After graduating from good old Roy-Hart, I attended SUNY at Buffalo, where I earned a B.A. in Psychology. I was still determined to become a medical doctor. That year also brought the infamous “Selective Service Lottery,” along with a concomitant number low enough to “lose the lottery,” meaning I would be offered a chance to see the world via Uncle Sam. Hoping medical school would call me first, I was contacted by Mr. Nasal (Social Studies) and asked to come back to Roy-Hart in order to substitute teach. Sometime within that year of waiting, I met my destiny twice: Once with teaching and secondly with a hometown girl, the former Deborah Szklany. We married and I was offered a full-time teaching position at Roy-Hart. A seven-year stint teaching social studies in Bruno Pacini’s position lasted longer than my three-year marriage to my first wife, which resulted in two sons, Christopher and Gregory. After my divorce, I met a newly minted Kindergarten teacher named Susan Filipiak and fell head over heels in love with her.

Ever restless and yearning for a way to overcome my prior mistake, I then went back to UB and obtained my Masters in Education, was granted tenure for teaching at Roy-Hart, and married Susan. We have two sons, Brett and Zachary. My next epiphany was to pursue a doctorate in educational administration; which entailed additional trips to UB. Earning my School District Administrator certificate, I sorrowfully left RHCS after accepting an Assistant Principal’s position at Lakeshore High School in Angola, NY. I subsequently became High School Principal there. After a decade at LSHS, wanderlust beckoned me towards Cooperstown (Our 7th grade historical trip, remember?), where I ultimately sought to become Superintendent of Schools. The closest that career “shake of the dice” got me was eight years as a High School Principal in Gloversville, NY., an hour away from Cooperstown. I did, however, address my dream of summering on Otsego Lake (Glimmerglass).

After my mother died, our family made a concerted effort to move back to western New York, so as to be closer [less than five hours] to family and friends. I subsequently did earn my doctoral degree in educational administration (Not at UB this time!). After forming an educational consulting enterprise; which allowed me to contract out to low functioning schools as an “educational trouble-shooter,” Dr. Gilbert attended to his multiple “patients’ turn-around and recovery.” In 2002, I sold the business and retired from public education, seemingly content to draw my pension and live the “bon vivant” retiree’s lifestyle. Another little Gilbert – Rachel Ann – came into the world as my first grandchild, and, of course, the apple of Grandpa’s eye!

However, never one to take life lying down, I then wrote and published my first literary work. This authoritative textbook, entitled The A–Z Guide to White-tailed Deer and Deer Hunting, is currently used by 17 universities in their wildlife divisions (No, not fraternities!). I also founded Buckhunter Associates, Inc., a land analysis, deer hunting recommendations, etc. business; that I am now actively engaged in as an extension of my life-long hobby. There is also a second book soon to be published about white-tailed deer, entitled Whitetail Woods; which is an instructional novel about deer and the many fascinating aspects of these creatures of the edge.

2015 Update:   Here is the update of what I have been up to lately.

Professional Experience:

01/17/2002 Retired from NYS Public Education (30 years). Commenced full-time effort as an outdoors writer.

2003-Present - Owner and C.E.O. of BUCKHUNTER PUBLICATIONS, LLC – a literary publishing outlet for aspiring outdoors authors and sportspersons.

Published author of: The Deer Camp Coffee Table/Foot Stool Book (2014), Whitetail PHD: The Pursuit of Hunting Deer (2112), The Definitive White-tailed Deer Book (2010), Whitetail Woods: A Hunter’s Quest (2008), The A–Z Guide to White-tailed Deer and Deer Hunting (2003)

Owner & C.E.O. of Buckhunter Associates Land Consultancy, LLC - a white-tailed deer hunting land analysis, herd management and development advisory group.

Presentation speaker and in-demand-lecturer at sportsperson’s shows, white-tailed deer hunting seminars, and hunting/rod & gun club meetings (includes books presentations and signings).

2009–Present – Elected to the Outdoor Writers Association of America and to the New York State Outdoors Writers Association.

2114 Attained NY State and National recognition as a “White-tailed Deer Expert” Awarded Deer Steward I and Deer Steward II status; [D S- III – pending]

Current Community Involvement:

Rotary International [Geneseo Chapter] – Sergeant at at Arms/Official Greeter

Conesus Lake Assoc. – Board of Directors/Board Recording Secretary/Water Quality Com.

GRST-QDMA [Greater Rochester/Southern Tier Quality Deer Management Association] Board of Directors/Treasurer