Passion Of The Wild - Inspirational Outdoors Stories

The First Book from Mike Giles of Mississippi

One of the duties of a responsible media member is to seek membership in an organization that strives to show that expertise and ethics are indeed integral parts of the job. It was through the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association that I met Mike Giles of Mississippi, and recognized him as a like-minded outdoor writer. Giles compiles some of his memorable outdoors stories in the form of a book titled Passion Of The Wild.

            

Giles relates tales that any outdoorsman who has spent a lifetime in the outdoors might recognize as rites of passage. His passage became a passion that he wants to share with others, and so he dips into his own family stories, and into his religious faith to relay memorable endeavors. Wild turkey hunting seems to be a favorite subject with Giles, followed by white-tailed deer hunting and duck hunting tales, all set in Mississippi.

            

Of course no one becomes a sharp shooting wingshot or an expert deer tracker without first experiencing failure. Dove season is a universal experience in the South and Giles shares that he was a poor wingshot for doves until his Uncle mentored him about swinging the gun on a passing bird. Many people know the frustration of emptying your gun at a dove without cutting a feather, while the next stander down knocks them down two at a time.

            

Rather than sticking with his devotion to big game like deer and turkeys, Giles made it a point to work with his Uncle to improve his aim and his dove shooting game while at a shooting range. Soon this story turns into an account from the next dove hunt and Giles crumples bird after bird with his new found confidence. At this point in the story Giles inserts an inspirational saying, and includes bible verses in other chapters.

            
In the dove shooting chapter it reads Imagine The Possibilities. “Don’t tell people how to do things, don’t tell them what to do and don’t tell them what you’re going to do for them. Show them what to do, how to do it and lead by example by doing it right.” Amen. I love this saying and the fact that it came from someone with an outdoors mindset, because it can be equally applied to all walks of life.

In the book’s final chapter Giles quotes Genesis 1:26 and how man should have rule over the fish in the sea, birds in the sky and the creatures on the ground. He shares how conservation includes the responsible harvest of our natural resources, and that stewardship is a part of God’s plan. Giles is using his writing to speak out about his passion for big bass, long beards and wide racks and I’m glad to call him my friend.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past book reviews click on Moonbird or Kayak Fishing or Audubon's Aviary.