Steven Rinella

Steven Rinella is the host of the Netflix Original series MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast. He's also the author of six books dealing with wildlife, hunting, fishing and wild game cooking, including the bestselling MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook: Recipes and Techniques for Every Hunter and Angler. Steven Rinella started hunting well before he was legally old enough and never looked back. Stints as a commercial trapper, college student, and professional, nonprofessional fisherman, he began a career as an outdoor writer. Less concerned with trophies and kill shots, Steve's work largely focuses on the culture, process, and history of hunting and game animals. Most importantly, he is known for his efforts to convey the value of hunting to a general audience and for his efforts to promote the work of conservation organizations and the preservation of public land.

Hometown

Twin Lakes, Michigan

Resides

Bozeman, Montana

Favorite Hunt

My fondest hunting memories are of chasing Dall sheep in Alaska with my brothers. Very rugged and demanding hunts, spent with my two favorite guys. 

Best Eating Critter

Elk. They just don't make a bad tasting elk.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fishing, crabbing, trapping.

Conservation Group He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

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Mark Kenyon

Mark Kenyon is the founder of the digital outdoor media brand Wired To Hunt and host of the industry-leading Wired To Hunt Podcast. Heralded as “The New Media Star” by Outdoor Life Magazine and featured on their April 2015 cover, Mark Kenyon was also named the 2014 Quality Deer Management Association Communicator of the Year, and has been published in Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, North American Whitetail, Deer & Deer Hunting, Quality Whitetails and other national publications. He's also an active member and advocate for the Quality Deer Management Association and board member of the Michigan chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.

Hometown

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Resides

Hillsdale, Michigan

Favorite Hunt

Nothing beats the first week of November in a tree chasing whitetails somewhere in the Midwest.

Best Eating Critter

Elk. Partly because of its actual taste and partly because of its rarity to a flatland Michigan boy.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fishing, backpacking, hiking, camping, kayaking.

Conservation Group He Supports

Quality Deer Management Association, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, National Deer Alliance, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Unlimited, The Wilderness Society

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Jessi Johnson

Jessi Johnson grew up the only child of a rural ranching family that managed several properties across the Rocky Mountain West. This upbringing fostered compassion and respect for landscapes and animals and a deep love of adventure in the out of doors.

Jessi moved back to Wyoming 9 years ago and intimately learned Wyoming’s vast public lands through a love of backcountry archery hunting. Archery hunting for Jessi creates a bridge between human and animal, and human and landscape. She feels it makes you go above and beyond just casual observance; learning habitats, behavior, and even sometimes a personality. It brings you in close and makes sure you are aware of the life you are taking. For her, hunting completes the circle, bringing into full focus what it means to be a predator, a participant in the cycle, and an expert on the land.

Jessi is the Public Lands Coordinator for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, a founding member of a women’s conservation group, and a board member of the Wyoming Chapter Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and 2% For Conservation. Her work is fostered by her passion to protect the incredible landscapes she was lucky enough to grow up on and the animals that make the west such an iconic place to live.

Hometown

I am a tumble weed. I’ve called Hamilton, Montana, Ovando, Montana, Elk Mountain,Wyoming and Mt. Shasta, California home.

Resides

Lander, Wyoming

Favorite Hunt

Every day out hunting is my new favorite memory but if I truly was forced to choose it would be an evening where I opted not to take a shot on a 5x5 bull elk and later witnessed an incredible dominance fight 30 yards from me between two huge bulls. I walked away from that season empty-handed as far as meat but feeling like the luckiest human alive.

Best Eating Critter

My favorite game meat is the animal that I’ve not yet eaten, with the caveat that it must taste like adventure. Also… Antelope, it tastes of big sky and vast prairies.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Backpacking, angling, horseback riding

Conservation Groups She Supports

Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, National Wildlife Federation, Artemis Sportswomen, 2% For Conservation

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Kody Kellom

Born and raised in Oregon, Kody has always pushed the envelope in the outdoor industry. His passion is his family and he lives by the words, 'the unknown is part of the adventure.’

Hometown

Klamath Falls, OR

Resides

Roseburg, OR

Favorite Hunt

Any OTC archery elk hunt in September.

Best Eating Critter

Roosevelt Elk - Bacon wrapped tenderloin

Other Outdoor Pursuits

As soon as bow season closes, I jump in the goose blind or duck boat. After that, I find myself in my drift boat in search of steelhead.

Conservation Group He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

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Steve Howard

Steve's passion for the outdoors and hunting started at a very young age! When he's not with his beautiful family, he is with friends in the hunting woods!

Hometown

North Bend, OR

Resides

North Bend, OR

Favorite Hunt

If it involves the words "backcountry" and "elk", I'm all in!

Best Eating Critter

Elk. 100%.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

I do it all!

Conservation Group He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

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Treavor Fisher

When Treavor isn't enjoying the outdoors with friends and family, you can find him at his dental practice on the Oregon coast. But don't plan on getting any dental work in September, because Treavor will be in the backcountry chasing screaming bulls with his brothers.

Hometown

Coquille, OR

Resides

Coquille, OR

Favorite Hunt

My favorite hunt was when I got to take my dad elk hunting in New Mexico. There's nothing better than that.

Best Eating Critter

Elk Haystacks are impossible to beat. Family recipe.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

I'd say I'm super seasonal. Elk, then deer, then ducks and geese, then steelhead, then bass, the bear, then bass. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Conservation Group He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Oregon Hunters Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

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Trent Fisher

Trent was born and raised on the Oregon coast. Trent's priorities are faith and family, and he believes you can achieve anything that you put your mind to.

