Tony, I enjoyed and appreciated your book. Thank You!
Although your book circled around Hunting, your storytelling of your life‘s passion, adventures, and life lessons are so finely woven throughout the book, and are truly inspiring and much more!
This book should be read by all new father’s waiting to take their new born home, as it shows the importance of what kind of dad to be; like your dad did with you; spending those special times together as you do with your sons, family and friends. Your stories could help build real men, better fathers, husbands, and son’s, something that today seems more rare than ever!
I’ve now come away with a greater appreciation and understanding of many more aspects of life!
I know in my heart that your dad is so very proud of you, and is looking down from above with the biggest smile. Thank You!
Although your book circled around Hunting, your storytelling of your life‘s passion, adventures, and life lessons are so finely woven throughout the book, and are truly inspiring and much more!
This book should be read by all new father’s waiting to take their new born home, as it shows the importance of what kind of dad to be; like your dad did with you; spending those special times together as you do with your sons, family and friends. Your stories could help build real men, better fathers, husbands, and son’s, something that today seems more rare than ever!
I’ve now come away with a greater appreciation and understanding of many more aspects of life!
I know in my heart that your dad is so very proud of you, and is looking down from above with the biggest smile. Thank You!
-Trevor Elliot, Lake Country, B.C
Our family had the pleasure of reading You Can’t Get ’Em From Home by Tony in 2024, and it’s truly something special. His stories, intertwined with the lives of so many others, beautifully capture a lifelong love of the outdoors and hunting.
We were so moved by the book that we recently purchased additional copies to share with seniors in our community who are in long-term care and were once hunters themselves. Tony’s words have brightened so many lives, reminding us all how important it is to share our stories.
Thank you, Tony, for keeping the spirit of the hunt and the love of the outdoors alive.
— The Earthy Family, Kamloops, B.C.
Hi Tony,
I read your book cover to cover as soon as I found a comfortable chair in a quiet place. I loved it!
The hunter inside me devoured it! The father inside me rejoiced, then I shed tears remembering my own father. Thank you for putting your stories into this format for many to appreciate.
-Kevin Bustard, Surrey, B.C.
Hey Tony, I just finished your book. I liked the collection of short stories, I have 2 sons that are just getting old enough to tag along with me on hunts, and I read one chapter each night to them. I most appreciated your chapter on your Dad. I unfortunately am not overly close with my Father, but my Grandfather was my best hunting buddy. When you said “Out with the Old, In with the New” in regards to your Dad’s last hunt, and your son turning 10, that really resonated with me. My first deer I killed was with my Grandpa and at the shot of the gunfire jumped up a second doe that my Grandpa shot. We doubled up on my first hunt with me as the hunter! It was both my first and my Grandpas last hunt as he passed at 80 years old the following spring. I’ll be taking your advice to heart and exposing my boys to the outdoors as much as possible, so hopefully, like you with your Dad, they’ll be helping me get in and out of the woods when I’m old. Thanks again
-Luke Seedorff, Michigan, USA
A great read! The technique of writing makes you feel included in the journey. It also makes you recall your personal experiences clearer. Thank you for sharing Tony!
Looking forward to more …..
-Kevin Fairley, Delta, B.C.
This isn't just your average "hunting story book" The passion the author pours into this book is capturing! Hunting, family, adventure, it’s all here!! Very well written and presented. I loved the old photos to go with the stories. Truly Outstanding, Highly Recommended!
-Ed Thompson, Burns Lake, B.C.
Very well written and easy to read. I haven’t experienced hunting yet but by reading Tony's book, it made me feel how it's like being in the woods, waiting for game, and how awesome it feels harvesting an animal. I never met his father but it’s an honor to know him through Tony's book.
Tony's book is more than a collection of hunting tales. It’s about the bond between father and son, the friendship among hunters, and the joy of passing down traditions.
─John Gregorio, Surrey, B.C..
I just finished reading this book while on my last hunt of the season. Tony does an excellent job at capturing the story through his literature.
As a resident hunter here in British Columbia it was special reading about the different hunts he has been on over the years. From the north to the coast, the book covers a wide range of experiences throughout the province.
-Spencer Stevens/ True Tine Outdoors
If you love hunting or the great outdoors you will love this book! Tony has an amazing talent for story telling which makes you feel like you are right there with him on these adventures. An easy and entertaining read from start to finish!
