After sixteen years in California law enforcement, Robert Geving traded city streets for the northern wilderness and a new life as a Minnesota Conservation Officer. In Props & Prints, he takes readers behind the badge and above the treetops into a world where law enforcement meets the untamed. From frozen-lake patrols and backcountry investigations to aerial wildlife surveys and encounters with poachers, Geving reveals the grit, danger, and beauty of a career where every day is unpredictable and every decision carries weight. Part adventure, part memoir, this true story captures the courage and calling of those who protect our natural world where the road ends and the wild begins.
From city streets to northern skies, Robert Geving has spent his life on the edge of duty and adventure, revealed early by earning a pilot's certificate as a teenager. For sixteen years, he served as a Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff before returning north—back to the lakes, forests, and sense of home he'd never forgotten. For nearly two decades, he served as a Minnesota State Conservation Officer and DNR pilot, patrolling the state's lakes, fields, and forests from both ground and air. Now retired in Mankato, Robert enjoys the freedom he once protected—spending his days outdoors, writing, playing music, and with his family and loyal dogs.
"'Props & Prints' gives readers an in-depth look at the life of a Minnesota DNR Conservation Officer in today's world. It is well-written and provides valuable insight for anyone considering a career as a Conservation Officer or in other natural resource law enforcement fields. I would also recommend it to anyone curious about what the life of a CO is truly like—rest assured, it's far more than just game and fish activities. I plan to immediately include it as part of my course curriculum for Introduction to Conservation Officer Careers!" — William E. “Bill” Faber, Ph.D., Certified Wildlife Biologist®️, Natural Resources Program Head, Dept. Natural Resources, Central Lakes College, Brainerd, MN
"Bob Geving delivers an insightful, thrilling, and often humorous perspective on his career as a Conservation Officer and natural resource pilot. His riveting stories—recounting encounters on the ground and in the air—will keep you engaged through every chapter. This book deepens appreciation and understanding of the commitment and sacrifice it takes to protect our precious natural resources." — Tom Chapin, MN Conservation Officer (Retired.), Author of "Poachers Caught" & "More Poachers Caught"
"When Bob told me he was writing a book about his experiences as a Game Warden, I said, 'That's all the world needs—another Game Warden book!' I'm happy to say I'm eating crow on that statement. Bob's book is anything but the cookie-cutter recounting of call after call. It's a refreshing, insightful look at a job that, by its nature, becomes all-consuming.
Both of us came from traditional law enforcement agencies into this profession that turns into a lifestyle. Unlike some of the other books about our field, I didn't have to push myself to finish this one. In fact, I read it in a single sitting and found it well-written and thoroughly enjoyable." — Captain Christopher Lofstuen, Minnesota DNR Chief Pilot (Retired)
"Years ago, they were known as game wardens, mainly patrolling the hook-and-bullet crowd. Today, their official title is Conservation Officer, a name that better reflects duties that have grown to include boating, ATV and snowmobile enforcement, wetland and pollution issues, and other environmental responsibilities. As licensed peace officers, their job differs markedly from that of others in law enforcement. They're the only officers who routinely expect to interact with an armed public, often in remote areas. They also operate from their homes and frequently work irregular hours. More than a job, being a Conservation Officer is truly a lifestyle.In 'Props & Prints,' Geving relates the challenges of that career—from the rigors of the DNR's training academy to his first patrol assignment and, ultimately, to his final post as one of a handful of pilots in the DNR's air wing. Geving recounts interactions with the public across Minnesota's great outdoors over two decades. Some are humorous, others are heartbreaking—accidental shootings, drownings, and loss. His stories as a DNR pilot reveal a unique view from above: aerial wildlife surveys, enforcement flights, and the ways Minnesota's unpredictable weather can upend the best-laid plans.Anyone with a stake in the outdoors will find 'Props & Prints' an engaging and enlightening read, offering a rare glimpse into what a Conservation Officer's job—and lifestyle—are truly like." — John Cross, Reporter and Photographer, The Free Press, Mankato