Hometown

Coquille, OR

Resides

Myrtle Point, OR

Favorite Hunt

My favorite hunt, thus far, is when my son Wyatt tagged his first forked-horn blacktail.

Best Eating Critter

Elk tenderloin over a backcountry fire

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Man, I do love to fish steelhead.

Conservation Group He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Oregon Hunters Association.

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Eduardo Garcia

Eduardo Garcia was raised in Emigrant, Montana. After graduating from high school, he attended culinary college in Seattle, Washington before becoming a world-travelling, professional chef on luxury yachts. Upon returning to Montana, he co-founded the food brand, Montana Mex. Shortly afterwards, Garcia was shocked with 2400 volts when he inadvertently touched a hidden power line on an elk hunt. His miraculous recovery formed the basis for the documentary film, Charged.

Today, Garcia tours the country as an athlete, chef and motivational speaker. Though he lost his left arm to his accident, he continues to shoot his bow and has found a new role as an advocate for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. He continues to run Montana Mex and enjoys hunting, foraging and gardening at his home outside Bozeman.

Hometown

Emigrant, Montana

Resides

Bozeman, Montana

Favorite Hunt

Elk in southwest Montana during Novembers rifle season. Don’t get me wrong who doesn’t love the rut in the fall? Of course that is epic and no doubt that’s where I will be as often as possible. However to respect the question is to answer honestly. It’s usually on those biting negative -14F hunts, you know that hunt when you have to heat up your Havalon in order to thaw the blood frozen solid on that dulled blade in order to swap it out that I chuckle to myself. And in that maniacal chuckle and ensuing grin I find stoke and insane gratification.

Best Eating Critter

Elk - Shanks specifically

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Foraging, Fishing, Surfing, Hiking- yep just for the heck of it.

Conservation Group he Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

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Jordan Budd

Jordan was born and raised in northwest Nebraska on her family's cattle ranch. The ranch gave her a unique opportunity to pursue whitetail, mule deer, antelope, turkey and predators every year with her bow and rifle. Jordan loves backpack hunting the west for elk and mule deer. She owns and operates her own production company, Running Water Media, specializing in video content mainly in the outdoor industry. She is also a frequent contributor to rokslide.com and GoHunt.com. Jordan also owns an outfitting company, Running Water Hunting LLC, based in Nebraska on her family's ranch. Her film career over the last 7 years has led her to hunt a variety of species in a number of places including New Zealand, Mexico, Canada and Alaska.

Hometown

Rushville, Nebraska

Resides

Rushville, Nebraska

Favorite Hunt

High country mule deer in Wyoming

Best Eating Critter

Elk

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Whatever gets her out there

Conservation Groups She Supports

Wild Sheep Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

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Casey Butler

His Facebook page says he’s a “dancer” but we know him as the founder and owner of HUSH. Casey “LaVere” Butler grew up bouncing between Idaho and Utah loving the outdoors and chasing his dream to be a professional snowboarder. No, for serious. And he didn’t have a beard. A family man with an entrepreneurial spirit Casey has built a number of brands (Casey LaVere, HUSH, Trixin Clothing Co.) over the last decade. At HUSH, Casey’s vision was to document the most authentic outdoor content he could capture to create a diverse and loyal audience. He’s had a significant impact introducing new people to the world of hunting, shooting, fishing and cooking of wild game and continues to educate new subscribers to the “why” behind HUSH. Casey has traveled extensively throughout the west with a passion for fair chase public land, do-it-yourself big game hunting. He has taken a number of trophy elk, mule deer and antelope all of which were captured on film and cooked over an open flame.

Hometown

Pocatello, Idaho

Resides

Pocatello, Idaho

Favorite Hunt

Any game on public land in the West.

Best Eating Critter

Pronghorn Antelope

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Snowboarding, fly fishing

Conservation Group He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

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Brian Mclrea

From age 4 Brian was stumbling along behind his dad and his black lab, Butch, packing pheasants and quail in the Yakima Valley of Washington. At age 10 he was able to pass his hunters' safety classes and immediately started bird hunting throughout the Pacific North West. Brian vividly remembers waiting patiently at the picture window of his home in Oregon as his dad would return from his archery deer and elk adventures throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. He's always been drawn to the adventure that hunting has given him through the years and is now a cornerstone of the Hushin team. As you can see in his media and writing, Brian is passionate about the chase, regardless of the success of the hunt or size of the trophy.

Hometown

Portland, Oregon

Resides

Salt Lake City, Utah

Favorite Hunt

Eastern Oregon in the Blues Mountain Range. It is a special place full of nostalgia, family traditions and a variety of game species. As a youngster, I followed my dad around learning about the outdoors, shooting my Daisy BB gun and developing an unknown passion for wild places. From blue grouse to mule deer and black bears to elk, all of my first animals were taken alongside my dad on this mountain. Without question, my favorite place to hunt.

Best Eating Critter

Pronghorn cooked on an open flame. Or Ryan Callaghan's spatchcock mallard duck.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fly Fishing.

Conservation Group He Supports

2% For Conservation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

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Eric Chesser

After moving from California to Utah at age 9, Eric developed a love of hunting. His first video camera was a Christmas gift and from then on Eric filmed everything he did outdoors. He is obsessed with shed hunting and is a registered hunting guide in the state of Utah. The highlight of his career was an archery elk hunt in which he got a second chance at and ultimately killed a huge wapiti the crew called the “firebull." The adversity of that hunt is a constant reminder to Eric to never give up.

