I just finished reading this eminently entertaining book by Pete Bodo of Tennis writing fame. Pete is a larger than life New York City sports writer who thinks nothing of walking the upper West Side dressed in full hunting regalia. You would have a better chance of spotting an Ivory Billed Woodpecker, than to find a true hunting camo clad person on the sidewalks of posh, wealthy, & liberal upper Manhattan. I don’t know Pete personally, but my good friend is his neighbor with children in the same school. My friend, Andrew, while a non-hunter, is continually fascinated by my stories of bow hunting in suburbia New York. He also tells me he often gets Pete to sit with known “Vegans” at school functions to enjoy the banter. So when Andrew handed me Pete’s book, and explained their relationship, I dug right in.

It is the story of a typical East coast deer hunter that has shot numerous deer, but never a GIANT buck. In the year 2008, he decides to change all that and dedicate his season to that goal. His stories of the ensuing 2 ½ months are at times hysterical, maniacal, and deeply insightful. The book seems to me to be written for the non-hunter, to try and help them “get It” about our passion. It also touched on so many aspects of hunting here in the East and especially how it has changed over the past 10 years.

During the course of the season he hunts in New York, Montana, Texas, and Pennsylvania. His thoughts and observations are unique, deep and downright funny. He especially gives great thoughts on high fence hunting in Texas. The book opens years earlier, in Saskatchewan, where he has his first encounter with a buck of B&C caliber, the “Picket Fence”. As he points out, any deer that gets a name is truly special.

I hope every deer hunter reads this book, and pass it to a non-hunter. Not an anti-hunter, they will NEVER get it. But a non-hunter might just come away with a deeper understanding of the passion that drives us all to lunacy every fall.  Some parts may seem too simple or obvious, especially to the lucky hunters in the middle of our great Country, but this is not meant as a teaching aide, this book is for pure enjoyment.