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A Good Man with a Dog: A Game Warden's 25 Years in the Maine Woods
A Maine Literary Awards Finalist, A Good Man with a Dog follows a game warden’s adventures from the woods of Maine to the swamps of New Orleans. Follow along as he and his canine companions investigate murder, search for missing persons, and rescue survivors from natural disasters. This is a memoir that reads like a true crime novel. Roger Guay takes readers into the patient, watchful world of a warden catching poachers and protecting pristine wilderness, and the sometimes CSI-like reconstruction of deer- and moose-poaching scenes. When Guay’s father died in a tragic fishing accident, a kind game warden helped him through the loss. Inspired by this experience, as well as his love of the outdoors, he became a game warden. Guay searches for lost hunters and hikers. He estimates that over the years, he has pulled more than two hundred bodies out of Maine’s north woods! His frequent companion is a little brown Labrador retriever named Reba, who can find discarded weapons, ejected shells, hidden fish, and missing people.A Good Man with a Dog explores Guay’s life as he and his canine partners are exposed to terrible events, from tracking down hostile poachers to searching for victims of violent crimes, including a year-long search for the hidden graves of two babies buried by a Massachusetts cult. He witnessed firsthand FEMA’s mismanagement of the post-Katrina cleanup efforts in New Orleans, an experience that left him scarred and disheartened. But he found hope with the support of family and friends, and eventually returned to the woods he knew and loved from the days of his youth.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 8, 2022
First let me say that this book is more game warden stories then a dog book. The first half didn't have much dog in it, the second enough.
I will put this in my search and rescue category, but if that is what you are looking for, then I would highly recommend 'So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs." Or if you want to understand what is involved with training for search and rescue, I would recommend 'Ready!: Training the Search and Rescue Dog (Kennel Club Pro)'.
There is also a fair amount of cadaver search with a dog, and once again, i would highly recommend 'What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs.'
What 'A Good Man with a Dog' has is numerous tales of the work of a game warden, which beyond what you might think, also has a lot to do with finding missing persons. Lots of stranger and interesting stories. Overall a good book. The author and primary subject of the book is truly a great man to sign up to do all the tough work he put in. If you are like me, and you see officers or those in the military, you thank them for their service. That same level of respect and appreciation should be given to those serving as game wardens.
I will put this in my search and rescue category, but if that is what you are looking for, then I would highly recommend 'So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs." Or if you want to understand what is involved with training for search and rescue, I would recommend 'Ready!: Training the Search and Rescue Dog (Kennel Club Pro)'.
There is also a fair amount of cadaver search with a dog, and once again, i would highly recommend 'What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs.'
What 'A Good Man with a Dog' has is numerous tales of the work of a game warden, which beyond what you might think, also has a lot to do with finding missing persons. Lots of stranger and interesting stories. Overall a good book. The author and primary subject of the book is truly a great man to sign up to do all the tough work he put in. If you are like me, and you see officers or those in the military, you thank them for their service. That same level of respect and appreciation should be given to those serving as game wardens.
May 29, 2017
I loved this book. It was based on the real life adventures of a Maine warden. More importantly, the warden told stories that not only contained the facts, but he added an emotional element to his stories. As you read this book, you can feel the pain, anxiety, frustration, and sadness of the warden as he tried desperately to save someone or apprehend them. It is an eye-opener, because television only shows one side of the warden's job. There is so much more to it. The physical and emotional toll it takes is tremendous and both the warden and his family suffer from the long hours without sleep and the phone calls in the middle of the night. These wardens are outstanding and their dedication to thier job is real and true. I would recommend this book to anyone thinking of joining the warden service. It gives a clear account of what it's really like to work as a warden.
August 13, 2017
Please read, very heartfelt and meaningful
I am a very proud of what people do to help absolute strangers that they have never met. I have always wanted to be a game warden. My mom got me this book so that I would actually start to read for once. It is a very faithfully, and factual book. I shows where in the darkest time of your lives, you can't always do it by your self.- hope this was helpful it was a very humorous, and sadly realistic book about the things that can happen to you, and how to always turn to your dog knowledge (you will get the joke if you read the book) and God's path in life.
