hunting and fishing

I sought out this book after reading another piece by John Motoviloff in a magazine. Although I have been visiting northern Wisconsin each fall for the past six years, I was not aware of the unique topography and history of Wisconsin's southwest region. This book visually animated the region for me, and instilled a strong wish in me to see it for myself. He writes of his time there so lovingly that one would have to lack empathy not to feel by proxy some degree of affinity for it. This book will resonate most completely for the hunter or fisherman, but anyone who loves the outdoors can enjoy it. I eagerly await his next effort.

Billed as a collection of hunting and fishing essays, Motoviloff brings the sights, sounds and smells of the driftless region to life with his vivid prose. While some are straight hunting and fishing tales, most are splendid little vignettes which reveal a telling, almost religious, bond between the author and the places of which he writes. A wonderful little book.

While Motoviloff's book promised to offer insight and wisdom on the unique natural beauty of the Driftless region, it ended up failing in the end. The author claims to understand the area's inhabitants, both human and animal, and the ecosystem they share. However, he also feels the region's natural resources are at his disposal. The entire book, which perhaps might have discussed the delicate balance of plants and animals, consists entirely of hunting and fishing stories, and poorly written ones at that. The book lacks a plot, or even a hint of excitement. It stirred only disgust at his total lack of respect for the land. Motoviloff, who only vacations in the Driftless region, lacks the experience and knowledge that only years of living in the region can give. The region doesn't need another man to harvest its fish or kill its wild game. It needs a conservationist who understands the land and respects it.