Nudged into retirement after 34 years as an outdoor writer, Joe Knight set out to scratch a long-felt itch: Spend all of October hunting woodcock. In this part diary, part memoir, Knight and an eclectic collection of companions (and dogs) both past and present take to field and forest. Knight is a natural storyteller with a conversational tone, deftly blending observation and perspective with a solid dash of humor. Mostly Woodcock is a natural read around the campfire.
~ Dan Lyksett, Award-winning journalist and Pushcart-nominated writer.

Take some off-season time to savor this story of a season of woodcock hunting by a seasoned hunter, appreciating his dogs, the places they tramp through while they hunt, and their quarry. Knight travels with the voices of other hunters – Leopold, Don Johnson, Guy de Valdene- in his head, and they all speak to the reader.  Travel with him. It’ll be a rich journey.
~ John “Duke” Welter, Former newspaper reporter, attorney, member of Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, co-founder and former Outreach Coordinator of Trout Unlimited Driftless Area Restoration Effort  (TU DARE).

There are things in life we can't control. But Joe Knight shows us we have a choice in how we react to the unexpected, even the upsets. Join Knight, his dog Henley, and friends as the award-winning outdoors writer serves up a thoughtful, fun and quick-paced collection of adventures in the wake of a corporate downsizing that ended his 34-year newspaper career. Knight turns loss into opportunity as he reconnects with people and places, especially through woodcock hunting, the bird and activity that for decades helped nurture his relationship with the outdoors. From hot Montana grasslands to alder thickets and icy rivers in Wisconsin, you'll be captivated and uplifted by this sterling example of a man and his dog navigating life's bumpy roads and hunting up the best it has to offer.
~ Paul A. Smith, Outdoors Editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Joe is unique among outdoor writers. He isn't pretentious, he knows that he doesn't know everything, and he asks good questions. Mostly Woodcock is a thoughtful, pleasant read about a very cool bird that flies under the radar, both figuratively and literally."

~ Dan Dessecker, Retired Director of Conservation Policy, Ruffed Grouse Society.

“This is an honest book.”
~ Dave Carlson, Writer, producer, inductee into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame, the Wisconsin Broadcasting Museum Hall of Fame, and the National Fishing Hall of Fame.

Mostly Woodcock is a delightful stroll through the western Wisconsin woods in the first fall of retirement for outdoor writer, Joe Knight. Essentially it is a diary that chronicles old friends, bird dogs, and favorite hunting haunts. For those of us who have spent decades on the conservation issues side of hunting, there were welcome cameo appearances of some old friends, Tom Lawin, Dan Dessecker, and Duke Welter, to mention a few. If you have ever slogged through tag alders after grouse or woodcock, or if your heart has ever swelled to see your much-loved bird dog execute a perfect point, flush or retrieve, or if you have ever enjoyed a post-hunt meal and story time with treasured companions, pull your chair up to the woodstove, pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage, and settle in for a comfortable evening.
~ Christine Thomas, dean emerita College of Natural Resources, UW-Stevens Point, former chair of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, developer of “Becoming an Outdoors Woman.” Inductee Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. 

Have you ever dreamed of following a bird dog through an entire autumn, with a little fishing for trout and panfish thrown in for good measure? Veteran outdoor writer Joe Knight did just that with an English setter named Henley, and his day-by-day account will make you want to grab your shotgun and hit the woods. Mostly the book revolves around the author’s favorite bird, the American woodcock—the hunting, eating, and conservation thereof—but you’ll find plenty about ruffed grouse and even tag along for some sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge hunts on the eastern Montana prairie. Along the way, you’ll meet several of Joe’s memorable friends and their dogs, learn a good deal about grouse and woodcock habitat in central and northern Wisconsin, and get acquainted with the many other wildlife species that call this unique part of the world home.
~ Dave Books, author of Wingbeats and Heartbeats: Essays on Game Birds, Gun Dogs, and Days Afield. Retired editor of Montana Outdoors.

Mostly Woodcock is an enjoyable read. Joe Knight brings the reader along on his woodcock adventures in the woods, experiencing the companionship of his dog, Henley, and those unexpected flushes when birds have a way of putting an “evil” buckthorn between themselves and the hunter. He brings in the thinking of a hunter, and I especially enjoyed his description of the ambivalence that every good hunter should feel when a bird is brought to hand.

 Knight is able to interweave interesting background on species, from sandhill cranes to wolves, and the satisfaction of hunting with special partners even when the birds don’t cooperate. The game bag is empty but the lessons and conversation from the day are full.

 I loved his inner thoughts when his wife thought they were taking a drive in the country, while in reality he was looking for potential hunting cover next season. Can’t all hunters plead guilty to that? This is a fun read by a very good wordsmith.
~ Tim Eisele, Freelance outdoor journalist and photographer, Co-founder of Wisconsin Outdoor Communicator Association.