I am a very proud of what people do to help absolute strangers that they have never met. I have always wanted to be a game warden. My mom got me this book so that I would actually start to read for once. It is a very faithfully, and factual book. I shows where in the darkest time of your lives, you can't always do it by your self.- hope this was helpful it was a very humorous, and sadly realistic book about the things that can happen to you, and how to always turn to your dog knowledge (you will get the joke if you read the book) and God's path in life.
September 22, 2021
I couldn't put this book down. It's a memoir written in a colloquial, matter of fact tone; you can hear the author's voice, like you're sipping whisky by a camp fire and listening to his life. I learned a lot of things. Such as: if you're ever lost anywhere but a big city, it's the game warden's service you want searching for you, not the sheriff or the FBI. You want the folks who know how to read the woods and also have the unique skill set to pack you out of there. Actually, they're good in the city, too. You're going to be angry at how badly FEMA bungled Hurricane Katrina, and wasted the great resources the wardens gave them. I had no idea how much search & rescue & law enforcement they do, and how small a part of the job issuing citations for hunting violations has become.
September 24, 2020
Roger Guay was a game warden in Maine for 25 years. He was encouraged to write a book because he had so many stories to tell. Along with the help of another writer, Kate Flora, he put together a series of those stories into a book about his life as a warden, A Good Man with a Dog. It is a very personal book since he is telling about situations in which he was personally involved. He doesn’t just retell the incident; he adds in his thoughts and feelings about it, both at the time and in reflection about it.
He begins with his early years and how he wanted to serve as a game warden and talks briefly about his rookie years and the lessons he had to learn. He was out in the woods on the waters a lot. He has stories of catching poachers, many at night, and stories about fishermen doing illegal things and catching them. Some are mundane, and some are pretty hairy experiences. People with guns in the woods doing illegal things aren’t the nicest folks. With the advent of snowmobiles and ATV’s his world expanded into being a traffic cop in the woods. And with the ability of more and more people to get into the woods on these vehicles, more people got hurt and died. He shifts over to rescue operations and searches for lost people, both in the water and in the forest. Many of those who were lost were found dead, and some who were found alive got to the hospital but died there from exposure or whatever accident had befallen them.
And then there were the outright crazies in the woods. Folks with dementia, people who were raving drunk or high on drugs, and downright murderers and really bad apples evading the law. Roger’s life was in danger from some of these folks along with the dangers in the woods themselves. Hypothermia is a big danger and one he saw a lot, and at one time it crept up on him as well. He has a discussion about it in the book regarding the signs of it and its effects on a person.
A few years into the job, he gets his first dog, Reba. She is trained to find things like fish, shell casings, guns, and abandoned carcasses She and the dogs that followed proved their worth in numerous situations. In fact, without the dogs and the things they found, evidence for convictions would have been lacking. Ultimately the dogs were trained to find cadavers, meaning dead bodies, either those who got lost and expired in the woods or drowned, or those who had been killed and buried in the woods. In the final chapters of the book, Roger recounts his experience of going to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina and using the dogs to find people in the rubble. He and his dog along with another warden and his dog actually went twice. It was not a good experience, and he explains why in the book.
In the final chapters Roger is upfront about himself and his struggles after New Orleans. He suffered from PTSD, but with the help of his faith, family and good friends, he was able to get back to some semblance of normalcy. He says you don’t get over PTSD because it stays with you. You just learn to deal with it and lessen its effects, but it changes a person. He says PTSD is a major factor in why so many law enforcement officers end up as suicides. Those are the ones who don’t get the help they need. Roger is a survivor. The book is his story, honest and interesting. I recommend it.
He begins with his early years and how he wanted to serve as a game warden and talks briefly about his rookie years and the lessons he had to learn. He was out in the woods on the waters a lot. He has stories of catching poachers, many at night, and stories about fishermen doing illegal things and catching them. Some are mundane, and some are pretty hairy experiences. People with guns in the woods doing illegal things aren’t the nicest folks. With the advent of snowmobiles and ATV’s his world expanded into being a traffic cop in the woods. And with the ability of more and more people to get into the woods on these vehicles, more people got hurt and died. He shifts over to rescue operations and searches for lost people, both in the water and in the forest. Many of those who were lost were found dead, and some who were found alive got to the hospital but died there from exposure or whatever accident had befallen them.
