author
Saxton T. (Saxton Temple) Pope
1875–1926
Remembered as a pioneering American bowhunter, he also had a remarkable career as a physician, teacher, and writer. His friendship with Ishi shaped some of his best-known work and helped bring traditional archery to a wide audience.
1 Audiobook
Hunting with the Bow & Arrow
by Saxton T. (Saxton Temple) Pope
About the author
Born in Fort Stockton, Texas, in 1875, Saxton Temple Pope became an American doctor, teacher, author, and outdoorsman. He earned his medical degree at the University of California in 1899 and later taught surgery in San Francisco.
He is best known for his connection with Ishi, the Yahi man often described as the last known member of his people to have grown up largely outside Western society. Through that friendship, Pope learned deeply about archery and hunting traditions, and those experiences became central to his writing.
Pope went on to become a major early influence on modern bowhunting in the United States, earning a lasting reputation as the “father of modern bow hunting.” His books and articles helped preserve traditional bow-and-arrow knowledge while sharing his enthusiasm for wilderness life with later generations.