with books by Robert Traver. Books published by Amwell Press, Safari Press, Derrydale Press, Premier Press or Trophy Room Books are some publishers I look for, and I'm not interested in most anthologies, bass books, titles about raccoon hunting, and books that cover many different outdoor topics.

I also have books I will trade for your desirable titles. Remember one thing: outdoor books, by and large, sell for $5-10 on the used-book market. Some sell for hundreds of dollars. Not all outdoor books are scarce and worth big money; in fact, very few are. However, that doesn't mean you can't have several books that may make you a few hundred dollars, but remember that such books are scarce. Scarce means they were printed in very low numbers, and time has seen many lost to fires or landfills. A scarce book is one that may be found perhaps once or twice over several years by a busy bookseller.

Know too that booksellers (and buyers like me) must make a profit if we are to stay in business. Show me a $100 book, and depending on author and title and my needs at the time, I will offer $50-60 for it. If it is a $10 book, and I want it for a customer, I may spend $3-5 for it. Some may think this unfair, but doing business means making some money and books may not sell for one or two years. That means I have money tied up for up to two years on a hunch it will sell. This requires me to buy books at a fair but discounted price. Any honest bookseller will tell potential sellers the same thing

If you have a $100 book, and try to sell it yourself for that price, it's very likely you'll have the book for two or more years. It’s entirely possible you’ll never sell it.

I want to buy your fishing and hunting books.

Books also go up and down in price according to the never-ending law of supply and demand. If the demand is high, and the book is difficult to find, people (including honest booksellers) will pay more money for it. If the book is common, and there is no demand, no one will buy it. That is why they call it doing business.

So, with these thoughts in mind, if you find some fishing and hunting books this year while cleaning out the attic, barn, basement or garage, or if you inherit some books from a deceased relative, 15 minutes of your time may provide some extra money. If the book is scarce, and I ask to examine it, I will pay your postage for mailing it to me for a seven-day examination period plus an offer of whatever I feel the book is worth to me. When books are mailed, they should be sent by Express Mail, insured and with delivery confirmation that the book has been delivered and received by me. This guards you and/or me from someone saying they didn't get the book(s).

I'm running  out of space. In the coming weeks, please look over your spare fishing and hunting books, and let me know what is available. I will make a fair offer for any book I decide I may buy, and will pay your shipping fee. One doesn't stay in this business long without being fair and honest, and I'd like to prove it to you. In the event you are looking for a specific book, check out Scoop's Books on this website. If you seek a specific title, and it's not listed here, let me know what book you want and I will do a no-charge search.

I have conducted no-charge searches for many people. It's one of my services, and although there are many books that are difficult to find, if a copy exists and it is for sale, I can often track it down.

Hope to hear from you soon, and let’s share this love of books. If you are done with a fishing or hunting title, and I take an interest in it, why not sell? Bad economic times often are when books do get sold, and you owe it to yourself to deal with an honest and reputable person. E-mail me at <davericheyoutdoors.com> and put “books for sale” in the subject line.

I will get back to you as quickly as possible.