Local outdoorsmen write book about Idaho adventures

BLACKFOOT — Five Idaho men who share a deep love for the outdoors have joined forces to publish a new book that captures the grit, humor and heart of life in Idaho’s wide-open spaces.

“Call to Adventure: Stories by Real Idaho Outdoorsmen” debuted on Amazon this week, featuring a collection of true tales from across the Gem State’s rugged backcountry.

The book was spearheaded by Blackfoot native Flint Nilsson, a lifelong outdoorsman who brought together fellow sportsmen Allan Garner of St. Anthony, Dayton Schild of American Falls, James Voss of Payette, and Antonio Rodriguez (whose real name is Antonio Hernandez) of Jerome.

What began as a storytelling community on Facebook called Hog Heads, where Nilsson encouraged fellow hunters and anglers to share their experiences, evolved into something more.

“I know many outdoorsmen who are amazing people,” Nilsson said. “I enjoy hearing their stories of success and failure. The idea came to me to compile them into a book, and when I bounced it off the other writers, they all said yes.”

The result is a vivid, often humorous, and always heartfelt look at life in Idaho’s outdoors. From wrestling monster trout in Henrys Lake to adrenaline-pumping encounters with bears and the quiet intensity of tracking mule deer, “Call to Adventure” offers readers a seat beside the campfire and a front-row view of Idaho’s untamed beauty.

Nilsson’s own story, “One Memorable Elk Hunt,” is a poignant reflection on a meaningful experience in the wild, blending the thrill of the chase with the deeper bonds forged in nature.

The book is dedicated to Nilsson’s sister Julie Neff, who designed the cover and encouraged him to write it.

“I didn’t know I loved to write, but once I started, I couldn’t stop. The memories came flooding back,” Nilsson said. “Having the other writers join in gives more voices to the book besides mine.”

Among those voices is Allan Garner, who contributed five stories drawn from his lifelong experiences of fishing the Snake River and camping at Island Park.

“To get this book out has been a humbling and awesome experience,” Garner said. “I got emotional reading my stories in print, especially the one about fishing with my grandfather. Writing helps me express what the Snake River means to me as an outdoorsman.”

The book’s tone has drawn comparisons to the legendary humorist and outdoor writer Patrick McManus, capturing both the comic misadventures and soulful solitude that come with time spent in the wilderness.

The authors plan to turn “Call to Adventure” into a book series, with a second installment already in the works.

“’The Call to Adventure’ is an opportunity for people who love the outdoors to vicariously live a life of adventure,” said Nilsson. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. Now these stories are recorded for future generations to know what life was like for us outdoorsmen at this point in time.”

A book signing is scheduled for July 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at C-A-L Ranch in Ammon, with additional signing events to be announced.

“The Call to Adventure” can be purchased at Kesler’s in Blackfoot and is available in paperback and Kindle formats on Amazon.

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