Hometown

Salt Lake City, Utah

Resides

Salt Lake City, Utah

Favorite Hunt

My dad grew up outside of Fillmore, UT and the mountains and ridges have a long family history. At one time this unit was a mule deer paradise yet over time it has turned into one of the most elite limited entry elk units in the state. Although the tags are tough to draw, it is refreshing to be able to walk these mountains glassing the same peaks and valleys that my dad did as a young man. I need to spend more time down there now that I think about it. This place has a lot of meaning for my family.

Best Eating Critter

Elk backstraps wrapped in bacon with sautéed veggies and guacamole.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Shed hunting, mountain fitness training

Conservation Group He Supports

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

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Chelsea Cassens

Chelsea was born in Eastern Oregon where she was raised on public lands and wild places. Her passion for hunting, fishing, outdoor pursuits, and the conservation around those activities comes from previous generations of parents and grandparents who exposed her to the beauty of the wild places and built memories to last a lifetime.

After spending 9 years in the Portland area attending the School of Nursing at the University of Portland and beginning her nursing career, her and her husband Tanner were lucky enough to move back home to Eastern Oregon where they are raising their two children Brynlee and Lane.

As a family they enjoy hunting big game and upland birds during the fall. During the winter you can find them chasing waterfowl and steelhead fishing. In spring and summer they are enjoying multiple public land activities whether it is trying to outsmart the elusive Rio Grande turkey, to mushroom and huckleberry picking, to spending time in the woods scouting and camping with friends and family.

Chelsea is a volunteer board member for Oregon Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, a brand ambassador and the Community Manager for Hunt To Eat, and the Oregon Ambassador for Artemis Sportswomen.

“It’s not always easy to find the time to recreate, advocate, and volunteer while working and raising a family. It’s really important to me and we have made conservation work a part of my families lifestyle.”

She was also recently featured in two articles published by The New York Times: Poisoned Wildlife and Tainted Meat: Why Hunters Are Moving Away From Lead Bullets and a Times Insider piece A Vegetarian Reporter Explores a Hunting Dilemma, where she unknowingly took a vegetarian writer on her elk hunt. She was also featured in a National Wildlife Federation blog Women in Hunting and Fishing: Artemis

She also enjoys photography and capturing the memories of her time spent on public lands with her family to cherish forever.  Chelsea believes that everyone at some level cares for fish and wildlife as well as clean air and clean water.

Hometown

Summerville, Oregon

Resides

Imbler, Oregon

Favorite Hunt

Any hunt with my Dad. He’s entertaining, knowledgeable, AN AMAZING storyteller, and a pretty damn-good luck charm. I only hope I can be my child’s favorite hunting partner. My earliest memories in life include a mule deer hunt with my Dad at the age of 3 or 4.

Best Eating Critter

I love it all. I’m open to always trying new things from the wild. My most memorable cut from a critter was trying Steve Rinella’s “Hot Buttered Balls” recipe in 2016 on my husband’s Oregon Desert Bighorn Sheep. ”Testicles in the Wild” we will call it.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Conservation work, hiking, fishing, camping. Especially if it’s with the kids.

Conservation Group She Supports

Taylor Chamberlin

Taylor has had a love for the outdoors from an early age. Growing up, he spent all his free time with his family and friends exploring the woods. Soon after his 10th birthday, his grandfather introduced him to archery, and a love for bowhunting was born. After years of random success in the whitetail woods, Taylor decided he was tired of leaving hunts up to chance, and he wanted to figure out how he could hunt more intelligently and efficiently. He has spent every free second ever since studying anything he could find related to what makes a deer move, and how they use terrain along with the wind and thermals as a defense mechanism. Taylor turned that knowledge and years of experience into a career, by starting his own whitetail consulting business and helping people harvest the biggest deer of their life. Taylor lives in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., where he does his best to help control the booming whitetail herd with his bow on small suburban tracts of land. He can use the liberal hunting season to his advantage, and hunts on average 150 or more days a year.

Hometown

Arlington, Virginia

Resides

Great Falls, Virginia

Favorite Hunt

Patterning a big, mature whitetail and determining where and how he beds and how he uses the terrain around him on different winds. Then figuring out where he’s most vulnerable, and sneaking into that spot and getting a shot at him is what I live for. Having said that, I went out west for the first time this past season, and I am already planning my return trip.

Best Eating Critter

My wife and I have our own version of surf’n’turf. We do fried pheasant breast nuggets paired with smoked bacon wrapped venison tenderloin nuggets.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

3-D Archery, fly fishing, golf, upland bird hunting, turkey hunting, waterfowl hunting, hiking, photography, and videography.

Conservation Groups He Supports

Quality Deer Management Association, National Deer Alliance, Pheasants Forever, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, The National Rifle Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

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Clay Newcomb

Born and raised in Northwest Arkansas, Clay Newcomb is a hunting renaissance-man. He’s the editor, publisher and voice of Bear Hunting Magazine – an instructional publication focused on the adventure of chasing bruins.  He’s also an outdoor writer with over 250 articles published in magazines including North American Whitetail, Outdoor Life, Bowhunter, and Bowhunting World. Additionally, Clay is a cinematographer/producer. He won the Badlands Film Festival Short Film Division in 2017 and his films were official selections at the 2018 & 2019 Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Film Festivals. Clay has also published a healthy crop of viral videos via Bear Hunting Magazine YouTube Channel. Clay once appeared on Andrew Zimmern’s popular show, Bizarre Foods. He cooked bear cracklins for Zimmern and taught him how to correctly pronounce the word “acorn.”

