Hunting usually isn’t top-of-mind conversation in America’s literary circles, but that may be changing as a book published by Boone and Crockett Club continues to garner national honors and awards.

Hunting the American West explores the pursuit of big game for life, profit and sport from 1800 to 1900. The book focuses on hunting in the 19th-century, a period in which hunting evolved from a subsistence activity to a sport of aristocrats to market-driven devastation of wildlife resources. This saga ultimately led to the rise of the hunter-conservationist movement and the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club.

“We’re thrilled with the national attention and accolades this book is receiving because it reflects so favorably on hunters and conservation,” said Julie Houk, director of publications for the Club.

Recent honors for Hunting the American West include:

2009 Spur Award—Best non-fiction historical book, from Western Writers of America.

2009 Outstanding Books of the Year, Gold Award—Best regional non-fiction, from Independent Publisher Book Awards.

2008 Silver Medal, Book of the Year—History, from ForeWord magazine.

2008 Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist—Large format cover design, from Independent Book Publishers.

2008 Oklahoma Book Award Finalist—Oklahoma Center for the Book, Library of Congress.

Authored by Richard C. Rattenbury of Edmond, Okla., Hunting the American West draws extensively on vivid accounts from participants and observers along with abundant historical photos and illustrations. The book affords rare insight to the methods, motives and character of big-game hunters in the Old West.

The book is hardcover, 12 x 8.75 inches with 416 pages and 425 color and B&W photos and illustrations. It is available at retailers nationwide but also can be ordered directly from Boone and Crockett Club. The price is $49.95 (Club members receive a discount.)