Warden Force: The Worst of the Worst and Other True Game Warden Adventures: Episodes 101-114

Warden Force #9

by Terry Hodges

This is not a novel. This book, like the other eight books of the WARDEN FORCE series, is a collection of short stories, all true, the fascinating and often harrowing experiences of real game wardens pursuing armed violators in wild and remote places. TV shows such as WILD JUSTICE (National Geographic), NORTH WOODS LAW (Animal Planet) and LONE STAR LAW (Animal Planet) introduced the public to the real-life adventures of game wardens and conservation officers, a public hungry for more. And now, for readers, the WARDEN FORCE series provides the most exhaustive and comprehensive work in literature on this little known and often dangerous profession.Lieutenant Terry Hodges, award winning author and the retired veteran of over 30 intense years as a game warden, brings over 120 of these stories to life. His readers get a strong dose of reality, for he writes with the knowledge and authority only possible among those who have lived the profession and devoted their lives to “the most dangerous and deadly job in law enforcement.”Season Nine Includes Fourteen Not Bad for a Fish A lone warden, during two consecutive nights, outsmarts two criminals and makes two unrelated felony arrests. Fuzz-Face, Snake Eyes and Fu The unscrupulous camp host of a high-mountain campground employs three bow-hunting criminals to take out a camp-raiding dumpster bear.Repeat An aging warden recounts his long history of capturing the same salmon and deer poachers time after time. Swift Fleeing salmon poachers run afoul of poisonous plants and relentless wardens. The Worst of the Determined wardens spend months bringing down a band of smart, super-wary, deer poachers, among the worst in California history. Masters of A husband and wife poaching team prove to be unskilled game-law violators and even worse liars.Trouble in Hog The cruel and unscrupulous operators of a big-money pig-hunting club are targeted by determined wardens.The Wardens outsmart a well-organized team of abalone poachers. The Caviar A team of undercover wardens stalk a ring of sturgeon-poaching caviar dealers. The Old A crafty old warden, a master of his trade, dazzles a much younger warden by outsmarting and capturing two hardened deer poachers. Zero A lone warden, nearly gunned down by a fugitive dope grower, reassesses his approach to his hazardous occupation. Death on Snake A warden performs a nerve-jangling search of a mountain home said to contain dozens of free-roaming rattlesnakes and a two-week-dead human body. A young warden nearly kills a man and keeps a secret for over 30 years. Heartless A warden comes out second best when he tangles with a man with no legs.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2021

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoy this series. The books are written to be read quickly. I had no idea there was so much danger in their jobs and so much poaching. My goodness, if it wasn't for them our wildlife population would be decimated. Great book!

I received a copy for my review from LibraryThing.

[Gloria Cangahuala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Lt. Terry Hodges is a retired game warden. With over 30 years of experience, boy, does he have stories to tell! And not just stories from his own experience, but stories from coworkers' experiences as well. From illegal salmon fishing to illegal deer hunting to illegal bear hunting to illegal abalone harvesting and LOTS more, Hodges uses a straightforward and entertaining storytelling style to give readers a sneak peek into life as a game warden. Sometimes amusing, other times harrowing, the stories Hodges shares are fascinating. I had no idea what game wardens did until I read this book. So interesting! This particular book is the 9th in a series of "Warden Force" books that Hodges has written. I have no doubt his previous 8 books are just as fascinating.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest edition of the excellent Warden Force series by Terry Hughes. This series is a collection of informative, engaging and entertaining real life stories of the brave men and women who protect California's wildlife. The stories draw you in and put you in the story, with the game wardens as they outwit poachers, thieves and other law breakers. The author really knows how to tell a great tale and you feel the highs and lows. I listen to this on audio and it is fantastic. I look forward to more in the series. Please keep those stories coming!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The is my first Warden Force and I may have to get the rest. What entertaining stories and such a fast read. It's amazing to learn just what game wardens actually go through. Loved every story in this book.