A traditional archer and muleskinner, he also enjoys raising and training raccoon hounds, mule-mounted squirrel hunting, stalking whitetail deer and calling turkeys. Clay is an adamant proponent of modern North American hunting as a culturally valuable tradition and significant tool in protecting wild places and critters. He is equally passionate about hunting with his four children and introducing new people to the lifestyle.

Hometown

Mena, Arkansas

Resides

West Fork, Arkansas

Favorite Hunt

Solo in the National Forest in Arkansas on mules for bear & whitetail deer around the 20th of October.

Best Eating Critter

Wild Turkey. I can’t deny that breaded, pan-fried, fresh wild turkey is the best game meat on the continent.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Gardening, training mules & exploring National Parks with his wife and four children.

Conservation Group He Supports

Sportmen’s Alliance, Western Bear Foundation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Michigan Bear Hunters Assoc & Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association

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Brad Brooks

Brad was born with an undeniable passion for conservation fueled by his experiences outside growing up. Whether it was long days with his dad and brothers spent fly fishing remote streams, freezing his butt off calling in mallards or chasing elk, growing up in Idaho instilled a deep-seated appreciation for wild places. Brad has devoted his life to protecting what he loves and for the past decade has worked to conserve our incredible public lands heritage for future generations. He spends as much time as possible pursuing wild animals in wild places with whatever weapon is in season and has a special affliction for backcountry mule deer. In 2015 Brad founded Argali as a means of marrying his passion for hunting and conservation and as a way to be a resource for other hunters that want to experience the backcountry.

Hometown

Meridian, Idaho

Resides

Boise, Idaho

Favorite Hunt

Wherever everyone else isn't. I've traveled and spent a lot of time around the west and the world, but I'm partial to chasing mule deer in the mountains of central Idaho.

Solitude is a scarce commodity these days, and I prefer to hunt in wild country even if the hunting isn't as good as less remote ground.

Best Eating Critter

Pronghorn. No Question.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Rock climbing, salmon and steelhead fishing, mountain biking, backpacking, mountain trail running, chasing my young daughter.

Conservation Group He Supports

The Wilderness Society, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

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Kit Fischer

Kit Fischer is the Sportsmen’s Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation’s Northern Rockies office in Missoula, MT. He currently manages NWF’s Bison Restoration Campaign, focusing on restoring a wild, huntable population of bison to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge in north-central Montana. Kit is a Montana native and grew up chasing big game, birds and fish in nearly every corner of the state. He has previously worked for the National Wildlife Refuge Association in Washington D.C., as the manager of a fishing lodge on a desert island in the Bahamas, as a fishing guide in Mongolia and as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia. He also serves as a board member for Conservation Hawks and Missoula’s rod and gun club, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers. 

Hometown

Missoula, Montana

Resides

Still Missoula, Montana

Favorite Hunt

Public lands in MT. I don’t have to look very far to find good hunting on millions of acres of public lands. Ducks, geese, pheasants, huns, elk, deer, pronghorn… While private land holds a lot of game, I rarely dick around knocking on doors for big game.

Best Eating Critter

Moose

Other Outdoor Pursuits

All and every kind of fishing, backcountry skiing, kayaking

Conservation Groups He Supports

Montana/Idaho Wildlife Federation, Hellgate Hunters and Anglers

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Beau Baty

Beau Baty grew up in a wild place with many freedoms few Americans get to enjoy today. It was horses, cattle, farming the ground and hunting anything in season that filled his childhood with great memories and life lessons. His family roots tie him back to the Northern Utah valley dating back to 1817 when the first Baty homestead was built. Trapping, fishing and hunting are what his family lived on for many decades. If it wasn’t for the local game, consistent stewardship, and appreciation for its bounty, the Baty family would have never been able to homestead or make it through World War I & II.

Beau was taught how to care for the land, hunt, fish and trap by his father, grandfather and great grandfather. It is a special and rare opportunity to have learned at the hands of these great men whose knowledge, care and appreciation for all things living gave Beau a rich heritage to follow, uphold and now to pass on to his family and the generations to follow him.

After high school, Beau chose went off to live in Argentina for two years. When he returned, he started college and began trying to scratch out a living for himself.After packing out a few elk on his back and not making it back in time to start his freshman year of college, he decided that he needed some backcountry help. Horses were a no go because of cost and logistics so he tried goats, burros, and ultimately llamas. Long story short, llamas were the right fit for him. A decade later, he and his wife operate their pack llama business offering llama rentals to hunters and anglers and llama assisted backpacking trips in WY, UT, ID, MT and CO. Without public land, Beau would be a fish out of water. Beau and his wife work constantly to be good stewards of the land and waters of our country and are engaged in many efforts to keep public lands in public hands.

Hometown

Resides

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Favorite Hunt

I would usually say the most recent or current hunt is my favorite hunt, and prepping for the next hunt is also a good time. The first deer hunt I got to participate in and actually be the hunter, “my first hunt,” is one of my fondest memories. After school one day, my dad had all the horses saddled up and we rode almost to the top of the mountain behind our ranch. He sat me down on my Great Grandpa's old glassing spot and said “shoot anything with horns; I'll see you back at the corrals after dark". I had 3 rounds and a savage .243 with a Leupold 4x scope. I was ready. After 30 minutes of waiting, a small deer came bouncing around the mountain side by itself, and as it got closer, I used my scope for binoculars and saw that it had one horn. Boom, my gun goes off before I could gather my thoughts and I had just tagged my first deer. I gutted that beaut and loaded him on the back of my horse and we walked the few miles back to the corrals where I found a proud dad, mom and grandpa.

Best Eating Critter

Elk or chuckar or maybe rockfish

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Angling, kayaking, peak bagging, mountain biking, skiing

Conservation Groups He Supports

Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, American Hiking Society, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Leave No trace – Outdoor Ethics, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever.

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Ben Dettamanti

Ben Dettamanti was born to two very lucky parents in a small town in southern Utah. He basically raised himself and became the sole wild meat provider for his family by the age of 14. After turning down what would’ve most likely become a pro football career, he made the decision that he’d rather hunt than do most anything else. Soon, hunting instead of facing his responsibilities became a full blown lifestyle. He left his full-time job in 2017 to pick up shed antlers, chase western big game, and win the hearts of the masses with his charisma on social media. Most days you'll find Ben in the hills documenting his adventures for his youtube channel, ShedCrazy, or at home with his young family, trying to raise his boys with a love for all things outdoors. This lifestyle has taken him all over the US, to Mexico and Canada in pursuit of wild places and wild things. He is always planning the next big adventure.

Hometown

Cedar City, Utah

Resides

La Verkin, Utah

Favorite Hunt

Archery deer in Utah

Best Eating Critter

Mule Deer

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Shed hunting and outdoor cooking

Conservation Groups He Supports

Southern Utah Deer Alliance, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

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David Wise

David Wise grew up in Reno, Nevada and has always had a passion for being outside.  This passion combined with his insatiable appetite for adrenaline helped launch him into a professional career competing in halfpipe skiing.  David is now the most decorated halfpipe skier of all time with two Olympic Gold Medals and 4 X Games Gold Medals to his name.  What many people do not know is that David's athletic success is fueled primarily by game protein that he hunted, harvested, carried and butchered himself.  David has been hunting almost as long as he has been skiing, but his good friend Remi Warren helped take the addiction to the next level by loaning David a bow for the season in 2014.  In a blind stroke of luck David proceeded to use that bow to harvest his first spot and stalk archery mule deer.  While he prefers archery hunting David considers himself a hunting opportunist; willing to hunt any species with any weapon whenever he can fit it in between training for his sport.  David has taken his passion for reconnecting with the food that he provides for his family by starting Wise Off the Grid, a project where the end goal is a completely sustainable lifestyle that the Wise family can accomplish in baby steps.  Unsatisfied with dropping an animal off at the butcher and having it come back in neat labeled packaging similar to the grocery store David has committed to butchering all of his own meat.   The Wise's took it to the next level this year by supplementing the fat content in burgers and sausage with pork fat from a pig that they raised themselves.  If you are fortunate enough to enjoy a meal at the Wise household, you can bet on it being as natural and authentic as it gets.

Hometown

Reno, NV

Resides

Verdi, NV

Favorite Hunt

Solo bow hunting rutting elk.

Best Eating Critter

Burgers made from Elk combined with home raised pork trimmings.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Mountain Biking with his family, Tiny Farming, and competitive archery.

Conservation Group He Supports

BHA, Ducks Unlimited, Wild Sheep Foundation, and RMEF.

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Dirk Durham

Born and raised in the heart of Idaho's elk country, Dirk Durham (AKA The Bugler) found a connection with the woods at an early age. Since he could remember, all Dirk wanted to be when he grew up was simple; a big game hunter! He spent his early teenage years following big whitetail deer tracks and rut sign year round in the dark timber of North Central Idaho. Whitetail deer were his every waking thought, that is until he heard the sound of September- bugling bull elk! Since then, Dirk hasn't missed an elk season chasing bugles since 1989. Learning to call elk came natural to him. In fact, Dirk could call so well he won multiple world champion titles at the RMEF World Elk Calling Championships. But far above calling contests, Dirk gets his biggest satisfaction from interacting with elk. "If I can fool a rutting bull elk to come within archery distance with my calls, that's a win! Even if we don't get to take that bull home with us, he thought we were another wild elk,  which I considered the ultimate experience. And if we kill him, that's just icing on the cake."Dirk is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Phelps Game Calls, and was the founding President of the Idaho based conservation group- North Idaho Whitetails Forever.

Hometown

Weippe Idaho

Resides

Meridian Idaho

Favorite Hunt

Late September archery elk hunting the rut in North Idaho. Especially with his son Austin. 

Best Eating Critter

Whitetail Deer- Backstraps cut 1/2" thick, dredged in flour, and pan fried to medium rare! 

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Camping with family and friends, summer scouting trips to the mountains and film production.

Conservation Group He Supports

Northern Idaho Whitetails Forever, The Foundation for Wildlife Management.

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John Arman

John Arman was born and raised in North Dakota and has spent his entire life living in the Bismarck area. As a teacher for the Bismarck Public School District John has the opportunity to share his enthusiasm of the outdoors with many young people and to teach them the importance of conservation and game management. Teaching has also allowed him to construct after school programs centered on the fundamentals of archery; therefore, introducing the sport of shooting and bow hunting to many of our future outdoorsmen/women. John’s passion for sharing his love for the outdoors prompted him and two friends to start Ultimate Outdoor Adventures TV nearly 15 years ago. UOA TV is the longest and most watched hunting and fishing show in the Dakotas. Through the past 15 years, UOA has built a solid reputation in the industry and is part due to John’s passion and drive to share what he believes in.

Hometown

Bismark, ND

Resides

Bismark, ND

Favorite Hunt

Archery elk hunting in southeastern Montana with my two best friends and brother.

Best Eating Critter

Antelope

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fishing and improving wildlife habitat.

Conservation Group He Supports

Pheasants Forever and North Dakota Bowhunters Association

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Shelby Arman

Living in North Dakota has provided Shelby the opportunity to grow up within a state where the traditions of hunting/fishing are passed down from generation to generation. Tagging along with the guys from Ultimate Outdoor Adventures TV, a North Dakota based outdoor television show in its 15th season, as they traveled to various hunting/filming destinations since the age of 12. She was immediately drawn to the sport of archery and taught the important roles of an outdoor enthusiast. Now at the age of 19, Shelby's hunting adventures are captured through the lens of a video camera - with her dad by her side - and shared via Ultimate Outdoor Adventures TV on various stations throughout ND, SD, MN and Wisconsin.

Hometown

Bismark, North Dakota

Resides

Bismark, North Dakota

Favorite Hunt

Late season archery deer in central North Dakota

Best Eating Critter

Antelope

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Hiking, fishing and shed hunting.

Conservation Group she Supports

North Dakota Bowhunters Association

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Nick Muche

Nick's first memories were of bowhunting. Sitting with his father, waiting for a Wisconsin whitetail, Nick's passion for hunting was born. He started on his own at 10 and never looked back. Since then Nick has hunted with stick and string across North America while serving in the US Air Force. He is currently stationed in Alaska where he has had the opportunity to take most of the last frontier's big game animals. Nick is also currently on the Board of Directors for the Alaskan Bowhunters Association and routinely volunteers at local archery shoots, with the goal of promoting archery hunting.

Hometown

Mayville, Wisconsin

Resides

Anchorage, Alaska

Favorite Hunt

My favorite place to hunt is southern Idaho during the Mule Deer rut. That said, the most important aspect of any hunt is good company. Close friends and family make the experience.

Best Eating Critter

Muskox

Other Outdoor Pursuits

3D archery, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, and trapping

Conservation Groups He Supports

Pope and Young Club

Jeff Sturgis

Jeff Sturgis is the founder of the Whitetail Strategy digital content creation brand, Whitetail Habitat Solutions, LLC. Jeff was the recipient of the QDMA's 2004 Al Brothers Deer Manager of the Year Award and since that time he has continued to scout and design over 1000 whitetail parcels for clients in 26 states. He has been published in MI Outdoors, Quality Whitetails and Outdoor Life, and is currently working on his 6th whitetail strategy book. On his YouTube channel and website, Jeff has published more than 1200 whitetail strategy videos and articles, while covering every facet of the whitetail world, from hunting to habitat to herd management. Jeff has been a member of the QDMA since 1999 and has been a life member since 2004. While being a h4 proponent of QDM principles and QDM group activities, he also enjoys supporting local hunting charity organizations such as Camp Kicking Bear Ministries. Jeff lives to learn more about whitetails every day, and to convey his experiences to readers, viewers and listeners for the ultimate goal for the retainment and recruitment of hunters at the highest level possible. 

Hometown

Waterford, Michigan

Resides

Winona, Minnesota

Favorite Hunt

For a mature whitetail anywhere a whitetail roams, any time of the season, DIY on both private and public lands.

Best Eating Critter

Grouse. "Grouse ala King" brings back some incredible memories when my children were young! The celebration of the harvest combined with the thought that we had to hunt to literally feed our family, brings back a lot of precious, life-long memories. AND, grouse tastes pretty darn good!!

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fishing smallmouth, pike and walleye in some remote location where few boats or fisherman can be found. Dusk backroads summertime cruises and experiencing the total relaxation of shooting my bow.

Conservation Group He Supports

Quality Deer Management Association, Camp Kicking Bear Ministries

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Dylan Lenz

Dylan Lenz is a producer of The Breaking Point, a digital series that exemplifies the pursuits of the every day outdoorsman. While he enjoys hunting for himself, Dylan spends the majority of his season behind the camera creating imagery and capturing stories that embody and embolden the passionate ways that hunters live. 

Composed of several members, The Breaking Point TV is a team of die-hard whitetail hunters who eat, sleep, and live the sport every day of the year. Established in 2012, they began creating media with the goal of being an elite outdoor show on national television. In 2017, they pivoted to more unique digital platforms to provide top-tier content and to showcase their unmatched dedication to the sport. Between the members of the team, they've got decades of experience and are hungry to push the boundaries of whitetail management, science, and content.

Hometown

Milwaukee, WI

Resides

Stevens Point, WI

Favorite Hunt

The camaraderie and harsh conditions of the North Dakota late season make it a unique hunt that I anticipate greatly each year.

Best Eating Critter

Whitetail Inner Loins next to a pile of eggs the morning after a successful hunt are pretty tough to top. 

Other Outdoor Pursuits

I’ve dabbled in just about everything the outdoors has to offer, but chasing turkeys each spring is something I revere almost as greatly as whitetails in the fall. 

Conservation Group He Supports

QDMA, NWTF, Ducks Unlimited & Ruffed Grouse Society 

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Brad Bever

Brad Bever is a self-taught content creator and graphic designer in the outdoor space and the owner of Whitetailer™. In 2018, Brad quit his job in his home state of Indiana to pursue his passion of whitetail hunting Iowa. Brad kicked off his career in the industry working with Midwest Whitetail followed by Lone Wolf Portable Treestands and now solely owns Arttec Branding, LLC. He continues to create illustrations and unique assets inspired by his time spent in the whitetail woods.

