Everglades Lawmen: True Stories of Game Wardens in the Glades [Paperback]

James T Huffstodt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2000

From the first game wardens in the Everglades, who had to buy their own uniforms and guns, to present-day wildlife officers, who often fulfill the role of police officers, law enforcement in the wild, untamed Everglades has kept pace with changing times. You’re just as likely to find today’s game warden chasing escaped convicts, keeping surveillance on drug runners, or recovering wreckage from a plane crash as arresting deer, turkey, and alligator poachers. And you’re more likely to encounter game wardens who are female and college educated now too. Gone are the days when game wardens were often former lawbreakers themselves and came by their jobs simply because they knew the Glades so well. Ride along on an airboat as it whooshes through sawgrass marshes. Hitch a ride on a track as it chugs and grumbles over the Glades’ rough terrain. Meet the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the wildlife and natural resources in the only Everglades on earth.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James T. Huffstodt, Everglades public information officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission since 1986, is a former journalist and college public relations specialist. His more than 100 feature stories have been published in dozens of magazines, including Civil War Times Illustrated, Florida Wildlife, International Game Warden, and Florida Game and Fish Magazine. Huffstodt lives with his wife, Judy, in West Palm Beach.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pineapple Press (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561641928
• ISBN-13: 978-1561641925
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lawmen...and women...made of iron, May 8, 2000

By 

Henry P. Cabbage, public information director... (Tallahassee, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everglades Lawmen: True Stories of Game Wardens in the Glades (Paperback)

Long after the Wild West had come under the umbrella of civilization, lawmen had yet to stop the outlaws of Florida's Everglades. Plume hunters, gator poachers, smugglers and the vilest of murderers found seclusion and concealment amid the sawgrass and reptiles of America's greatest wetland. It took a special breed of lawman to track down and arrest the bandits who ruled the Everglades. Jim Huffstodt's subject matter is history in his book, "Everglades Lawmen," but his writing style is that of a southern "yarn spinner," one who recounts the tales as an old-timer would, sitting around a campfire with group of wide-eyed children hanging onto every word. Everglades lawmen were the toughest creatures in the swamp. Otherwise they would never have survived and never would have succeeded in taming the Everglades and tormenting its outlaws. In fascinating detail and lively presentation, Huffstodt recounts the tales that trace the transition from the times when wilderness law enforcement rested in the hands of men of iron up to today when Everglades lawmen...and women...rely on science and technology to build their cases. They still are men and women made of iron. They have to be to patrol alone, at night in the swamplands where some of America's most wicked criminals have sought consealment for centuries. But today, the criminals live in fear, because they know the Everglades lawmen are lurking in the darkness, just out of sight...watching, waiting...ready to swoop down on them like red-tailed hawks upon the snakes the bandits are. Huffstodt recounts tales told by the lawmen and versions of the same stories told by the outlaws they tracked. He captures both in a beautiful, understandable style. Hats off to Jim Huffstodt and his "Everglades Lawmen."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get ready for an adventure, May 8, 2000

By 

Bubba Spencer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everglades Lawmen: True Stories of Game Wardens in the Glades (Paperback)

Everglades Lawmen tells a great story about the many and varied jobs facing today's game wardens.

The books goes into the early game wardens and the skills needed to get the job done in the "good old" days. The tragic stories of man killer alligators and the role of game wardens in protecting the species. Some great "war stories" about chasing and catching some interesting and colorful poachers.

Huffstodt does a great job telling about the many dangers facing today's game warden which the majority of the public has no idea about.

Highly recommended to anyone who cares about the natural resources left and what is needed to protect them.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everglades Lawmen: True Stories of Game Wardens in the Glade, April 2, 2000

By 

Mrs Sandee Gylanders (London, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everglades Lawmen: True Stories of Game Wardens in the Glades (Paperback)

Until I read this excellent book I had always thought of game wardens as kindly parks police. After reading it, you like me, will realise that to be an Everglades Lawman (or woman come to that) you have to be a cross between Grizzly Adams, Doctor Doolittle and Whyatt Earp! Mr Huffstodt`s colourful, descriptive style of writing so admirably suits the contents - as a warden himself he knows the dangers, the excitement and the satisfaction and shares it with us on every page. The stories are also chockful of humour, eccentric charactors we`ll only have th chance tomeet here, courtesy of the author`s descriptive prose, loving these people and mocking them slightly. He brings to life the courageous and dedicated people who wrestle alligators, protect our environment for future generations and get the bads guys - and what bad guys he has to tell us about - night time poachers, drug runners, drunks shooting off their mouths and their revolvers, escaped convicts straight out of Cool Hand Luke. I read the book so quickly, it`s that kind of book, the old cliche applys - it reads like a novel - that you know you`re going to have to read it again - just before you visit the Everglades. But there is also tragidy. As a woman who believes a woman`s place is wherever she wants it to be I feel I must single out Chapter Thirteen " A Woman`s Place is in the Woods" for special praise. The story of Game Warden Peggy Park who "died in the line of duty" gives Mr Huffstodt a chance to show us just what these courageous and dedicated men and women do to protect the natural beauty of our world. The book may be about Everglade Wardens but it stands as a fine record to all those who put on a uniform and risk their very lives so that our children and grandchildren will get to life outside the concrete jungles so many of us are forced to inhabite. In fact this book could easily be read by intelligent teenagers, and should be compulsory reading for those who think we don`t need to take care of our planet. Well done, Mr Huffstodt, I hope soon to see the movie version.