Dave Fjelline book and a plug

Andy · 09-01-2026, 08:03 PM

One of the rare benefits of being the Parker Pages advertising dude is I often get solicited, approached, reproached or sometimes even hugged for the work I do (the pay is so good I don't need all of the above

) So with some permission I'm posting this for our members and interested others to see.

In all honesty I got an out of the blue email right before our site went down from a very interesting woman named Sunni Leavell about a book she and Dave Fjelline co-authored titled "The Lion Men: Letters, Hounds and the Legacy of the West." She asked if I might bring this to the members here and when I asked how she heard of us, she said, "David told me to approach you guys, you know who he is." Without a doubt I've only heard of him and all comments I've had on him are kind of like, "Oh, Dave...yeah, he's the dude, the stories he must have," or, "You don't know Dave?????" So at some point I have to meet him and even though I'm plugging this book I don't know much about him or Sunni- but they're two people I'd love to spend time with.

I spoke to Sunni and she's quite an interesting woman and I'd ask anyone interested to check out this very unique book. I am just now digging into it and it is available for purchase on Amazon. From the introduction it says "The Lion Men draws on letters, reports and personal exchanges of the Western States professional lion hunters and houndsmen...These documents provide a rare, unadulterated view of an occupational culture that bridged state wildlife management, rurual livelihoods, and the evolving ethics of predator control." If you're the type who enjoys history, wildlife biology and management and likes perusing letters, photos and documents detailing this topic I'd ask you to check it out. It is about 350 pages. I've just started reading it but I may have to save this for a wintry night and a fine glass of Scotch in front of the fire. It is full of letters, correspondence and photos of cats, hounds, horses and the West, things most of us out East only can imagine. This book is helping me realize a world I didn't know existed.

Sunni also asked us to stay tuned for Dave's biography "The Narrow Trail" due out very soon.

Mike of the Mountain · 09-01-2026, 10:16 PM

My copy should be arriving tomorrow. Looking forward to Dave’s lion stories. He also has a second book which should be available any day on Amazon. Dave is a very interesting guy with plenty of stories to share.

Dean Romig · 09-02-2026, 09:26 AM

I love talking with Dave on the phone but before I call him I pour myself a glass of bourbon on ice because I know from experience it won’t be a short conversation.

I’ll be checking Amazon for his second book for certain but I’ll order the Lion book today.

…I wonder if he writes like he talks?

.

Andy · 09-02-2026, 10:33 AM

Since I'm rather clueless, isn't he also a gunsmith who knows a thing or two about Parkers? The reason I ask is another 'smith we all know had trouble fixing a single trigger issue on my Repro and he said, "The only person I know who can probably sort this out is Dave Fjelline." I sold the gun instead.

edgarspencer · 09-02-2026, 10:40 AM

What 'young' Batchelder failed to fix in two years, Dave fixed in one week, including shipping.

Phil C · 09-02-2026, 09:18 PM

I ordered 2 hardback copies. One for myself and another one for a good friend that took me hunting on his ranch where I shot my last lion. He is having some medical challenges currently and being a Lion hunter for many years I hope this brings him some pleasurable reading.
I am really looking forward to reading this book.
I was fortunate to hunt with some great houndsmen and have took two lions.
I also had the good fortune to hunt with two great lion hunters one full day chasing a lion that gave the dogs the slip when it got into some very rugged cliffs.
These men are no longer with us. Ollie Barney passed after living a full life. Layne Brandt was lost in a tragic plane crash after radioing into his son and informing him he thought he had just spotted what he hoped to be is 100th lion.
If anyone is interested in watching an interview with Ollie I have attached a link.
As a side note my last lion was shot on Ollie Barney’s former ranch which my friend currently owns.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffhdkoCzoko