My hunting journey didn’t start with some big moment or clear intention. It started because of my father-in-law and brothers-in-law. They were already deep into it by then—years ahead of me. I was just stepping in, trying to understand it.
At the time, I didn’t really know what I was looking for. I just knew I was a city boy who felt more at home in the country. There was something about being out there that stuck with me, even before I could put words to it.
I went on a few rifle hunts in the beginning and came up empty. Looking back, I think I was still finding my place in it all—still figuring out what it meant to me. It wasn’t until I picked up a bow that things shifted.
That first deer is something I’ll never forget. It’s one of those moments that stays with you, clear as day no matter how much time passes. The adrenaline hits first—but it’s not just excitement. It’s everything. Respect, nerves, gratitude, a bit of disbelief. It all shows up at once, and you feel the weight of what just happened.
That was the moment it really clicked. Not just the hunt—but what it meant. I was hooked, but not in the way people might think.
Back then, sustainability wasn’t something I thought much about. It wasn’t a concept or a goal. But that changed the first time I processed an animal myself. When you do that, there’s no separation anymore. You know exactly what you’re eating, where it came from, how it lived. There’s a responsibility in that—and a kind of respect you can’t really understand until you’ve done it.
Over time, that understanding stuck. It grew into something bigger than just hunting.
Now, 25+ years later, it’s hard not to see the difference. The way most meat is produced, what animals are fed, what gets added along the way—it makes you think. It made me think, anyway.
For me, this isn’t just about hunting. It’s about being connected to what I eat, and taking responsibility for it. It’s a way of life that feels honest.
And once you’ve experienced that, it’s hard to go back.
