A couple years after the final Alex Taylor’s Crime Stories ran, he found himself still a frequent contributor to the Gainesville Times, although writing about a topic he holds a bit more deer.. er.. dear than crime. Dad has always been an avid outdoorsman, particularly known for hosting countless hunting expeditions to lesser-known and remote ranches out west. Montana to South Texas, waist-deep in frigid powder or blistering on a hilltop boulder with rattlers underfoot. Camping via horseback trails and days-long hikes. He became so well-known for it, Ed Dodd or comic strip Mark Trail fame regularly consulted for source material. More to that story, but I simply need to relay that Dad hunted… a lot. Let’s just say, we were one of those households with the extra deep freezer always packed with venison, which was Dad’s favorite currency. If you ever did him a favor, chances are you received a couple frozen white wax paper bundles ‘o meat whether you wanted them or not. Anyway, one anecdote of many. I have a few of Dad’s outdoor articles and I will publish them from time to time. Today’s is sort of a repeat that first appeared in December 1987’s Crime Stories.
Last appearing in the Gainesville Times December 24, 1992 (with updated photo!), we revisit the Christmas story of Old Joe and the homesick bloodhound that almost sent him to prison.
