Always Game: A Maine Woman's Life of Outdoor Adventure

by Christi Elliott

Christi Elliott's passion for hunting and fishing, her curiosity and enthusiasm at tackling new experiences, and her dynamic personality have made her a powerful force in the Maine outdoors world. Judy Camuso, commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, has called Elliott "a movement, a phenomenon, a powerhouse" and credited her with driving the increase in women obtaining hunting licenses. 

In Always Game, Elliott recounts her youth in Downeast Maine, highlights early adventures like hiking the Appalachian Trail, and takes readers along as she learns, sometimes through heartbreak, how to hunt and fish—including the training of her beloved dog, Argos. Elliott describes herself as an experience hunter who jumps at chances to try new things. Whether she is trapping beaver in Southern Maine, hunting moose in Washington County, fly fishing in Baxter State Park, or chasing tuna in rough seas an hour or so off the coast of Maine, her characteristic optimism shines through. 


Along the way, Christi has battled self-doubts and experienced the challenges of breaking into sports long dominated by men. Those challenges prompted her to create the Maine Women Hunters group as a welcoming place for like-minded women to learn and join in the fun. More than classic hunting and fishing tales, Always Game introduces a fresh voice in outdoor recreation and highlights the joy, pain, and wonder inherent in the sport.

179 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Erinp · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read. About 20 short stories of Christi's life growing up in Maine and learning to love the outdoors. Really highlights the importance of having mentors. Written really well and I was devastated at certain parts and celebrated her successes. Really made you feel like you were just having coffee with a friend. Worth picking up for sure.

[Cassandra Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapters felt like short stories, each one being a different hunting or fishing story. Really enjoyed! Based in Maine

[Jessica B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I know I’ll be reading again!

[Carol Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because of a friend's review and surprisingly I really liked it. I am not an outdoorsy, hunting, animal loving person but I really liked it. She has a very nice writing style and I found myself getting excited if she bagged a bear or hauled in a 9 foot bluefin tuna!

[kate lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final proofread ✍️

[Christopher Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t make the annual trip to Maine this summer. But reading this book took me right back to Vacationland

[Madeline Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about a life well-lived in the woods. Hunters and nonhunters alike will enjoy Christi’s adventures.