The Captain and Me

The Captain and Me

Fifty years later, the old men were boys once again. I suppose there was a time when the Captain and I did not know one another, when he did not call me a smart ass, but neither of us can recall when that might have been. We are about half senile now, or at least we...
The $100,000 Deer

The $100,000 Deer

Lessons in Cold War economics and stag hunting with the KGB under the hammer and sickle of Soviet Communism. Did I ever tell you about the time I paid a hundred thousand dollars for a deer? The money wasn’t mine of course, and it was in rubles, Russian money,...
Dispatch from FTW Ranch SAAM Course: Day 4

Dispatch from FTW Ranch SAAM Course: Day 4

Every single person I met at FTW Ranch was kind, supportive, helpful and enjoyable, and I am leaving here not just with new knowledge, but a lot of new friends. Fredo and I met at 6 a.m. to hunt for hogs again this morning. It had just finished raining and was still...
Bringing the Outdoors to Your Living Room

Bringing the Outdoors to Your Living Room

In recent times, many of us have been daydreaming of our next big hunting or fishing trip while stuck inside. Glen Dene Hunting & Fishing New Zealand is bringing the outdoors in by sharing exciting stories of adventurers and their outdoor experiences, putting our...
Dispatch from FTW Ranch SAAM Course: Day 3

Dispatch from FTW Ranch SAAM Course: Day 3

Today I went hunting for the very first time and it’s safe to say I’m hooked. Instead of beginning our day in the classroom, we rode out to one of the ranges to practice shooting in different positions. Our instructor, Dave, spent some time showing us how...
Dispatch from FTW Ranch SAAM Course: Day 2

Dispatch from FTW Ranch SAAM Course: Day 2

I wasn’t sure how my second day here could top my first, which was full of accomplishments, but then I remembered I’m at FTW and that’s how things work around here. We spent the morning with another hour-long class session where our instructor went into more detail...
Not-So-Positive Predators

Not-So-Positive Predators

Anyone and everyone who encourages the growth of predator populations is actually contributing to increased animal suffering in the wild. After centuries of uninformed overuse and abuse of wildlife, American conservationists/scientists in the early 20th century...
Thrills Above Kills

Thrills Above Kills

Beneath the watchful eyes of the spirits, he would follow his dream of hunting a single species of African game. Sometimes in the deep of night, when I’m alone with my thoughts, I reflect on the moment. And it’s always the eyes that I remember. Probably...