I write about hunting in the U.S. and am an adult onset hunter. (Translation: new hunter.)
I’ve always been curious about the sport and its resurgence in our country following diminished levels of participation.
I embedded myself in the industry several years ago. I made it my mission to speak to experts and thought leaders who shape it. And I’ve been privileged to interview some of the Who’s Who in hunting and shooting sports in the last 5-6 years.
Why hunting, you ask?
Hunting always interested me but was personally out of reach. Growing up in Southern California, I didn’t have access to hunting land nor did I know any avowed hunters my age. Or so I thought. It took moving to Virginia, funny enough, to follow through and get involved.
I formally picked up hunting in fall 2017. What did it for me was harvesting my first rooster (male) pheasant in December 2017. Since then, I’ve pursued waterfowl, upland birds, and big game (deer, boar). I’ve had plenty of misses and successes—more of the former—but learned many valuable lessons.
Whitetail deer is the most challenging species I’ve encountered so far.
The first whitetail deer I had in my crosshairs, in fall 2018, was perfectly broadside. And I took a clean miss with the muzzleloader I was using. (Never again.) Last December, I healed my wounds and returned to the field in pursuit of late-season rifle deer near King’s Dominion. No deer in sight, but sat in a tree-stand for long periods of time. A few weeks ago, my luck changed: I successfully harvested my first-ever whitetail doe in the Black Hills of Wyoming.
Third time’s the charm, indeed.
Below, you can watch my new vlog on the experience.
WATCH below or on my YouTube Channel