Tales, Trails, and Tribulations of a Blue-Collar Hunter
by D. I. (Ian) Hay

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From a boyhood spent roaming the banks of the Kennebecasis River near Saint John, New Brunswick, to a lifetime of hunting across Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia, this book is a boots-on-the-ground memoir rooted in grit, gratitude, and the kind of hard-earned wisdom one only gets by tramping through the bush in search of game across numerous continents. Spanning prairie whitetails, northern moose camps and mountain hunts, and far-flung dream trips, this book follows a working man who learns early that the outdoors isn’t a hobby; it’s a way of life. And when the “holy grail” of Africa finally comes within reach, the adventure escalates, from pursuing game across the plains of Namibia to a Zimbabwe safari that delivers unforgettable moments, camaraderie, and stories that stick. But this book isn’t just about trophies. It’s about the people who shape us, the sacrifices that fund our dreams, and the reality that time catches up to everyone. After decades in uniform and a body that’s taken its share of hits, the author asks the question every devoted hunter eventually must face: when am I too old to hunt? Part adventure, part fireside storytelling, and part field-tested advice, this book is a tribute to the wild places and the exotic animals that keep calling us back into the wilderness, season after season.

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D. I. Hay has been an avid outdoorsman ever since he got his first taste hunting and fishing while growing up in rural New Brunswick. As his military career took him to various posts across Canada, he expanded his adventures to Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia and eventually made several forays to Spain and Africa, in search of exotic game. Now in his senior years, he still enjoys getting out as often as he can, not allowing the physical limitations that come with age to inhibit his love of Mother Nature.

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Contributors

Author

D. I. (Ian) Hay