What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you? 
 
The hard part about this question is narrowing it down. I love the solitude, the scenery, and the smells.  I really enjoy gaining altitude, sitting at the top of a peak feeling tired and relaxed all at once and just taking in all that’s below!
  
When did you first start hunting/fishing?
 
I started hunting with my dad and uncles when I was 8 years old.  I would just try to keep up with my dad.  One thing I remember is that my feet were always cold!
  
What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?
 
Wow, tough one!  I’ve made so many great memories; however, one memory that sticks out is from a Mountain Goat Hunt.  The hunt was with two of my sons, one of them had drawn an Mtn Goat tag and we spent a lot of time together scouting, getting in shape and shooting.  When the hunt arrived the three of use backpacked into some of the steepest and roughest country you can imagine. The night prior to the opening we found the Goats and put them to bed. That night a storm rolled in with 80 mile and hour winds along with snow, luckily we had put our camp up behind some small trees just off of the ridge.  In the morning we found that the weather had pushed the goats off of the mountain top and into the cliffs below making it impossible to get an ethical shot at the goat we were after.  After watching the goats for a couple of hours they finally moved into a semi flat area and my son made a great shot on his goat.  Just after reaching the goat is when the real storm arrived, we took pictures and broke the animal down as fast as we could.  From the time we shot the goat and got back to our tents it had dumped over a foot of snow and visibility was less than 50 yards.  We broke camp and started off the mountain, the trail was impossible to see so we slowly picked our way across the mountain mostly from memory. We all carried heavy packs and that combined with deep snow covering the steep and treacherous terrain made it very slow going.  My most memorable moment came when after a couple of hours I stopped and the bottom of the last steep hill we had to climb, and turned around to wait for my son.  I knew he was behind me and I knew he had the goat on top of his pack and yet when he appeared out of the blizzard behind me it startled the crap out of me.  He was covered in snow and with the goat on top of his pack he looked like a Yeti!  Even though we were tired and cold we all stood there and laughed about how funny and ridiculous this situation was.  There was no complaining, we just enjoyed the moment together and pushed on through the snow.  The time spent on the mountain with family, the common challenges and experiences is what it’s all about.
 
What is your favorite animal to hunt?

Mule Deer!  Why, I love hunting in the high mountains, and for me nothing beats the challenge of hunting mature, smart mule deer!  Score is not what it’s about for me it’s about out smarting the mature animal and the experience!
 
Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?
 
It gives a rare opportunity to unplug from the chaotic world, and leave behind the ease and comfort of daily life.  It’s a reminder of what is important, it a time to reflect and for me it’s a time to get closer with family and friends.  Hunting gives me the time to push myself physically; it’s a time to concentrate on just one thing and to let the stress of daily life fade.
 
What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
 
I’ve been asked by a few of the rational non hunters that I know why I kill an animal that I truly respect and enjoy and why I don’t just take pictures.  My answer is hard to put into words; there is something deep down that draws me to hunt and to kill an animal. It’s not just the challenge, or the great memories, or the great meat that I get.  I love taking pictures of animals but there is something missing, maybe it’s deep connection with nature or a primal drive but with the kill something basic is missing.  As a hunter I do everything possible to make the kill humane, I practice hours on end with my equipment, and I know my limitations.  Nature is not always kind or humane but I do everything I can to make a clean swift kill and to avoid any unnecessary suffering. I don’t apologize for hunting, it’s legal, ethical, moral and it’s a huge part of who I am! 
 

​What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?

Beauty of the Earth, fresh air, freedom from stress/work, the fun of shooting sports, chopping wood for the fire, the sound of a running creek/river

When did you first start hunting/fishing?

I had been hunting and fishing with my dad and brothers on occasion growing up and I always had an interest in both, but as a kid, I was dependent on others to take me with them. It wasn't until I was able to provide for myself, and able to get myself into the woods that I became a hunter. It was also important for me to provide that opportunity to my children an a young age, on a regular basis, because I know that I would have like to have gone camping/hunting/fishing a lot more as a kid. It is a hobby/sport that has strengthened my relationship with my children.

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

There are many, but the those most memorable are hunting trips. It could be my first Buck or Bull Elk, camping with my buddies, fishing alpine lakes, etc., all of which I will always remember. But most memorable will always be the time my son Jacob thanked me, as we were hunting this past Deer season, for always taking him with me. He is 30-years-old now and a very successful hunter. He has been going with me since he was 10. That was a special moment for me.

