I just found this out and thought I’d post it if it hasn’t been posted. Watched a lot of the old F-F-G videos of Bob and read a couple of his books.

Noted author and outdoorsman Robert Gilsvik passed away October 23, 2024 one month before his 91st birthday. He was living at Agate Bay Assisted Living in Two Harbors. Known to all as “Bob,” he grew up in North Minneapolis, served in the military and married Patricia Kearns. In 1972 they moved with their children to Grand Rapids to pursue a career as an Outdoor Writer, primarily hunting and fishing stories. He wrote freelance for many publications including: Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Sports Afield, American Hunter, Minnesota Sportsman and Fur-Fish-Game, where he became the Trapping Editor for many years. He authored four books and was a member of the Outdoor Writers Association.

Oh NO!!! I have that book; a modern trapline. Loved him in the old FFG trapping videos onVHS. Loved listening to him talk about culverts. Seemed like a good old “pap” type character.

Sad to hear. Met him at the NTA convention in Little Rock AR, in 1990.

I always read his articles. RIP Bob.

legend.

Always humble.

Yes He Was...Rip Bob

Read all his trapping articles years ago. RIP Trapper.

I hadn't heard that or knew that he moved to Two Harbors. I always enjoyed reading his articles and only bumped into him in the woods once.

Nice man

His were some of the 1st books/articles I ever read on trapping. God speed.

I also have that book. R.I.P. Mr. Gilsvik.

I thought the world of Bob as most people did. He always was there to give solid advice. RIP

Rest in peace, sir. You'll live on in many of us.

RIP Bob. Loved all his writing.....
The best thing I read. Was........
The hardest thing about trapping is asking the wife for gas money........

The second trapping book i read was Bob's book. is writings were well researched and were informative and at the level i could understand and get.
RIP Bob and God's speed to his family and friends.

Bryce

Godspeed Mr Gilsvik. Thanks for educating and entertaining us with your writings.

He’ll always be my favorite writer. As a kid, and young man, no one could pull me along with them on their trapline through their writings the way Bob did. I was so excited to meet him at a convention several years ago and have him sign my copy of Gilsvik’s Best. We certainly lost a great one with his passing.

I found that book at the library in second grade. It’s the reason I started trapping. RIP

God’s speed Bob

God bless him for his love and contribution to trapping and the knowledge he shared in his writings.

I am sorry to hear this, Bob was the best Trapping editor Fur Fish Game magazine ever had in my opinion, When he was the trapping editor his article was always the first article I read. May he RIP.

So sorry to hear of his passing. Talked to him once. He listened intently and answered all my questions. Read everything I could that he wrote and learned a lot of that out trapping. What a great contributer to the trapping world he was RIP sir.

Always enjoyed his stories...RIP Sir.

So sorry to hear this. As many have said, I also grew up reading his stories in FFG. Would have that magazine in between the pages of various school books and read them in class when I was supposed to be studying. Rest in peace Bob.

So sad.R.I.P. prayers sent

I always enjoyed reading his articles. RIP Bob.

RIP Bob,growing up I loved reading his stories in FF&G the bobcat and fisher lines were my favorites,snaring coyotes as well.You will be missed.

The library in my hometown carried one of his trapping books. I don't know how many times I checked it out; but, it was several. His writing was my first exposure to written trapping instructions.

Bob was very humble and nice to me when I spoke to him at a Wisconsin Trappers Association fall convention. Truly a gifted man. May all your chains be tight in heaven above!

Chris

RIP Bob! When I was reading your articles, it made me feel like I was on the trapline with you.

Rob, his son Dave has been living in Two Harbors for quite a while so guessing that’s why he was there. I met his son at the curling rink when I was living up in Finland and made sure to let Dave know how much of a positive impact his dad had on my life. Dave Gilsvik went on to become quite the artist.