And then there were the outright crazies in the woods. Folks with dementia, people who were raving drunk or high on drugs, and downright murderers and really bad apples evading the law. Roger’s life was in danger from some of these folks along with the dangers in the woods themselves. Hypothermia is a big danger and one he saw a lot, and at one time it crept up on him as well. He has a discussion about it in the book regarding the signs of it and its effects on a person.
A few years into the job, he gets his first dog, Reba. She is trained to find things like fish, shell casings, guns, and abandoned carcasses She and the dogs that followed proved their worth in numerous situations. In fact, without the dogs and the things they found, evidence for convictions would have been lacking. Ultimately the dogs were trained to find cadavers, meaning dead bodies, either those who got lost and expired in the woods or drowned, or those who had been killed and buried in the woods. In the final chapters of the book, Roger recounts his experience of going to New Orleans after hurricane Katrina and using the dogs to find people in the rubble. He and his dog along with another warden and his dog actually went twice. It was not a good experience, and he explains why in the book.
In the final chapters Roger is upfront about himself and his struggles after New Orleans. He suffered from PTSD, but with the help of his faith, family and good friends, he was able to get back to some semblance of normalcy. He says you don’t get over PTSD because it stays with you. You just learn to deal with it and lessen its effects, but it changes a person. He says PTSD is a major factor in why so many law enforcement officers end up as suicides. Those are the ones who don’t get the help they need. Roger is a survivor. The book is his story, honest and interesting. I recommend it.
May 3, 2021
I'm not sure how long the TV show North Woods Law has been around, but this book, published in 2016, could have been the genesis for the show. Retired Maine Game Warden, Roger Guay, writes of his experience catching game law violaters, making rescues, and finding the lost and dead with his K9. The Maine weather and terrain are some of the harshest in the lower 48, and Guay worked rescue and recovery of victims of falls, hypothermia, loss of direction, and foul play.
Guay goes a step farther than the TV show by sharing his experience with PTSD. A perfect storm of personal and professional crises caused Guay to spiral out of control emotionally.
The writing is very conversational, as if a story teller dictated it, despite having a co-writer.
Guay goes a step farther than the TV show by sharing his experience with PTSD. A perfect storm of personal and professional crises caused Guay to spiral out of control emotionally.
The writing is very conversational, as if a story teller dictated it, despite having a co-writer.
November 18, 2023
I enjoyed this book very much.
The author described his life experiences growing up with all the natural beauty of Maine,(rom his perspective. .Having gone through the tragedy of his father’s death (while on a fishing trip)and receiving some comforting from a Maine Game Warden(whom he felt were the police of the fish and wildlife of Maine.
He then decides that HE WANT’s to become a Maine Game Warden.According to the author,EVERY Man in Maine carries a handgun and/or a rifle.
After completing his training, he goes out to protect Maine for future generations:this involves enforcing the laws protecting them as well as finding lost or injured humans(dead or alive) with the help of his Labrador dogs). This leads to many stories to tell to the reader(for 25 years)and it’s ultimate affect on his own life(PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ).
He ends the book revealing that he now teaches his experiences to others.
The author described his life experiences growing up with all the natural beauty of Maine,(rom his perspective. .Having gone through the tragedy of his father’s death (while on a fishing trip)and receiving some comforting from a Maine Game Warden(whom he felt were the police of the fish and wildlife of Maine.
He then decides that HE WANT’s to become a Maine Game Warden.According to the author,EVERY Man in Maine carries a handgun and/or a rifle.
After completing his training, he goes out to protect Maine for future generations:this involves enforcing the laws protecting them as well as finding lost or injured humans(dead or alive) with the help of his Labrador dogs). This leads to many stories to tell to the reader(for 25 years)and it’s ultimate affect on his own life(PTSD-Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ).
He ends the book revealing that he now teaches his experiences to others.
