Wild Journey: On the Trail With a Wyoming Game Warden in Yellowstone Country

Rating:
Summary: A book about conflict
Review: You can't lose with a book about Wyoming wildlife written by a man with 35 years experience as a game warden for the state. However, know what you will and will not be getting. This book reads like a series of short stories detailing the author's decades of experience as a game warden in Wyoming. It has a conversational style. When I picked up this book, in my ignorance I thought it might be about his general experiences in the wilds of Wyoming, perhaps covering some of the wildlife management issues of the state, and maybe relating some of the joys of his work.

Rather this book describes a career of seasonal antagonism, story after story of individuals attempting to violate wildlife and exploit the system designed to protect wildlife. In this regard he does describe wildlife issues in the state but with a conflict orientation. Might be expected, that is his job, after all. But this is a discouraging book and a real eye-opener. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I would like to think that the author's jaded tone is a result of year after year of struggle. However, it was not always easy to see things from his point of view when his list of antagonists grows and grows as the pages progress, to include groups such as indians, scientists, welfare recipients, lawyers, ranchers, Texans, and especially unethical hunters ("slobs" and "nimrods"). I admire someone who could struggle for so long in a situation where seemingly everyone is against him and the wildlife he stewards.

I found that the author's perspective has enriched my understanding of the complexity of wildlife conservation issues, and the role played by outdoor sportsman, for good or ill. Outdoor sportsmen, as much or more than urban environmentalists, are in a position to make a greater difference towards conserving what little remains of our country's wild lands and species.

I have to say I was wishing that he would have written about what it was that kept him at it for so many years. I can't imagine that this man didn't have daily joys and amazing experiences related to the Wyoming wilderness that made it worthwhile for him to defend those lands and deal with all the "nimrods" and "slobs" . I got the sense that this is a man with a deep understanding and appreciation for the natural world, and an account of his wisdom in this area would have perfected this book for me. As it stands, however, I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in conservation issues, hunting and outdoor recreation.

Rating:
Summary: A book about conflict
Review: You can't lose with a book about Wyoming wildlife written by a man with 35 years experience as a game warden for the state. However, know what you will and will not be getting. This book reads like a series of short stories detailing the author's decades of experience as a game warden in Wyoming. It has a conversational style. When I picked up this book, in my ignorance I thought it might be about his general experiences in the wilds of Wyoming, perhaps covering some of the wildlife management issues of the state, and maybe relating some of the joys of his work.

Rather this book describes a career of seasonal antagonism, story after story of individuals attempting to violate wildlife and exploit the system designed to protect wildlife. In this regard he does describe wildlife issues in the state but with a conflict orientation. Might be expected, that is his job, after all. But this is a discouraging book and a real eye-opener. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I would like to think that the author's jaded tone is a result of year after year of struggle. However, it was not always easy to see things from his point of view when his list of antagonists grows and grows as the pages progress, to include groups such as indians, scientists, welfare recipients, lawyers, ranchers, Texans, and especially unethical hunters ("slobs" and "nimrods"). I admire someone who could struggle for so long in a situation where seemingly everyone is against him and the wildlife he stewards.

I found that the author's perspective has enriched my understanding of the complexity of wildlife conservation issues, and the role played by outdoor sportsman, for good or ill. Outdoor sportsmen, as much or more than urban environmentalists, are in a position to make a greater difference towards conserving what little remains of our country's wild lands and species.

I have to say I was wishing that he would have written about what it was that kept him at it for so many years. I can't imagine that this man didn't have daily joys and amazing experiences related to the Wyoming wilderness that made it worthwhile for him to defend those lands and deal with all the "nimrods" and "slobs" . I got the sense that this is a man with a deep understanding and appreciation for the natural world, and an account of his wisdom in this area would have perfected this book for me. As it stands, however, I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in conservation issues, hunting and outdoor recreation.