Okay, one more... My son Dillon and I were sitting against a large Pine tree on a ridge line overlooking hundreds of miles of land. We had just finished a walk through a thick forested area where we were hunting Elk. I had been blowing my Cow Elk call as we sat enjoying the view. After about half an hour, we decided to hunt our way back to the truck where we would have some lunch. As we got up, I saw movement to my left (Dillon was on my right), so I turned, only to see a Mountain Lion running at me at full speed toward us. It put on the brakes (realizing I wasn't an Elk), and kicked up dirt and debris on me, as he turned and ran into the woods. It was about five feet from me when it turned. Needless to say, the hairs on the back of my neck were on end, my hands were shaking, and adrenaline was pumping. Dillon asked me, what was that? I answered, a Mountain Lion. He was confused. Here? he asked. He never saw it. That was the only time I have ever seen a Mountain Lion in the woods. It was an awesome sight. I can only assume that I called it in with my Cow calls. It is experiences like these that make it worth being in the woods.

What is your favorite animal to hunt?

I hunt Deer and Elk, with Elk being my favorite.

Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?

In the modern age, science has played a huge role in our stewardship, as humans, to take care of animal populations. Managing and taking care of them is our responsibility. As a result, not only are our livestock herds thriving, but also game animal populations are flourishing. I appreciate being able to go into the woods and see these magnificent animals. I enjoy taking a break from the day-to-day activities and being able to "wet a line" or follow a game trail. Being able to "reset" my mind and attitude help me to be better at the day-to-day activities required of us in this modern age. In addition, I think it is important to have hunting and fishing skills to be able to provide for yourself and family. It is important to pass these skills on to our children, and gives us opportunities to connect with our parents and grandparents. 

What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?

There are non-hunters who are not opposed to hunting (my daughter and wife), and there are non-hunters who protest hunting, gun ownership, etc. To those not opposed to hunting, I think we have an understanding that most humans eat meat. And in this modern age of healthy living, game meat is much more nutritious than animals raised specifically for their meat, injected with hormones and other additives in an effort to grow them at an accelerated rate, all in the name of profits. To those opposed to hunting, herd management includes controlling the population so that herds do not over graze their habitat, affording the stronger animals to procreate, strengthening the population. Additionally, millions of dollars are collected from hunters/fishermen, which in turn fund programs for the betterment of our wildlife resources. I do not kill for the enjoyment of killing. I kill for good, nutritious meat, which feeds my family.

Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

Be wise, be safe, take care of your equipment, and have fun.

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?

When I'm outdoors, I feel the like I am truly free.  I don't have to worry about my job or anything back home.  I also feel like I am able to reconnect with the earth on a level that I'm not able to while in the city.

When did you first start hunting/fishing?
My first hunting trip was with my dad at the tender age of four.  He shot a pretty good four point buck in Idaho and took me along for the hunt.  I don't remember much about the hunt but we have an old family video of my dad and grandpa packing the deer out.  The best part of the video is my grandpa chewing ass on my dad for not going up the 'right' draw and shooting the deer in an area that was hard to pack a deer out of.

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

2016 Utah Strawberry Ridge CWMU Elk Hunt
Outfitter: Western Skies Outfitters
Operator:  Brett Fielding
Dates:  5-9 October
Rifle:  Weatherby Vanguard 300 Wby
Optics: Swarovski 20-60x80 ATS Spotting Scope, Vortex HS-LR 4x16x40 Rifle Scope, Vortex Viper 10x42HD Binoculars

This year I was lucky enough to draw a coveted Utah CWMU elk tag on Strawberry Ridge (15 miles east of Woodruff, UT) after 16 years of waiting.  Not only was I the lucky recipient of a tag but my sister-in-law drew a mule deer tag as well.  I knew when I applied for the hunt this year that I was going to be the high point applicant for the unit, which would guarantee me a tag. 
​
The property is composed of 20,000 plus acres ranging from aspen forest to sagebrush flats and elevation ranging from 6,500 to 8,000 feet.  Elk are the main focus of the operation but deer, moose, and antelope are also available.  

​My elk hunt this year actually started last year when I was able to accompany my dad on his last hunt ever.  On the first night of my dad’s hunt last year Brett, who married into our family, told us to sit in a blind overlooking a cattle water trough.  He didn’t disappoint.  We headed to the blind at 3:30 p.m. and within 15 minutes a good 5x6 walked in and spent 10 minutes around the trough.  My dad wanted to shoot the bull right away but I wanted the hunt to last longer than a few minutes so I told him to wait.  The bull eventually walked off.  Later, a small 6x6 and a small 5x5 came into range but neither was good enough to shoot and we headed back to camp.

