Hellpig Hunt: A Hunting Adventure in the Wild Wetland at the Mouth of the Mississippi River by Middle-Aged Lunatics Who Refuse to Grow Up

by Humberto Fontova

Overview

Join in on a trip that tests the spirit, the body and the sense of humor of everyone involved. The action starts as soon as Humberto leaves the house, and doesn't stop until he and his buddies have been shocked, scared, gassed, gored, trampled and battered into submission.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590770092
Publisher:	M. Evans & Company
Publication date:	10/15/2003
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	6.26(w) x 9.26(h) x 0.84(d)

Editorial Reviews

New Orleans journalist Fontova has covered diving, hunting and fishing for specialty magazines like Bowhunter, Scuba Times and Sierra and penned a book about divers who spear fish from oil rigs (Helldivers' Rodeo) two years ago. Now the hellbent author and his equally hellbent pals are back, intent on stirring up more nonstop macho action. This time they hope to nail a wild pig during a Louisiana bayou "hunting-fishing-boozing trip." The pig chase doesn't begin until page 173, but no matter. The fun is getting there. Amid their "orgy of blood-lust, booze, and lechery; a three-day indulgence of our primal passions in primitive splendor," readers get fascinating factoids of Louisiana lore, ecology, geology, history, politics and wildlife, plus literary, cinematic and pop culture references. Navigating the French Quarter and the Mississippi Delta's shallow marshes and squishy mudflats, Fontova and company encounter gators and girls gone wild, "plumb, freakin' crazy" hog hunters, migrating waterfowl, mosquitoes and snakes. Fun comes as the gang razzes a greenhorn businessman along for the hunt: "I explained to him that we cut more business deals in hunting and fishing camps than on any golf course, but probably just as many in titty bars." Memoir adds to the madhouse mix, with Fontova's flashbacks erupting in an onslaught of anecdotes. Fontova's voice is powerful and compelling, and the hog hunt finale is worth the wait. The end result is something like Deliverance as written by Hunter Thompson. (Oct. 30) Forecast: Outdoorsmen, lovers of Louisiana lore and readers of Helldivers' Rodeo (which was published in paperback earlier this year) are all certain to dive into bookstores for this one. The jacket art resembles that of the earlier book, so Fontova's fans should easily spot it. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Southern Louisiana is often described as a hunter's paradise. Difficult, swampy, undeveloped terrain combines with plentiful waterfowl, reptiles, fish, bear, and wild pigs to provide many opportunities for hunters. Fontova's second book is a farrago of barely connected hunting tales involving his middle-aged friends, their wives, and sundry Runyonesque supporting characters, all concerned with hunting in this part of the country. Despite the title, a relatively small part of the book is devoted to pig hunting, the remainder being divided among waterfowl, fishing, and tall tales involving alligators or game wardens. When waxing lyrical about Pintail season and the delights of shooting from a pirogue, Fontova speaks with a compelling and credible voice. Much of the material, however, tries to make drunken hijinks sound amusing to nonparticipants. Avid hunting enthusiasts may find Fontova's adolescent pranks and tall tales exciting, but with a few exceptions his storytelling strains the patience after a while. Fontova is a freelance journalist and outdoorsman whose The Helldivers' Rodeo gave a nice sense of the primal thrill that comes from testing oneself against the forces of nature. This less successful effort will be of interest primarily to libraries with comprehensive regional or subject interests.-Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

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