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On the first page there is this quote: “A good-natured romp through the woods of Florida and Georgia.”

And that’s just what this book is as written by and experienced by its co-authors Rick Dantzler and Joe Marlin Hilliard, with original artwork by Rob Smith, Jr.

It’s a handsome yet relatively small book, hardcover with dust jacket and appendix.

Rob Smith’s pen-and-ink drawings appear throughout bringing to life many of the comical incidents described and written about in the book.

Chapters are all named with more than a little hint as to the contents. For instance, Chapter 2, named “Getting Started” is just that beginning with “The Hilliards began buying land in Florida over three-quarters of a century ago, and were ridiculed for so doing because this was during the time of “free range” when ranchers or anyone else were allowed to graze cattle wherever they chose because there were no fences and the land was considered available to everyone. Thus they reasoned why buy land when you could use it for free? However, Joe Marlin’s father and uncle, the brothers of Hilliard Brothers of Florida, Ltd., knew that times would change and that they did. By 1960, the Hilliards owned 80,000 Florida acres free and clear.

It was in 1986 that the Hilliards (along with several other Floridians) commenced buying land in Georgia with the purchase of “Mistletoe Plantation,” a 4,600-acre gem between Tallahassee, Florida, and Thomasville, Georgia. The property was actually in both states.

The hunts at Mistletoe involved the grand Southern tradition of dog men on horses and hunters in hunting buggies, all moving together while watching the dogs work. It was said...“the hunting was fantastic.”
The chapter “Hunting Camps” runs the gamut of camps through both states, what the hunters ate and drank, what they talked about including names for favorite spots. All through this small book are Rob Smith’s clever, humorous cartoons.

“Hunting Vehicles” covers the title of the chapter exceptionally well....from fancy wagons to rebuilt Jeeps, and all of them with names to fit their personalities.

“Camp Food” begins... “Georgians seem to prepare more country cooking...by camp chefs. And the list of specialties with specifics is mouth-watering.

The chapter titled “Hunting Dogs” by Dantzler and Hilliard begins....Here I enter treacherous ground. Many people I’ve known would sooner fight to defend the honor of their dogs than the honor of their wives. Since I’ve done divorce work in my law practice and have seen some real skinks, I consider this a virtue, recognition of true loyalty because a dog will never leave its owner’s side. Unlike all cats, who’ll go with the last person who fed it, dogs stay until the end, no matter what. That’s what dog owners love the most.
Various tales in this chapter must not be missed!

“Turkeys” tells more about turkeys — and turkey hunting — than you may need to know. But not if you’re into the sport! It’s said that Florida turkeys are harder to hunt successfully than Georgia turkeys. The Osceola turkey (sometimes simply called the Florida turkey) is slightly slimmer than the Eastern turkey with longer legs...etc. which you must read to appreciate!
The chapter devoted to deer is one of the most captivating of the whole book, even if you’re not a Florida-Georgia hunter, and the cartoon on page 51 is a real winner!

People in Florida take politics very seriously, at least those with significant stakes in the outcome of public affairs. Once the first Hilliard log cabin was built at Hopedelagee in 1970, things cranked up politically. The cabin was a perfect getaway for politicians and an excellent place for Joe Marlin and others concerned with agriculture to get to know their elected officials better. From governors to commissioners of agriculture to senators to sheriffs, the woods have always been a great place to mingle.

And don’t think that big shots were immune from criticism. In the early ’70s, when Lawton Chiles, a United States senator, accidentally shot five big-bearded gobblers with one shot, Joe Marlin’s father chewed on him so badly he was running for cover!

“Final Thoughts” concludes with: This book has been hopefully, a fun romp through the woods of Florida and Georgia, subjectively comparing hunters and game. The inescapable conclusion, though, is that similarities far outnumber differences.

Florida vs Georgia, hardback, illustrated, 115 pages, Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno, Florida, by Rick Dantzler and Joe Marlin Hilliard, available by mail from Barbara Oehlbeck, 1388 Grassy Run, LaBelle, Florida, telephone 863-675-2771, e-mail doco@strato.com. $14.95 plus tax $1.05 and shipping $2.50, total $18.50.