My dad suffered from muscular dystrophy and over the course of the night the cold air caused his leg muscles to contract and knot making him violently ill.  He only slept a couple hours the first night because of the pain.  I felt horrible.  He could have taken a great bull but I was selfish and wanted the hunt to last more than just a few minutes. 

The next morning he didn’t know if he would be able to hunt but he put on a smile and we went and looked for some bulls.  Right away we found a small 5x5 and he wanted to shoot it to end the hunt but luckily Brett stepped in and told us to give it one more night before we left.  He promised us an elk.

We went back to camp, got some lunch, took a nap and waited for the night hunt.

That night we walked into a cluster of trees after some bulls that we had heard bugling that morning.  For two solid hours we somehow kept ourselves on the edge of the herd as we stalked the elk through the trees.  The elk moved south for a while then back to north when a rival bull started to challenge the herd bull that we were after.  The roar of the bugle was so close and loud in the dense timber that we could hear bull’s snort at the end of his scream. 

Finally, the herd we were chasing walked out of the timber and into a clearing on a side hill but a couple of deer walked in between us and elk.  We didn’t dare move for 10 minutes as the doe and her fawns kept a close eye on us.  If they broke toward the herd of elk, our hunt was over.  We were all grateful when they trotted off the opposite way. 

After more than twenty years of hunting with my dad we went into ‘team mode’.  He knew that I was a few feet behind him like I had been since I was old enough to follow him into the forest.  Twenty years of hunting side-by-side throughout North America built a bond where each of us knew what the other was thinking when the hunt was on.

We silently walked out of the trees keeping a couple of lone pine trees between us and the elk.  My dad slipped his left shoulder out from under his pack, then his right, and I was there to grab the pack without losing a step.  While Brett was trying to finalize a plan of attack on the bull, he glanced our way and whispered that the herd bull we were chasing was a big 5x6.  While Brett was telling us the size of the bull and how to ambush the big 5x6, another 6x6 broke out of the trees 60 yards behind us, hell bent of catching the big 5x6. 
​
The bull bearing down on us from behind was quickly disregarded, and as Brett stepped around the side of the pines to line up a shot, my dad quietly took a step to the opposite side of the tree and took the bull with an off-hand shot at 150 yards.  The old bull humped and Dad put another one round into him ending the hunt.  Much to our surprise, the old bull was the same one that we had passed up the night before drinking out of the water trough!

​Emotions were high and few tears might have been shed but it was well worth the battle.
 
Fast forward a year and Wednesday morning I found myself alone, standing around a group of hunters I didn’t know, talking about what and where we were going to hunt on ‘Strawberry’.  Emotionally, it was harder for me than I thought it would be because this was the first big game hunt of my entire life that my dad was not a part of.  One by one, the other hunters laid claim to where they were going to hunt and asked me where I was off to.  I kind of shrugged and Brett stepped in and told the group that he was going to show me around. 

We took a short drive to an area called the ‘Buck Pasture’ and started to glass.  We quickly found a good 6x6 but he had weak fronts and we decided to pass him up.  While Brett was looking at another group of elk and I was glassing the opposite direction I heard a distinct whisper, “Tyler,” in the familiar voice of my dad.  I turned half expecting him to be standing there but I only saw Brett looking at a group of elk.  At that moment I knew that my dad was with me on the hunt. 

The rest of the morning was a bust for elk but we did find a nice deer for my sister-in-law who drew one of the state deer tags.  At the end of the morning hunt Brett told me he wanted to hunt the same patch of trees that we were successful in last year.

On the way back to camp we stopped in and asked the local sheep herder, Zorro, if he had seen any elk.  The quick stop ended up being a 45 minute conversation of Zorro’s broken English and Brett’s broken Spanish.  Zorro told us where a good 6x6 was but the highlight of the conversation was homemade tortillas fresh off Zorro’s sheep camp stove. 

We headed back to camp, ate a couple of cheese burgers, took a nap then geared up to leave in the early afternoon. 

At 2:30 p.m. we left camp on foot and started our quiet descent through the aspen forest.  Brett was dealing with a bad case of gout in his right foot so we took it very slow.  He was worried about my health because of a pacemaker that I had implanted late last year and I was worried that I would have to pack him out because of his gout. 

