Whitetail Woods: A Deer Hunter’s Quest
Dr. Randall L. Gilbert
[Summaries]
a) Short version:
Whitetail Woods is Dr. Gilbert’s second “contribution to the literature” (His initial work was The A – Z Guide to White-tailed Deer and Deer Hunting. As a recently retired educator of thirty (30) years and a successful deer hunter for the past forty-five (45) years, Dr. Gilbert has combined those two (2) pursuits into his best work on his favorite topic – the white-tailed deer. He is a true “Venatic Fanatic” (p.ii)- a dedicated admirer of the white-tailed deer.
Whitetail Woods is written in “Huntspeak” – the language of the deer hunter. Its format is as an instructional novel; as it tells a fictional story based upon personally observed facts. Written in an easy to read, yet informative manner, it provides truthful information and many insights into the whitetail’s life cycle as it intertwines with Mother Nature’s accompanying seasons. Whitetail Woods was purposefully written so as to dramatically shorten the hunter/reader’s “learning curve” about the white-tailed deer. Each chapter has several specific points of insight into the lives of whitetails; and … ever the educator, Dr. Gilbert provides a “Lessons” summary at the end of each chapter. One cannot come away from reading this book without a greater appreciation for the magnificent animal known as the white-tailed deer!
b) Alternate points:
Dr. Randall Gilbert has produced his “magnum opus” – Whitetail Woods: A Deer Hunter’s Quest. A fictional account of the lives of three (3) genetically related deer, which are intricately entwined within the lives of several human story-tellers; most notably a grandfather and his adoring granddaughter. Ever the educator, Dr. Gilbert seeks to tell the truths about what really occurs in the daily happenings of the whitetail; not personify them with human traits, as did Walt Disney in “Bambi.” He also has provided the definitions of useful words and terms (in parentheses following the term) so as to allow the reader to continue the storyline, rather than not understanding the concept or missing the point entirely. Written in “Huntspeak,” – the language of the deer hunter, this instructional novel is destined to become part of the standard “got-to-haves” for the deer hunter!
Dr. Gilbert uses this storyline to enlighten the reader as to just how the whitetail’s life cycles and the accompanying seasons of Mother Nature are intricately entwined. His objective is to help the reader better understand the white-tailed deer so as to shorten the hunter’s learning curve. Of special note at the end of each chapter, Dr. Gilbert has summarized the information that the reader should have gotten out of that chapter.