Hometown

Wabash, IN

Resides

West Des Moines, IA

Favorite Hunt

November 7th. The absolute best day of the year to be in a tree chasing whitetails.

Best Eating Critter

Whitetail Doe. Mid-rare and paired with Busch Light.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Camping 

Conservation Group He Supports

Quality Deer Management Association, National Deer Alliance, Whitetails Unlimited

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Michael Mancl

At a very young age Mike's obsession with the outdoors had begun. Before he could even hunt himself Mike enjoyed capturing adventures with family and friends with a video camera. Fast forward several years and his passion turned into a career as co-founder of Black Stamp Media and The Breaking Point TV.

Hometown

Milladore, Wisconsin

Resides

Amherst, Wisconsin

Favorite Hunt

Any Midwest Hunt for Whitetails

Best Eating Critter

You can’t beat Elk on the grill

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Turkeys, Mule deer, Elk, or anything that moves I’ll chase.

Conservation Group He Supports

National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

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Brennen Nading

Brennen Nading is the co-founder/co-owner of Black Stamp Media, producer of 'The Breaking Point' hunting show.  Brennen also co-hosts the 6 Packs n' Racks podcast.  Growing up in west central Wisconsin, hunting has been a part of his life since he was a little boy.  In 2013, Brennen decided to pack up all his belongings and make the move to Iowa with the sole purpose of hunting whitetails.

Hometown

Sparta, Wisconsin

Resides

Grand River, Iowa

Favorite Hunt

Whitetail hunting in the Midwest takes the cake.

Best Eating Critter

Not a picky eater, venison and wild turkey top the charts for me though.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Shed hunting, turkey hunting, patio beers.

Conservation Group He Supports

Quality Deer Management Association, National Wild Turkey Federation

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Travis Warren

Travis Warren grew up in many places; Los Angeles, CA, Northern CA, Washington and even a stint in England. It wasn’t until he met his wife, Ashley, in 2001, that he was introduced to hunting through her father.... more importantly Chukar hunting! The addiction to Chukar hunting only grew and Travis would eventually go on to create the brand Upchukar which pairs the words “Up” which is inevitably the direction you must go to find “Chukar”. And then there is the slight chance that you could upchuk from the physical exertion of chasing these wily birds. Travis is so single-minded in his love for chukar hunting that he started the Upchukar Podcast; the only podcast dedicated to the pursuit of Chukar Hunting. The podcast shares tips, strategies and profiles the diverse personalities that pursue these iconic western upland birds. Travis is a board member for the Chukar Chasers Foundation, which is a conservation group focused on preserving Chukar hunting both through funding conservation efforts and direct youth initiatives.

Hometown

Los Angeles, CA

Resides

Spanish Springs, NV

Favorite Hunt

Chukar hunting with my two bird dogs Hazel (Shorthair) and Harper (Wirehair).

Best Eating Critter

C’mon!, you know it’s Chukar.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fishing and hiking with my family.

Conservation Group He Supports

Chukar Chasers Foundation, Nevada Chukar Foundation

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Andy May

Andy is a resident of Michigan and a longtime DIY hunter who took up hunting later in life. With no mentor Andy learned to hunt through trial and error. He became obsessed with tracking down mature bucks in his pressured home state of Michigan. After years of consistent success he began to venture to other states from Wyoming to Maryland and everything in between. Andy is a blue collar guy who works two jobs yet still finds a way to be successful on multiple DIY trips each fall. Although Andy loves hunting big bucks, the most important thing to him is challenging himself with new adventures as well as quality experiences with his friends and family in the outdoors. To learn more about Andy you can check out his Wired to Hunt DIY profile here.

Hometown

Adrian, Michigan

Resides

Adrian, Michigan

Favorite Hunt

Early Season Whitetail or Mule Deer

Best Eating Critter

Antelope or Elk

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Hiking, camping, archery, fishing, and kayaking.

Conservation Group He Supports

QDMA

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Sam Soholt

Born and raised in the Dakotas, Sam Soholt is a nomad from the prairie always in search of the next Public Land hunting adventure. He is a professional hunting lifestyle photographer by trade and has traveled the Americas shooting photos for countless outdoor brands and magazines. But for the last few years, the focus has shifted to public land and conservation advocacy. He spent 2 1/2 years mostly living out of a converted school bus as a way to raise awareness about public land issues and help educate people on what they can do to get involved.

Sam and his brother Josh co-founded Public Land Tees as a way to raise money for conservation and public land access projects to help protect all of those wild public places that we all roam freely. In just 3 years they have donated over $100,000 to various projects that benefit anyone that spends time in the outdoors. Through Projects like Stamp it Forward and Conservation Crossing, Sam and Josh have been able to uniquely raise critical funding that conservation groups need to further their missions.

Hometown

Sioux Falls, SD

Resides

Fargo, ND

Favorite Hunt

Any species during the peak rut or migration.

Best Eating Critter

Hard to beat a pan seared Antelope backstrap.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Fishing, Hiking, Camping.

