Reviews From the Burlington Free Press Lawrence Pyne Outdoors: Christmas picks for hunting, fishing books By Lawrence Pyne •
The next best thing to time spent outdoors is reading about hunting and fishing, especially during the long, dark winter months. Books about the outdoors take us places and introduce us to people and adventures we might otherwise never experience. They also make great gifts for the sportsmen and sportswomen on your Christmas list.
Here are three new titles about the outdoors, all by Vermont authors.
Vermont Wild
If you think a game warden’s work is always deadly serious, then “Vermont Wild: Adventures of Vermont Fish & Game Wardens” will set you straight. It can sometimes be downright funny.
Written by former Rutland Herald reporter Megan Price, “Vermont Wild” is a collection of 13 short stories as told by Eric Nuse of Johnson. Nuse spent 32 years working as a state game warden and somehow, he says, “never lost his sense of humor.” Instead, he would regale his young daughter with bedtime stories about his often amusing experiences on the job, which years later provided the genesis for “Vermont Wild.”
Responses to Reviews
The next best thing to time spent outdoors is reading about hunting and fishing, especially during the long, dark winter months. Books about the outdoors take us places and introduce us to people and adventures we might otherwise never experience. They also make great gifts for the sportsmen and sportswomen on your Christmas list.
Here are three new titles about the outdoors, all by Vermont authors.
Vermont Wild
If you think a game warden’s work is always deadly serious, then “Vermont Wild: Adventures of Vermont Fish & Game Wardens” will set you straight. It can sometimes be downright funny.
Written by former Rutland Herald reporter Megan Price, “Vermont Wild” is a collection of 13 short stories as told by Eric Nuse of Johnson. Nuse spent 32 years working as a state game warden and somehow, he says, “never lost his sense of humor.” Instead, he would regale his young daughter with bedtime stories about his often amusing experiences on the job, which years later provided the genesis for “Vermont Wild.”
Responses to Reviews
- Al Cambronne says: Vermont Wild: Adventures of Vermont Fish & Game Wardens is a fun read. It’s a collaborative effort from former warden Eric Nuse, illustrator Bob Lutz, and writer Megan Price. This is Volume 1; apparently they’re already working on Volume 2.
Now, I’m not sure I’d want to be a game warden. At first it seems like the dream job, until you remember that you’ll be working alone and confronting lawbreakers way out in the woods, with no backup in sight. During hunting season—well, and also outside of hunting season, whenever you’re enforcing game laws—you’ll be confronting poachers who are at least as well armed as you are. This does not seem like a fun time.
In one story, “Cover Me,” Eric comes up with a good solution to this dilemma when arresting two well-armed poachers. Lucky for him, it worked. Next time, who knows?
Fortunately, of course, most warden misadventures are more humorous than harrowing. I found myself really chuckling at some of the stories in this book. But I do kind of wish that I hadn’t read the chapter “Moose Vesuvius” right after dinner—especially since my wife and I had just finished a delicious venison roast with plenty of nice, thick gravy. At least it wasn’t moose.
And speaking of wives and venison… The chapter “Squish in the Night” might be another one to not read over dinner. This chapter also helps explain why Eric is no longer married to his first wife. By now, over 30 years later, she’s probably forgiven him for the entire incident. As far as forgiving Bob Lutz for the illustration on page 134, well, that’s another story.
Vermont Wild is a fun read, and would make a great gift for the hunters and anglers on your list—especially if they live in or anywhere near Vermont. Plus, ten percent of all profits will be used for wildlife protection and outdoor education. The book is available for $19.95 at local retailers. Or, you can order a copy at http://www.pinemartenpress.com.
–Al Cambronne, co-author of Gut It. Cut It. Cook It.: The Deer Hunter’s Guide to Processing and Preparing Venison.
- vermontwild says: Thanks for the review Al and glad you liked it. Amazingly, my long suffering first wife really liked the “Things That Go Squish in the Night” story and illustration. She said it really caught the way she felt that night. Thank goodness for me that they were her cats!
By the way, my current long suffering wife, just broke out your Gut it… book, because she is on her own for the last half of our deer season this year and she wants to be ready.
- vermontwild says: Thanks for the review Al and glad you liked it. Amazingly, my long suffering first wife really liked the “Things That Go Squish in the Night” story and illustration. She said it really caught the way she felt that night. Thank goodness for me that they were her cats!
- Robert J. Rooks (Col., Director of VT Fish and Wildlife Law Enforcement- Retired) says: Hi Eric,
Hope all is well, I just purchased a copy of your book at Parro’s yesterday. I have read just about all of the various books written about and by wardens and found that most are poorly written. I can sympathize with them having made an attempt myself years ago and found everything I wrote read like an affidavit !
However, you did a great job and I really enjoyed reading your book , I hope your sales are successful.
Nice work,
Bob
- vermontwild says: Thanks Bob. I have to give a lot of credit to Megan Price. She turned my voice into the written word way better than I could have. it would be great to get one of your stories into Vol II.
- vermontwild says: Thanks Bob. I have to give a lot of credit to Megan Price. She turned my voice into the written word way better than I could have. it would be great to get one of your stories into Vol II.
- vermontwild says:From my email:
Eric (and, Hi, Ingrid),
What a great book!! In case anyone ever asks, it only takes an evening and a breakfast for two old folks to read Vermont Wild out loud to each other. Of course, it’s so darned funny that reading can be a challenge. It is especially fun to read tales we first heard at the camp table in the Hurricane. Of course it also takes us back to the long nights at camp howling at Scott Rowden’s stories of a warden’s life…..30+ years ago!
We need more of these! Four more books, to be exact.
Thanks for taking the time to get this book done.
Lu and Ross
- Liliana says: My hubnasd grew up in North Hyde Park, we now live in Massachusetts but have a vacation home in Johnson. I bought him the book for Christmas but gave it to him early as we go to Boston for medical testing in early December each year. While waiting for one of his tests, one that he dreads having, I pulled out the book and he started reading the raccoon babies story. Within just a few minutes he was sitting there chuckling away. The half hour wait for his test was actually very enjoyable for him, and he walked into the doctor’s office with a smile on his face. He loves reading the stories especially because he knows the areas that are described throughout the book. I am going to buy another copy for my brother-in-law who also grew up in Vermont but is now living in Florida. I know they both will be waiting for the next version to come out ! Thank you!
- Liliana says: My hubnasd grew up in North Hyde Park, we now live in Massachusetts but have a vacation home in Johnson. I bought him the book for Christmas but gave it to him early as we go to Boston for medical testing in early December each year. While waiting for one of his tests, one that he dreads having, I pulled out the book and he started reading the raccoon babies story. Within just a few minutes he was sitting there chuckling away. The half hour wait for his test was actually very enjoyable for him, and he walked into the doctor’s office with a smile on his face. He loves reading the stories especially because he knows the areas that are described throughout the book. I am going to buy another copy for my brother-in-law who also grew up in Vermont but is now living in Florida. I know they both will be waiting for the next version to come out ! Thank you!
- jim williams sr says: having just read Vol 2, I find the stories great reading. Having been a game warden back in the mid 60s, I really connected to the story 4wd. I was the youngest warden at that time, and I too
had to report to Roy Hood, my supervisor on several occasions for things i did during my time on duty. keep up the stories.