I still consider A Modern Trapline the best overall trapping book I’ve ever laid my hands on. Not necessarily the amount of info or anything specific, but rather the way it was written and came across aided by the fact it was essentially based in terrain and conditions just like mine. My school library had it and I may have hogged it and kept it overdue a few times! I remember meeting him at a convention when I was young and was kind of awestruck.

Rest in peace Bob, and as always, Happy Trapping!

ScottW

I always enjoyed his writings. RIP.

He was right up there with Carman, Hawbaker and Weiland as far as my book studies went in high school during the mid- late 70s.

He lived a good long life.
RIP.

The first Trapping book I ever owned and still cherish it to this day…

May Mr. Gilsvik rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Bob. Great man indeed

Wow that makes me feel old. Read a lot of his stuff, and met him in person one time. Good writer.

R.I.P. Bob, he always did a great job for FFG Magazine!

Exactly! He wrote about the experience, not a how to article. Rest in Peace.

Was a wonderful writer. Met him a couple of times was a very nice man. His columns in FFG were very entertaining and worth getting the magazine for.

Id forgot about him, would always read whatever he was writing first enjoyed his articles and books.

I’m having déjà vu, I swear this happened a couple years ago. Either way, he was a wonderful writer and a huge part of my childhood. I still read old FFG magazine just to read his pieces.

sorry to hear that, I met him but can't remember where

One of the first books I read. Godspeed.

A True Legend I'm my Life. RIP Bob

His was the only trapping book our local library had for a long time so I had it checked out constantly and at one time could have likely quoted it word for word, meet him years ago back when he was peddling his new book at the Minnesota trappers convention he autographed it for me and we talked for a good while and later ended up at the pot luck they used to have and talked some more

A real real class act and like many of those old time trappers and hunters he was a modest man not really interested in trying to be a big shot he just wanted to share what he knew and loved

I wish I had known he had passed I would have like to wish him fair well

Fair winds and good trapping Bob

Great writer,story teller,I met Bob a few times as well at our conventions.1st time was at Wadena roughly 15 years ago...

Prayers of comfort for Bob's friends and family.

Sad to hear this. His book is a cornerstone of my collection. Big and Hard Covered. Good Content. His voice and style of instruction made you feel like he cared. He gave much to our generations. Wishing his family and friends to find comfort that he no longer suffers on this earth..

x2

Wow! I'm truly Saddened to hear of Mr. Gilsviks passing. Bob was one of the original Trapping Educators with his many books, articles and videos. RIP, Bob from one of your Many students.

What a well lived life he had doing what he loved and then sharing it with others who learned to enjoy it as well .

Thank you for stirring our imaginations and filling us with hope for a successful outdoor experience no matter if it were hunting fishing or trapping .

My heart felt condolences to his close friends and family and may he rest in peace .

Allan

Tom Miranda did a nice tribute article about Bob in the February 2025 F-F-G.

R.I.P. fellow trapper

My fond memory of Bob was when we were eating in a restaurant down in central Louisiana, the rest of the crew went down to Bourbon St. him and I had no interest in going. It was in a little cafe in a small town maybe 12 tables but nice and clean. When our salads came we talked about the day’s activities and upcoming projects we had to work on coming up. Bob was very involved in the upcoming projects his input was valuable.

So Bob bites into his cherry tomato and the thing burst before he could get his mouth closed to chew, the thing squirts across the table almost hitting my plate. We thought that was hilarious and we had a big laugh about its just my first memory that pops into my head when I hear his name. LOL

Bob was the real deal a man living his best life a very humble, honest person I never seen anything negative in his lifestyle that got the best of him in the months we spent together. A man with his knowledge, experience, talent that did not have the ego or control issues most people have in one way or another.

Never seen him negative, competitive or angry yet he was always willing to do what was needed when the time came. Bob was a gifted writer, photographer and most of all a respected outdoorsy man living his best life on his terms. His goal was to get back to Minnesota after the project was done and get to his camp in the woods where he was the most comfortable.

I received a photo he took of a grouse I shot when we worked in SD, it just came out of the blue I thought that was nice of him it was just the kind of person he was he will be missed.