Conservation Groups He Supports

Between personally and through Public land Tees - Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, RMEF, Mule Deer Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Delta Waterfowl, National Deer Association, TRCP, Pheasants Forever, and the Duck Stamp Program

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Jason Phelps

Born and raised in SW Washington, Jason Phelps has spent his entire life in the area. He’s the founder and general manager of Phelps Game Calls and continues to pour his passion into designing and building the easiest to use and best game calls available. When not running the company he tries to spend as much time out in the mountains hunting, learning and enjoying what nature has to offer. Jason is dedicated to educating hunters. He realizes that the future of hunting is tied to the recruitment and retention of hunters. Jason puts on a couple dozen of seminars a year teaching elk hunting tactics to help others become more successful. In addition to the seminars we provide content on our Youtube channel, answer questions on social media and anything else we can do to help hunters find success. Every fall Jason looks forward to archery elk hunting and hunting mule deer with a rifle. Second to the fall hunts he also enjoys calling turkeys in the spring, glassing hours on end for black bears and an occasional predator hunt.

Hometown

Pe Elle, Washington

Resides

Pe Elle, Washington

Favorite Hunt

Any September elk hunt where the bulls are bugling.

Best Eating Critter

I haven't found a piece of wild game I dislike... if I had to pick though I'd have some elk backstrap on my plate.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Riding quads/side by sides at the dunes, fishing the backcountry lakes, coaching my kids sports teams.

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Dr. Kevin Monteith

Kevin has been actively conducting research on large mammals since 1999 when he began his undergraduate education at South Dakota State University (SDSU). Since then, his research has taken him from the agriculturally dominated plains of eastern South Dakota to the rugged mountains of the Sierra Nevada, and finally to Wyoming in 2011. Kevin obtained an MSc in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at SDSU where his research focused on the growth, development, and nutritional ecology of white-tailed deer. He then obtained a PhD in Biological Sciences at Idaho State University and conducted research on mule deer in the Sierra Nevada.Kevin’s research in the Sierra Nevada focused on the underlying effects of nutrition on the reproductive and population ecology of mule deer, with an emphasis to improving our understanding of the effects of mortality and their proximal cause on population dynamics, determining methods to estimate the level of a population with respect to nutritional carrying capacity, and the effects of nutrition on timing of life-history events. As of 2015, Kevin is an Assistant Professor in a joint position with the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources and the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit in the Department of Zoology and Physiology, after first joining the Coop Unit as a Postdoctoral Researcher in 2011. Kevin’s primary research interests include nutritional ecology and its implications for understanding growth, behavior, life-history strategies, and population dynamics of large mammals, predator-prey interactions, and the effects of harvest strategies and novel disturbance on large mammal populations.

Hometown

Bristol, SD

Resides

Laramie, WY

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Janis Putelis

Janis grew up in Michigan skateboarding, snowboarding, fishing for largemouth, and hunting whitetail deer. His love for snowboarding took him to Colorado in the late 90's, and soon after he started working as a fishing and hunting guide. Janis spent over a decade guiding hunting and fishing trips in Colorado, Arizona, and Mexico; plus three years in a professional kitchen. In 2012 he met Steven Rinella and started working as a Wilderness Production Assistant for MeatEater. Since then, Janis has served as Director and Executive Producer of the Netflix Original series MeatEater, contributing writer on MeatEater’s last three books, including the 2018 bestseller, The MeatEater Fish & Game Cookbook: Recipes and Techniques for Every Hunter and Angler. Currently, Janis Putelis is the host of MeatEater Hunts on YouTube and co-host of The MeatEater Podcast. Janis lives in Bozeman, MT with his wife and two daughters, enjoying all things that get them outside.

Hometown

Kalamazoo, MI

Resides

Bozeman, MT

Favorite Hunt

Spring gobblers with a shotgun

Best Eating Critter

Turkey or Pronghorn

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Trail running, skiing, learning to be a houndsman

Conservation Groups He Supports

BHA, TRCP, NWTF

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Ben O'Brien

Ben O'Brien was born very average across the board: average looks, average athletic ability, the average height of a human male, a B- student. What's remarkable about this mediocrity is that it has been so consistent throughout his life. He's killed some pretty good bucks, nothing huge, but representative for the area. He drives a mid-size pickup truck and once lived in Peoria, Illinois. He has called in some elk, but only raghorns. He can play the recorder pretty well, likes relatively long hikes, and has a room dedicated to participation trophies...which is about half full. If you're a remarkably average hunter, this is your guy. P.S. - Shoutout to Phil the Engineer.

Hometown

Hagerstown, MD

Resides

Bozeman, MT

Favorite Hunt

The Next One

Best Eating Critter

Axis deer, specifically those that live in the lush botanical gardens of Lanai.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Recently learned how to ice skate. Currently deciding between interpretive ice dancing or hockey as a long term goal.

Conservation Groups He Supports

BHA, Wild Sheep Foundation, RMEF, TRCP, NWTF

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Levi Morgan

Levi Morgan grew up hunting and fishing with his dad and brother in the mountains of North Carolina. He quickly become know as a top level archer and has won over 70 National and World Titles as a professional, making him the most decorated archer in the history of the sport. Levi and his wife Samantha host the television show Bowlife TV on the Outdoor Channel. They have 2 boys Landon and Jaxon who are the center of both their lives. Levi owns several brands inside the hunting/archery industry and even a few outside of it as well. Levi gives all the glory to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and is so incredibly thankful for the joy this outdoor life has brought into his life.

Hometown

Rosman, NC

Resides

Uniontown, PA

Favorite Hunt

Whitetail with my son Landon. Watching him fall in love with hunting like I did is even better this time around.

Best Eating Critter

Axis deer cooked medium rare wrapped in bacon.

Other Outdoor Pursuits

Competing in archery tournaments, bass fishing, shed hunting, and farming for wildlife.

Conservation Groups He Supports

National Deer Association

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