Field Guides for the Field (what else would I use them for)

Besides adventure books (see blog post here), I love a good field guide when I’m out and about.

These guides help in identifying what you see and to understand the ecosystems where you are exploring, or want to explore. They are also great to get kids interested in an upcoming vacation (even to a beach, lake or the mountains) and make great gifts.

Different Shapes and Sizes

Field guides come in all different shapes and sizes from pocket sized reference books, to waterproof tri-fold picture guides to books hundreds of pages with tons of pictures. Here’s a partial list of the many field guides I own and use in the field:

North American Birds

Both of these editions are great for birding. the Nat Geo one I leave in my house and the Peterson Guide I take out in the field, as it’s much lighter than the former.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America

North American Fish

My top two fish guides for identification. While both stay home I do reference them a lot before and after trips and take notes.

Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes

Ken Schultz’s Field Guide to Saltwater Fish

Florida Field Guides

My go to field guide in this section is the National Audubon and I take it almost everywhere in Florida when I;m out exploring.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida

Saltwater Fishes of Florida-Southern Gulf of Mexico: A Guide to Inshore & Offshore Species

Freshwater Fishes of Florida: A Guide to Game Fishes 

Alaska

Alaska Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species

Arctic Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals & Plants

A Naturalist’s Guide to the Arctic 

Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountain Nature Set : Field Guides to Wildlife, Birds, Trees & Wildflowers

Brazil and the Amazon

Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas

Brazil Wildlife: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Animals

Brazil Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species 

Fishing Knots

I have multiple copies fo these, for the house and different gear bags. Sometimes you forget a knot or need a refresher, or want to tie a new one!

The Pocket Guide to Fishing Knots 

ReferenceReady Easiest Fishing Knots – Waterproof Guide to 12 Simple Fishing Knots

Survival & First aid

The SAS is a great little book for a bug out bag, EDC bag or a gear bag.

SAS Survival Handbook, The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere

Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival

Stars

The Night Sky: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Moon, Stars, Planets and Celestial Events