─Dana Saretsky, Kelowna, B.C.
I read the entire book in one sitting, as I could not put it down. Tony's passionate style of writing encaptures all of the feelings of love, admiration, and devotion to family and friends. He writes from his soul. I felt his words. I laughed, and I cried, and it warmed my heart the whole way through. This book is more than a sharing of cherished memories, it is a tribute to his eternal bond with his father, and it shows Tony's beautiful outlook on life - showing us all what really matters in this world... Love, Family and appreciating all of the cherished memories that are created along the way! Thank you Tony!
─Debbie Livesey, Chilliwack, B.C.
I never really understood the glamour or intrigue related to hunting . That was until I read this book. The stories that Tony writes about regarding his friends, his dad and his boys are quite simply amazing. The memories that he has shared with them all is inspiring and something he should be hugely proud of. The time and dedication as well as the passion you can feel throughout this book was an eye opener for a non hunter and well worth the read. Thank you.
─Rob Love, Penticton, B.C.
I have known Tony for more than 25 years, and the passion, respect, and admiration that he has for “his” environment are not just words on paper. The importance of the animals, the land, and most of all his family and friends shows his commitment to sustaining each of these relationships for years and generations to come.
You don’t have to be a hunter to appreciate the rewards that Tony has received from his dad, and so many other valuable mentors, and how proud he is to pass on that wisdom to others.
─Andy Macaulay, Kelowna, B.C.
Having known Tony from the hunting world for close to two decades and living in the same home town, I have heard many of these hunting stories before; however, the details in this book absolutely captured me and made it almost impossible to put down. Join Tony in this book as he evolves, not only as a hunter, but as a father, a son and as a human being. Throughout his journey as a hunter he never loses sight of the big picture of what hunting is all about and that is sharing his passion and making memories in the great outdoors with family and friends. This book is an absolute must-have for the libraries of both new and older hunters.
─Brent Tingstad, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
From the time I picked up the book to the final pages, I was captivated by the stories that were as much about family and friends as it was about hunting. For me, this book led to a trip down memory lane making me reflect on my hunting journeys throughout my childhood and how important it was to be with my father, grandfather and now my children. Tony is a great storyteller and his prose embodies the importance of family and friends, respect for the animal and time spent afield. There were a few times throughout the book where the hair stood up on the back of my neck knowing the seriousness of the experiences. Whether you are a new hunter or spent a lifetime in the bush you will enjoy this read and I highly recommend you pick up a copy.
─Kyle Stelter, Chief Executive Officer, Wild Sheep Society of British Columbia
Tony embodies the quintessential Canadian hunter. If you’re a hunter like me, you’ll find reflections of yourself and your own memories in every chapter. Even if you’re not a hunter, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Tony’s book. It will satisfy your curiosity about what hunting truly entails and reveal the heart and soul of a hunter.
─Mark Hall – Host of The Hunter Conservationist Podcast
It’s been a wonderful read. I absolutely loved it and it brought back so many memories for myself, my family and with my father. I could literally relate to every page and story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves spending time outdoors with family and friends.
─Giovanni Del Medico, Kelowna, B.C.
De Bonis demonstrates his passion for big game meat hunting in a series of memories dating back to his Canadian childhood...he strikes the enthusiastic tone of an adventurer recounting tales over a campfire, and his frequent use of exclamation marks and superlatives make his passion for the subject—and for his own success on hunting expeditions—very clear. The memoir is at its most captivating during scenes of intense uncertainty, as when the author tells of fighting to survive a float plane crash, and when he writes of his preoccupations with shooting a certain elusive buck or a California bighorn sheep...those with hunting experience will recognize how the author’s personal connections to the activity—its significance to his family, his sense of self, and his sense of accomplishment—undergird his accounts.
─Kirkus Reviews
Totally enjoyed this book, thought many of the chapters captured true nature of the hunt . Could experience the author’s passion for hunting and the conditions they endured to get the ultimate goal …and fill the freezer.
─Tim Thomas, Kelowna, B.C.
Well done Tony! You have a gift for capturing those lifetime memories of adventures, family and camaraderie. I highly recommend this book written from the heart.
─Deborah Toye, Kelowna, B.C.
