A Matter of Life and Death: Hunting in Contemporary Vermont

Acknowledgments

xiii Acknowledgments So many people have played a role in the completion of this book. First, I must extend my deepest gratitude to all the Vermonters who welcomed me into their lives and were willing to share so much. This book is a direct result of your generosity, and I dedicate it to you. Several professors—both undergraduate and graduate—must be acknowledged for either their intellectual influences or more direct relationships to this book. Uli Linke gave me confidence that it should be written in the first place and has offered her theoretical insight while I wrote. Peter Nabokov shepherded me through the early days of graduate school, teaching me so much about so many different things—including anthropology. Tom Heberlein has kept my work in tension with the human dimensions of wildlife research in rural sociology and has offered more personal support through some tough patches than I could have ever expected or even imagined. Thanks again, Tom. Other professors whom I’d like to thank include Richard Flores, Neil Whitehead, Jack Kugelmass, Herb Lewis, Maria Lepowsky, Kirin Narayan, Paul Nadasdy, John Fiske, and Yi-Fu Tuan. Many other colleagues and friends have made significant contributions to this process. Jan Dizard voiced his support of my work long before I had a book contract and offered detailed editorial advice on the manuscript that has significantly enhanced the quality of this book. Gerald Creed and Michael Harkin have provided invaluable intellectual commentary and professional advice. Adrie Kusserow has supported my career in various ways for a decade. Caitrin Lynch has been a trusted anthropological interlocutor. Richard Nelson sent a surprise postcard that bolstered my sagging spirits on many occasions over the years. I’ll always feel indebted to Kristin Peterson-Ishaq for organizing my first talk at the Center for Research on Vermont. I also thank my colleagues in the Department of Anthropology at Drew University for providing me with an intellectually stimulating home (and a junior academic leave!) to write this book. Writing a book involves the contribution of many skilled laborers— only one of whom is the author. At University of Massachusetts Press, senior editor Clark Dougan provided support from the very beginning and patiently guided me to the places I had to be. My copyeditor, Mary Bellino , not only pulled me to the finish, but also sharpened my arguments with her insightful observations. Drew University undergraduate Jessica Glickman provided important assistance during the copyediting phase. I must also thank the talented staffs of the University of Wisconsin–Madison libraries, the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Vermont State Archives in Montpelier, the Vermont Folklife Center, and the Drew University Library . Lastly, I am grateful to all the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel who spent hours of their precious time on the phone answering questions about wildlife management. Thanks to Brian Troiano, Sara Farr, and Jonathan Blake for making my fieldwork so memorable and important; and to Pam, Ray, Eric, and Tyler for a great home. And thanks to all the folks from Woody’s and Field Sports. I wish Rick Long were alive to accept my thanks for his warm and loyal friendship. The support of my family was absolutely critical as I wrote this book. My brother Greg and his wife, Fran, were (and still are) indispensable to my research in Vermont. Through their hospitality and dependability I always have a place to sleep—even if I’m bringing my kids along now. My brother Peter has been a constant source of stimulating conversations about human–animal relations and animal behavior. My mother, Pati Boglioli, offered unconditional love and support (including financial) throughout my years in school and the research and writing of this book and I thank her from the bottom of my heart. I love you, Mom. And even though my father died twenty-five years ago, his passion for critical thinking and the outdoors have found their way into my life’s work. I cannot quantify my gratitude to my wife, Joslyn Cassady, for her emotional support, intellectual camaraderie, editorial eye, generosity, compassion , and belief in me. If it wasn’t such a scary thought, I just might say I couldn’t have done this without you, Jos. I love you. And I thank my precious daughters, Willa and Quinn, for being bastions of love, perspective, and hope. I love you both to outer-space! Acknowledgments xiv A Matter of...