More Poachers Caught!: Further True Adventures of a Northwoods Game Warden

More stories, more action, more danger—read these shocking true accounts of illegal hunting and fishing activity, as told by a former game warden.

An out-of-state firefighter poaches 186 walleyes for his department’s fish fry. Two nights and two high-speed chases result in the capture of two pike poachers. Illegal hunters lead a conservation officer into the woods and hold him at gunpoint. If you thought Poachers Caught! was exhilarating, get ready for the sequel! Tom Chapin, a Minnesota game warden for 29 years, was cussed at, chased, shot at, and nearly run over. He has enlisted the help of his colleagues and friends to present another 31 harrowing accounts in More Poachers Caught! Read about some of the most memorable poachers who were ever busted—and some who got away.

To keep the stories as accurate as possible, Tom relied on official recordings, written reports, and photographs taken on the job. Dangerous, spontaneous, and sometimes comedic, these short stories bring readers face-to-face with the problem of poaching. They represent greed, selfishness, and hope.

The tales of true crime are action-packed, shocking, and wildly entertaining. They appeal to anyone with an interest in hunting, fishing, and law enforcement, as well as anyone who’s concerned about the protection of our natural resources. Tom’s writing serves as a tool for educating people about poaching and for promoting ethics in nature. It also yields a heightened appreciation for the wildlife officers who protect our fish and wildlife resources.

Tom says, “I always believed a game warden’s job should focus on this one concern: providing an equal playing field for all who purchase a hunting or fishing license.”

Tom Chapin is a native of Hibbing, Minnesota. He earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1972 from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, after a two-year tour in the US Army. Most of his 29-year career as a natural resource conservation officer was spent in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota, district, where he also served as area supervisor for seven years. Chief among the honors he received include the 1978 Itasca County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and the 1985 Minnesota Conservation Officer of the Year.

Tom has also served as adjunct faculty, teaching law enforcement courses at Itasca and Hibbing Community Colleges. The author’s campaigning and testimony prompted the Minnesota State Legislature to enact a gross over-limit law. Known as the “Chapin Bill,” this law became effective March 1, 2003. It increased penalties, including the loss of hunting and fishing privileges, for violators who take large quantities of game and fish.

Throughout his career as a game warden, Tom took hundreds of photographs documenting illegal activities. These photos were an integral part of his group presentations, which have both educated and entertained audiences interested in natural resources issues. Tom and his wife, Sandy, raised daughters Colleen, Anita, and Beth in Grand Rapids, where Tom retired from public service.