After a couple of hours methodically sneaking through the trees toward a raspy bugle, we stumbled upon a couple of cow elk.  We inched closer to them in hopes of seeing their bull only to find that we had snuck into the heart of the herd.

We couldn’t see the bull but he would bugle every couple of minutes and we knew he was close.  We spotted a 5x5 eating near a few cows about 50 yards to our left when the bull that was constantly bugling decided to head straight toward us.  He too, was a 5x5 but for some reason was one of the most vocal elk that I’ve ever encountered.  He was constantly bugling and worked himself to within 60 yards when a bigger 6x6 bull came into view.  The 6x6 was not quite what we were looking for but he was looking for a fight.  He pushed the vocal 5x5 our way.  I thought that they were going to run right into us.  Brett said, “Get ready,” but the 5x5 broke to our left at 35 yards. 

At this point it was starting to get late and we were still a long way from camp so we backed out quietly and tried to circle the herd we had just ran into.  Only a few minutes later we ran into another smaller herd with a decent 5x5 and nine cows.  Brett got a little excited which got me a little excited, but we decided to pass on this bull and start our trek back to camp. 

At this point the constant barrage of competing bugles was all around us.  We silently circled north and headed back to camp.  After 30 minutes of creeping through the forest and a couple of bugles coming from the west we broke into a familiar clearing and saw a bunch of elk in the open on the ridge opposite of us.  While we were glassing this herd we heard a close bugle directly behind us.

Brett turned and quickly said, “Shooter bull, get ready.” 

We both knelt down and dropped our packs as we waited for the big 6x6 to clear a few scrub trees.  He pinned us down at 75 yards for a moment but once the bull on the hill behind us bugled, he turned and started to rake some buck brush with his horns.  He then headed into the trees that we just came out of and we knew that he was going to pick up our scent.  Once he hit the trees and picked up our scent, he started on a quick walk down hill. Brett told me to shoot him when he walked through a small opening in the trees. 

A few seconds later the bull was a hundred yards away walking through the opening and I hit him in the left front shoulder.  The bull instantly recoiled from the shock of bullet and headed down the hill at a trot on three legs.  I missed the second shot but put an insurance round into him and he was down but not out.  With darkness quickly descending the last thing we wanted was to leave the bull overnight.  I walked down the hill to finish him off but he jumped up and headed out. 

I was sick.  I thought that I had just lost the bull of my dreams. 
​
Lucky for me, he only went a hundred yards before he piled up again and I anchored him with a final shot.  By this time Brett had grabbed our bags and walked down to meet me at the bull.  We laughed, high-fived, and even hugged.  At this point Brett told me that place where I stood and shot my elk was only 20 yards from where my dad shot his elk last year.  My dad shot his elk facing north and I shot mine facing south.  The flood of emotions was too much.  I was glad that it was dark so Brett couldn’t see me shed a tear in memory of the last hunt we shared with my dad.   

What is your favorite animal to hunt?

I love to hunt elk up close in the timber.  

Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?

Hunting and fishing allows us to reconnect with the earth.  Man kind has been hunting for sustenance for millions of years and for the short time that we're out in the wild, we allow our natural predatory instincts to come to the surface and help us harvest game for the dinner table.

What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
A lot of non-hunters view hunting as unethical and cruel.  I believe that it is unethical and cruel to allow animals to be raised in a small pen their whole life.

Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?
Thanks for putting this all together and trying to reach a different demographic than most outdoor writers.​

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?
             
I grew up in the 70’s before video games and cable television. Being outside was our only form of entertainment. We were always riding bikes and motorcycles, building huts, playing war games… and I’ve never grown out of it. I prefer being away from the rattle and clang of society.

When did you first start hunting/fishing?
             
I started fishing pretty young, probably 6 or 7, with my Grandma McLelland. She was a strong outdoorswoman that came through the depression with amazing skills for foraging, hunting, and fishing. She might be the best survivalist I’ve ever met, because she actually used those skills daily for many years. I didn’t start actually hunting until 5 or 6 years ago (I’m 44). The interest was always there, but life distractions took me in other directions for a long time.

What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?
             
