Woods Cop: Thirty-Four Years a State Game Warden

The author served as a Pennsylvania State Game Warden for 34 years, where he patrolled 450 square miles of rugged mountain terrain. Throughout his career, he investigated thousands of game law violations and arrested many violent, hardcore poachers. This fascinating, true-life book focuses on some of the most dangerous and unpredictable men Wasserman encountered during his long years as a game warden in north central Pennsylvania. Woods Cop is an intense, well written account about a true wildlife warrior and his fight against the criminals who plunder our natural resources. Wasserman’s encounters with hostile, armed poachers in the backwoods of Pennsylvania is sure to keep you turning pages until the last chapter has been read. It’s a book that will make you think about it long after you put it down. A book about a thin green line of dedicated game wardens, vastly outnumbered, who risk their lives on a daily basis in order to protect our wildlife for future generations to come. In this book you will meet many colorful characters such as Ziggy Badd (The Cross Fork Commando), Vito “The Blade”, Willy Nilly, Coyotee Boy, and Big Nasty. This is a clean book with no adult language and suitable for all ages. Excerpts: Chapter 2. THE CROSS FORK COMMANDO“I told the driver to step out of the car and ordered the rest of the men to remain inside. Suddenly I realized I was face to face with the Cross Fork Commando! He didn’t say anything, just stared at me, never blinked. I could feel something primitive, wild, about his presence, but I shook it off and told myself he was just a man, not some legendary character who stalked the local woodlands in ghostly silence. Chapter 4. THE BLADE When Vito walked into the courtroom, everyone noticed the expensive suit and flashy gold jewelry he wore. He stood beside his attorney and stared at each member of the jury in a contemptuous bid of defiance. He then looked at his victim, the district judge, and shook his head in disgust. If he were to be tried on appearances alone, there would have been no need for the Commonwealth to present its case. In just a few brief moments Vito managed to alienate those very people who were about to decide his fate. Chapter 7. WILLY NILLY I recognized the name immediately, as Willy had a reputation for doing some terrible things. I remember an incident where he was upset with a ruling that a district judge made against him. Willy gathered up a bag full of newspaper and marched right up the steps of his front porch, whereupon he commenced to start a fire. Chapter 12. BIG NASTY The big man just stood there, rock solid, his facial expression slowly relaxing. He had the tattoo of a rattlesnake coiled around his neck, the head on one side, tail on the other. The mouth was wide open with huge, pointy fangs, its tail raised up with 16 rattles. He wore his hair in a tight Mohawk, four inches wide and one inch high, his head shaved clean to the scalp on each side. The man’s cheekbones were pronounced and high, his eyes dark and intense. A razor-like scar flowed across the bridge of his nose and down the left side of his face. His forearms were thick and vascular, almost the same size as his huge upper arms. Frank Frazetta’s epic painting of Conan the Barbarian came to mind. Chapter 13. COYOTEE BOY He refused to budge so I yanked him out of the car. He reeked of booze, and was obviously intoxicated, which caused him to fall face down onto the paved roadway before I could catch him. After giving him a quick pat down to make sure he was unarmed, I turned around for the man in the back seat. But before I took my first step, the old Scout popped out of gear and began coasting down the steep mountain road in reverse! Ranger and his suspect were knocked to the ground by the open passenger door as I sprinted after the runaway vehicle and tried to get inside, but it was moving too quickly.

Pub Date: November 28, 2020