April 14, 2016
Roger Guay's recollections of events, both humorous and serious will pull readers into the world of a Maine game warden in ways other memoirs can't. His careful retelling of events like his time in New Orleans, as well as in 'Buried Babies in Baxter Park' will stay with readers for a long time. His willingness to share the personal and emotional toll certain events take on members of the warden service make this a stand out book. Definitely worth adding to ANY library as well as making a good gift to sportsmen and members of and branch of law enforcement.
March 1, 2020
Loved this book. Great storyteller. Moves from one interesting story to another of game enforcement and life and death rescues. I can really appreciate the life of a game warden and all the dedication that it takes...and the tolls it takes on one's life as well. Living in Maine and having a son who has hunted in the Greenville/Moosehead Lake area, I especially related to the stories. I recommend this for anyone who may be curious about the job of a game warden or just wants some great true stories.
September 19, 2020
Eye-opening and true
A fascinating look into the work and life of a game warden, with anecdotes ranging from funny to heart-wrenching as he covers his roles of poaching prevention, search and rescue, and recovery of remains. Maine, with its rugged landscape and its deep-rooted culture, figures prominently, with a side trip to New Orleans post-Katrina. The tone is colloquial - you feel like you’re sitting in his living room as he spins tales - but there’s a depth of wisdom that goes far beyond the individual anecdotes.
A fascinating look into the work and life of a game warden, with anecdotes ranging from funny to heart-wrenching as he covers his roles of poaching prevention, search and rescue, and recovery of remains. Maine, with its rugged landscape and its deep-rooted culture, figures prominently, with a side trip to New Orleans post-Katrina. The tone is colloquial - you feel like you’re sitting in his living room as he spins tales - but there’s a depth of wisdom that goes far beyond the individual anecdotes.
August 2, 2017
DH and I read this book together and loved it. Maine is an interesting place because of its amazing fishing and abundant wildlife. Loved the stories. Enjoyed his stories about his service dogs and how he used them to facilitate his work as a game warden. Game wardens have a tough job and do a good work. If you loved the outdoors, you'll love this one. It made us want to go to Maine to see the amazing wildlife that it holds. A great read!
September 9, 2017
This was an interesting and educational read about the life of a Maine game warden. The writing is sometimes a bit repetitive but I think it captures the Maine storytelling personality well. I also appreciated that the author was honest about his PTSD. It made me believe all of the other stories as well, not that I had any doubts about their authenticity. I also think I enjoyed it more because I went to school in Maine and have first hand knowledge of some of the locations he talked about.
May 14, 2018
Couldn’t stop reading
I had no clue to the dangerous lives game wardens experienced and the importance of being in excellent physical shape. Searching for lost individuals, dead or alive, and having to assist or carry them out of the forests or from ravines they had fallen into in all kinds of weather garnered from me the most respect and admiration. Greatest respect for their dogs and their training. Can’t say enough good things about this book.
I had no clue to the dangerous lives game wardens experienced and the importance of being in excellent physical shape. Searching for lost individuals, dead or alive, and having to assist or carry them out of the forests or from ravines they had fallen into in all kinds of weather garnered from me the most respect and admiration. Greatest respect for their dogs and their training. Can’t say enough good things about this book.
Read
March 30, 2020This was a simply written memoir of a Maine game warden. It was quite a surprise. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that game wardens just flash bright lights at drunks out on boats and reprimand vacationers for fishing/hunting without a license. Nope - this was a very interesting and sometimes intense series of anecdotes over a period of 25 years documenting the scope and depth of the work they do to try to protect the beautiful natural resources in Maine. Well worth reading!
July 15, 2017
Everything You Want to Know About Game Wardens!
What a wonderful book. Inspiring and sad at the same time. Should be on the mandatory reading list for scouts, military, and anyone who wants to spend time in the great outdoors. Would have read it in one sitting if I hadn't had a required interruption.
What a wonderful book. Inspiring and sad at the same time. Should be on the mandatory reading list for scouts, military, and anyone who wants to spend time in the great outdoors. Would have read it in one sitting if I hadn't had a required interruption.