My first year of hunting archery I had always gone out with a partner that was showing me the ropes. He couldn’t make it one day, so I set off alone at zero dark. It was a cloudy moonless night, but the trail was just visible as I crawled up the mountains into the aspen to my favorite meadow. Along the way there was a small lake before the real climb. As I crept along the trail I heard a “WHHHHMMMMMMMPPPPFFFF” that was so loud I felt it in my stomach and the hair on my neck stood straight up. I had never heard this sound before, and immediately thought “Oh Shit. Bigfoot.” I froze, notched an arrow and spun a slow 360 degree turn, but couldn’t see anything. “WHMMPF” again, now I’m panicking because it’s maybe 10 yards away. I started moving up the trail trying to get some sort of vision on whatever monster was telling me to GTFO. Finally, I got far enough away that my instincts settled down and I carried on with the hunt. I called my more experienced buddy later that day and told him what happened, and he explained that the Bull Moose that lives at that lake was rutting and probably thought I was a female moose…. HAHAHAHA

What is your favorite animal to hunt?
             
Archery Elk. The challenge is immense, and I like the terrain and season. There is nothing in the world like hearing Elk bugles at the break of dawn.

Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?
             
​I think it is incredibly important to connect with the natural world and with our ancestral instincts. In the modern age we don’t face a lot of adversity that is reality based. So much of our fussing and fighting comes from the virtual world. Getting out and pushing your limits physically and mentally is the antidote to all the BS of the modern age. Hunting is about so much more than the harvest.

What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
             
Give it a chance. There is a lot of anti-hunting perspectives floating around on social media, and unfortunately, a lot of it comes from a genuine place but not an educated place. The biologists and wilderness management agencies are pre-eminent conservationists and should be respected for their knowledge and hard work. Wildlife management isn’t a choice anymore, the explosion of humanity makes it necessary. So if you’re not hunting because you think its cruel, or anti animal, or anti conservation – consider spending your hostility on industrial farming and animal breeding. Hunting is compassionate; without population control many of these big game herds would grow to such a degree that they would end up starved for resources due to the fact that humanity has made such an enormous impact on natural predation. The other issue I see often is that despite the few assholes that get all the attention, the majority of hunters are ethical, intelligent, and greatly concerned about environmental issues.

Along with authors, I'm also interviewing gamers and hunters. I'd like to introduce my good friend, Patrick. He's an outdoorsman and a hunter, and I love how he answered some of these questions. 

What is it about the outdoors that appeals to you?

Being in the outdoors makes me be fully present in the situation.  I immediately have to be in a "flow state" where I am fully immersed.  My mind doesn't wander and start worrying about paying the bills, work, etc.  It honestly gives my mind a break from the daily 9-5 grind.  Its challenging, fun, scary, and beautiful. 
 
When did you first start hunting/fishing?

I started fishing really young, I think I have some pictures of me fishing at 4 years old.  I started going deer hunting with my family as an observer pretty much from day one so it was ingrained in me.  I started hunting big game myself at 14 years old.
 
What is one of your most memorable outdoor moments?

Definitely killing my first big game animal which surprisingly was a bull elk.  It was on the 7th day of a very hard hunt.  It was 4.5 miles back in and a very hard pack out.  I had my best friend with me to help.  It was the single most rewarding thing and single most difficult thing I have ever experienced.  To finally accomplish something that I had put years and years of effort into and wanted so bad was a milestone that I will never forget.
 
What is your favorite animal to hunt?

Its still bow hunting for elk.  The ability for such large creatures to completely vanish in a couple steps amazes me.  I affectionately refer to them as "timber ghost".  I get humbled by hunting elk, especially hunting them on the Wasatch Front of Utah.
 
Why do you think hunting/fishing is important in today's modern age?

There is the argument for knowing where your meat comes from and being part of that process.   Its a fact that hunting and fishing accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars from the sales of licenses, tags, waterfowl stamps, excises taxes, etc. Those funds go directly to wildlife conservation and help run local/federal regulatory bodies.  Honestly its important for wildlife management and to attach value to these animals so there is a reason to keep their populations at stable numbers.  I think that hunting/fishing imparts a sense of personal responsibility on the individuals who participate in those activities and I think that trait is severely lacking in today's modern age
 
What is something you would like to share with non-hunters out there?
​
See above.
 
Any final thoughts you would like to share with our readers?

If you have never hunted and have any inkling in starting please do.  Seek out people who do hunt and ask to tag along.  Contact your local wildlife management agency in your state, many offer beginner workshops to help get you started. It's one of the most rewarding experiences you can have.