About this ebook
The WARDEN FORCE series is a collection of short stories, all true adventures of the finest protectors of wildlife in the world. TV shows such as JOE PICKETT (Paramount+), WILD JUSTICE (National Geographic), NORTH WOODS LAW (Animal Planet), LONE STAR LAW (Animal Planet) have introduced the public to this dangerous and little known profession, and left them hungry for more.
Award winning author Terry Hodges was himself a California State Fish and Game warden and supervisor/leader of game wardens for over 30 intense years. He writes with the authority possible only by those who have actually lived the life, who have actually packed a badge and a gun on behalf of wildlife and battled all manner of wildlife-destroying outlaws.
A collection of 13 award-winning short stories (true crime/narrative non-fiction) of true adventures of California Fish and Game Wardens and the wildlife-destroying outlaws they pursue. These stories illustrate the wide variety of wildlife-related problems wardens face in California, which has a greater diversity of wildlife and wildlife habitat than any other state and is second only to Alaska in its vast expanses of wilderness.
Bonus: Contains a full-length audio narration of Combat Fishing (Story #9)
The eighth season contains 13 exciting true-story narrative adventures:
A Matter of Survival: A warden's worst fear nearly comes true.
Some Kind of No Good: A warden's exceptional skill and some blind luck combine for an interesting outcome.
Payback Time: The vengeful victim of a childhood bully retaliates years later, his revenge spectacular.
Drop-Countin' at Gunner's Swamp: A long-retired warden helps two employed wardens make an important duck overlimit case.
Threats and Promises: A search warrant search of the home of two deer poachers yields surprises, plus a brush with a bad cop.
An Extra Set of Eyes: An aging game warden lieutenant, a few days following knee surgery, ends up being far more than an observer during the action-packed, nighttime arrest of salmon poachers.
Operation High Hog: A large team of wardens pit their wits against some of the worst deer and pig poachers in California history.
Primal Instincts: Wardens pursue the puzzling case of two deer poachers who kill far more deer than they could ever use.
Combat Fishing: An old warden, his days of foot-chases far behind him, employs stealth and trickery to capture two fleet-footed young salmon poachers.
Masters of Destruction: A fearless and horribly destructive ATV-riding deer poacher repeatedly evades wardens and officers of other agencies before finally going down hard.
The Ghosts of Tipper Slough: A wealthy farmer pays far more than money when he ignores a warden and destroys a particularly wonderful wetland.
Leonard's Bad Word: Does a warden known for never using profanity have a slip-up over his radio one dark night?
Trophy Poacher: A disturbing, physically imposing, trophy-hunting poacher and a monster wildfire put wardens to the test.
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About the author
Award winning author Terry Hodges is the creator of the WARDEN FORCE series, true adventure stories of some of the finest game wardens in the world and the wildlife-destroying outlaws they pursue. Having been a tireless and highly experienced warden himself for over three decades, Terry writes with the special authority found only among those who have worn a badge on behalf of wildlife.
For most of his 30-year career, Terry was a California Department of Fish and Game patrol lieutenant, supervising wardens in two Northern California counties. But unlike most supervisors, he was never content behind a desk, much preferring field work and leading his wardens from the front. He was a pilot, flying hundreds of hours, mostly at night, spotting violators from the air and directing his wardens in to make the arrests.
Terry’s all-true stories take place mostly in California, which has more diversity of wildlife and wildlife habitat than any other state and is second only to Alaska in its vast expanses of uninhabited wilderness.
Terry has received national writing awards and was three times chosen Writer of the Year by the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC). In addition to his seven books, he has been a regular contributor to the Department of Fish and Game's magazine, OUTDOOR CALIFORNIA. He served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard and received his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University at Sacramento.
In 2006, he was inducted into the California Outdoor Hall of Fame.