July 15, 2017
Interesting stories, but I found it didn't keep me up all night reading. I could put it down. Guay did have a collaborator who is credited on the book cover, but it is a memoir of Guay's 25 years as a game warden in Maine. I had no idea how varied the duties of game wardens are, nor do I know if it is the same in other states. It's interesting reading if not compelling.
January 9, 2024
Very interesting stories. I learned a lot about what wardens do and how difficult the job is. I note that I find it disappointing that no copy editor corrected the misuse of "lay" for "lie" many times in the book. I realize that many people use it wrongly, but it bothers me, no doubt because I'm a writer, editor and former English teacher.
January 9, 2019
Absorbing read
I'm from Maine, greatly respect the service of the Maine wardens and I've read a number of books by Maine wardens but I found this one the most compelling. It reads like Warden Guay is sitting across a campfire from you, sharing stories of his 25 yr career. Highly readable, highly recommend if you want to understand what it's really like to be a warden.
I'm from Maine, greatly respect the service of the Maine wardens and I've read a number of books by Maine wardens but I found this one the most compelling. It reads like Warden Guay is sitting across a campfire from you, sharing stories of his 25 yr career. Highly readable, highly recommend if you want to understand what it's really like to be a warden.
April 14, 2016
I might be biased since I'm related to the author, but this really is a great book. There's a great mix of humor, gravity and inspiration in each chapter. Anyone who loves the outdoors, Maine, or law enforcement will love this book.
July 17, 2017
Game Warden
This book details Roger Guays years as a Maine Game Warden. The book talks about the early years, the years of snowmobiles and ATVs and the years he spent as a K9 handler. This was a great read. I highly recommend this book.
This book details Roger Guays years as a Maine Game Warden. The book talks about the early years, the years of snowmobiles and ATVs and the years he spent as a K9 handler. This was a great read. I highly recommend this book.
July 18, 2017
Inspirational
Story of a good man doing his best to make his part of the world a better place. He also admits his difficulty with PTSD after years of stressful situations including extremely difficult conditions searching for cadavers after Katrina.
Story of a good man doing his best to make his part of the world a better place. He also admits his difficulty with PTSD after years of stressful situations including extremely difficult conditions searching for cadavers after Katrina.
August 5, 2017
What a great read--absolutely riveting! This book was very educational and informative while also providing entertainment - - I didn't want to put it down. Game wardens are unsung heroes. This will appeal to a wide variety of readers, highly recommended.
July 12, 2020
An interesting and fast read. I particularly love the language, as it seems like you can hear him telling you this story. This book satisfies those who like adventure, mysteries, and the human-dog bond, while giving you an understanding and appreciation of game wardens.
November 20, 2019
Anecdotes from a Maine Game Warden
This is a memoir told through anecdotes of a game warden who loved his job as a game warden. It may not be high literature, but it is very interesting and informative.
This is a memoir told through anecdotes of a game warden who loved his job as a game warden. It may not be high literature, but it is very interesting and informative.
August 28, 2020
The life of a Maine Game Warden
A history of such a variety of challenges for a game warden. Tales of lost children , stories of fishermen and hunters breaking the law and tales of discovery of murdered victim. An assembly of many of the tasks for a Maine game warden.
A history of such a variety of challenges for a game warden. Tales of lost children , stories of fishermen and hunters breaking the law and tales of discovery of murdered victim. An assembly of many of the tasks for a Maine game warden.
April 18, 2016
Humorous, sad, terrifying, and fascinating. Written by Roger Guay and Kate Clark Flora, this book is an honest and deeply personal portrayal of Roger's life as a Maine game warden. Highly recommend!
June 8, 2017
I really loved all the stories that Roger told and never imagined a game warden doing all the things that they do as part of their job.
July 12, 2017
Great stories, but seems unedited -- as if it's transcripts of an interview.
October 9, 2017
Wonderful book! I have a new appreciation of our game wardens and their dog! Very informative!
February 22, 2018
Great Read.
The book keeps you engaged from page 1. It gives you a great insight into the life and job of a game warden. Highly recommend!!
The book keeps you engaged from page 1. It gives you a great insight into the life and job of a game warden. Highly recommend!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews