{"id":51775,"date":"2026-07-31T07:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T11:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=51775"},"modified":"2026-07-27T10:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T14:38:50","slug":"book-review-farm-and-dairy-the-rings-of-saturn-a-game-wardens-view-of-the-universe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/book-review-farm-and-dairy-the-rings-of-saturn-a-game-wardens-view-of-the-universe\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Farm and Dairy: The Rings of Saturn, A Game Warden\u2019s View of the Universe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By: Jim Abrams<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I first met Duane Bailey in 1983 when I was assigned as the Division of Wildlife\u2019s Hancock County Game Protector in northwest Ohio\u2019s district two. Bailey had grown up on the east side of Columbus and was a graduate of Ohio State University. Upon completion of the 1980 Game Protector Academy, he was sent to Paulding County; replacing longtime warden Danny Griffiths Jr., who\u2019d served in that position since 1953. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulding County was organized by the legislature in 1820 and is home to the meandering Auglaize and Maumee Rivers. As it grew, farmers came to the fledgling county to try to make a living, but settlement in the area was slow. Once densely timbered, trees were rapidly cut for lumber and floated northward on the Maumee River. Shipbuilders manufactured masts from the huge logs and barrel making became an important industry. Early farmers often quipped that they grew two crops a year – frogs and ice. Today, due to land clearing and drainage, the county has become highly agricultural with just over 18,000 residents inhabiting its 419 square miles \u2013 ranking its population 83rd out of Ohio\u2019s 88 counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This became Bailey\u2019s primary patrol responsibility for more than 30-years. He ran into a lot of different situations during that career and \u2013 like most wardens \u2013 has been told repeatedly that he could write a book about his experiences. That idea wasn\u2019t actually new to him and he would mention it often during the years we worked in the same district. He\u2019d told me that if it ever materialized, he planned to name the manuscript The Rings of Saturn, a strange name I never bothered to question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During our years in the division, Duane and I would cross paths at meetings, training, and during a variety of special projects. The time we spent working together was not frequent due to the sixty miles separating our counties and our work units covered different portions of northwest Ohio. Regardless, what time we did share was enjoyable and our friendship developed. Whenever he mentioned that someday he\u2019d like to write a book, I\u2019d tell him that it was up to him to turn that someday into today and encouraged him to get started. In fact, we had that same discussion just a couple of months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, now he\u2019s done it. Here\u2019s a slightly edited sample of one of his book\u2019s 46 stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the lesser-known duties of a wildlife officer involved contacting individuals who held wild animal propagation licenses. These permits were required for people who raised and sold certain approved wild animals \u2013 for instance, pen-reared pheasants or other species allowed under Ohio law. Each year, we were responsible for conducting inspections of those facilities\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOn one particular day, my unit supervisor \u2013 whom I’ll simply call Bob \u2013 met me in Paulding County so we could conduct several of these inspections together. Bob was sharp, squared away, and wore the uniform well. He had been a solid county officer before becoming a supervisor, and I always enjoyed working with him. We visited a couple of facilities first where everything was in order \u2013 clean pens, organized records, no issues. But I knew the next stop would be memorable\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI took Bob to another propagator who maintained what could best be described as a small menagerie. Only a few of his animals required Division of Wildlife permits \u2013 namely some pheasants, a couple of raccoons, and a black bear, all native species. But he also possessed an African lion and a tiger \u2013 former circus surplus animals he had acquired years earlier\u2026 the Division of Wildlife had no regulatory authority over those exotic species\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStill, curiosity got the better of us, and the owner offered to walk us down to see the lion enclosure. The cage sat near a pond, with only a narrow path between the fence line and the water’s edge. As we approached, the lion began pacing toward us. The owner casually said, \u201cYou might not want to get too close. He\u2019s got a habit.\u201d Bob\u2026 walked right up to the edge of the cage.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure enough, the lion followed him. The big cat turned, backed toward the fence, and without hesitation, let loose a powerful stream straight through the wire. It hit Bob square in the chest. As Bob staggered backward, the lion pivoted and followed along the fence line, continuing to spray. Bob kept retreating while the lion maintained aim with surprising accuracy\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor reasons not fully documented it would be quite a while before Bob ever accompanied me on another propagator inspection.\u201d \u2013 An Inspection to Remember \u2013 And Smell by Duane Bailey.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bet you didn\u2019t see that game warden story coming! Of course, over thirty years of working wildlife enforcement, an officer can gather plenty of material, and that\u2019s what Bailey\u2019s The Rings of Saturn,  A Game Warden\u2019s View of the Universe<\/em> offers. The book gives a rare glimpse of one officer\u2019s work in rural Ohio, protecting what can\u2019t protect itself. In it you\u2019ll be with Officer Bailey as he catches more than just hunting and fishing violators, you\u2019ll meet some characters and bad actors, and share some of the humor, heartbreak, and kindness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is your opportunity to ride along and watch as each chapter unfolds. You\u2019ll begin to understand some of the quiet truths that wearing the badge offers. There\u2019s Operation Fish Fry, Truck Bed Full of Trouble, The Manicure that Gave it Away, The Paulding County Poachers Association, Duct Tape Can\u2019t Fix Stupid, Deer Roping, The Arctic Visitor, Quiet Zone \u2013 Judge Sleeping, and so much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you wondering where Duane Bailey came up with the rather abstract name for the book? The Rings of Saturn<\/em> was actually born during an early morning along the Maumee River. If you want to find out, I guess you\u2019ll need to read the book \u2013 you can\u2019t expect me to give it all away. To get a copy of The Rings of Saturn, A Game Warden\u2019s View of the Universe<\/em>, visit: https:\/\/bookstore.westbendprinting.com\/product\/the-rings-of-saturn\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know, I never got the actual chance to buy one of Duane\u2019s books. He sent me a signed copy for giving him that shove off of first base. Hope his book is a homerun. That sort of goes along with the story on page 53\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA game warden\u2019s job is 10% paperwork, 90% pretending to casually stroll while actually sprinting toward someone fishing without a license.\u201d \u2013 Anonymous<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Jim Abrams I first met Duane Bailey in 1983 when I was assigned as the Division of Wildlife\u2019s Hancock<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":51776,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6,1395,1464,2335],"tags":[5617,29622,29627,29626,29624,29625,5553,2901,29623],"class_list":["post-51775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-entertainment","category-history-community","category-nature-2","tag-auglaize-river","tag-book-review","tag-division-of-wildlifes-hancock-county-game-protector","tag-dueane-bailey","tag-farm-and-dairy","tag-jim-abrams","tag-maumee-river","tag-ohio-state-university","tag-the-rings-of-saturn-a-game-wardens-view-of-the-universe"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t