Tale of a Self-Made Hunter

Well here I sit. Today I type out my first ever blog for Talk Hunting. Come to think of it, it’s my first ever blog period! A landmark day in the life of a self-made hunter!  If you had told me a year ago I would be holding the position of Pro-Staff for a hunting magazine, I probably would have thought you were crazy. In many ways, it’s a dream come true for me. To be involved in the hunting community on a professional and very personal level is a great honor and privilege. The outdoors has been a passion of mine for a good number of years now and I have learned a lot through personal experience, trial and error. Perhaps the most important thing I have learned is that there is still much to learn!

My bio captures much of where I come from; a tale of desire and intrigue, defeat and victory, mystery and… well ok, maybe not that dramatic of reading. But you get the gist. I wasn’t able to start hunting until “later” in life, much older than many who have a passion for the woods. I have been blessed with a few mentors along the way but for the most part have had to pave my own way. This gives me a heart to encourage those who are just starting out in their love of hunting. I often told myself if I had the chance to take someone hunting, who had no family or friends who were able to take them, I would be that person because I knew what it was like to be in their shoes. I have that chance this season and will enjoy every minute of it!

I think I wanted to use this first blog to express just that. That desire to encourage will show through I am sure in many of my articles and blogs. I hope somehow it will inspire someone who is in the same position I was in to take that first step like I did and just go for it. My first days in the woods were walking around in my military BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform) with an old recurve bow. I knew very little, but I made a go of it. Today I sit in the company of some great hunters. Every one of them more knowledgeable than me I believe. And it’s aaallll good!

We’re all learning and loving this life in the outdoors. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences and lessons learned along the way.

God bless and enjoy the hunt. Have fun and remember, “You can’t get one if you’re not out there.”