Warden Force - by Terry Hodges (Paperback)

About the Book

A collection of 13 award-winning true adventure short stories that illustrate the wide variety of wildlife-related problems game 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.

Book Synopsis

A collection of 13 award winning short stories concerning the 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.

The fifth season contains 13 more exciting adventures:

Uncatchable Chick Feathers - A clever deer-poaching archer, widely considered to be too smart to catch, meets an old-time game warden who disagrees.

Incident at Killer Cove - Armed killers on the run tangle with game wardens on the prowl.

Sooner or Later - An outlaw falconer outsmarts a new and inexperienced game warden. A year later, he's not so lucky.

Otter Killers and Uncommon Luck - Wardens pursue sea-otter-killing commercial abalone divers.

Leo's Demise - One man dies before wardens deal with an African lion, a grown pet gone rogue, in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

Tough Customers - A game warden and a hostage-taking armed robber nearly destroy a drugstore.

Bug Pirates - Trap-raiding lobster thieves meet with misfortune.

Setliners - Wardens target long-line catfish poachers.

A Matter of Preference - Wardens attempting to ambush season-jumping commercial lobster fishermen get a big surprise.

Delta Ambush - Night-prowling, canoe-borne wardens stalk a wily and destructive Delta outlaw.

Rake Man - A well disguised warden outsmarts lawless abalone pickers.

The Honest to God Truth - An honest mistake and a white-knuckle, midnight vehicle tail through Long Beach yields a surprise and an important arrest.

Raid of the Stockton Airborne - Did they or didn't they? Wardens from the sky? A day for mass-killing duck poachers does not end well.

Review Quotes

We have every one of Terry's books save this one. Can't wait for it to arrive. Terry has developed a mastery in storytelling. You are there. When he discusses being out in the middle of the night, I feel like reading under the blanket with a flashlight. Truly. The easy read is perfection as well as understandable, but have to force myself to put it down as I don't want it to end so quickly. You'll better understand what wardens have to do other than check fishing licenses. Extremely comprehensive. Bill Adelman

"I once had hopes of becoming a game warden, but it wasn't to be. I have learned, however, that reading game warden stories by Terry Hodges is the next best thing. Terry's are the only outdoor books that I read in their entirety. His latest is an extraordinary piece of work." Tom Stienstra, San Francisco Examiner

"Not even in your imagination could you conjure up the intriguing stories in Terry Hodges' latest book. Most people have no idea how dangerous and complex a warden's job is, but they will, when they read this book. It's hard to put down without saying to yourself, One more story, just one more story." Bob Simms, KFBK Radio, Sacramento

"Lieutenant Terry Hodges is to wildlife protectors what Joseph Wambaugh is to big-city cops. ...evocative story-telling" Paul Dean, Los Angeles Times

"...great true stories by this celebrated and very talented California conservation officer and outdoor writer, and they have become required reading for fish and game cops across North America. He portrays game poachers and violators for what they are - thieves who steal fish, fur and game from everyone. This is a great read, and one every law officer and sportsman should read." Dave Richey, Outdoor Writer, The Detroit News