The Hunter Spotlight Series

Man... that was a real testament to the power of fellowship. Everything that could go wrong that morning went wrong. Took a while getting up the tree to set up and I was sweating bullets. A doe snuck in on me and thankfully I got a good shot off and then realized I had no clue how to gut this deer.

The idea of hunting different turkey species not only in different states...but different habitats...appeals to me GREATLY.

"I’ve been hunting for as long as I can remember. My granddad was—and still is—a true outdoorsman, and I was blessed to be introduced to the outdoors at a very young age. "He started me and my brothers out hunting small game. We always had a pack of beagles growing up, and when Granddad took us rabbit hunting, it was never just about rabbit hunting. We were shaking squirrel nests, walking the hardwoods, kicking briar patches and occasionally shaking a raccoon or two out of

I always wanted to hunt elk as lifelong goal/bucket list hunt. One of my best friends from kindergarten moved out in Idaho and kept telling me I should try to come elk hunting. We had talked about it for years...but back in 2022, I had decided to save up and plan for a hunt in 2024. Add to that...I knew I needed to be fit. So, I started pushing hard in the gym...getting my weight down and building back my cardio/endurance.

I’d accumulated years of armchair knowledge just from being around Steve, reading viewer comments, and fielding questions for him. Eventually I got the chance to get out in the field and hunt myself.

I enjoy deer hunting because there are so many factors that have to go right in order for you to be successful. You must scout, make time to seed food plots, choose correct trails to place trail cameras on, and most importantly hang up stands for the best chance at success.

Outdoor Afro is a national not-for-profit organization that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature. I founded Outdoor Afro in 2009 because the prevailing narrative at the time suggested that Black people weren’t connected to the outdoors. That simply didn’t reflect my life or the experiences of so many Black families and communities I knew.

If you care about your turkey population the best thing you could do is buy a few DP’s (Dog Proof Traps), buy a few foot holds, and protect your flock.

I was a classically trained chef and loved the outdoors my whole life. So, I combined the two and figured I wanted to be a part of the food chain from the beginning and understand what really goes into putting meat on the table

This weeks Hunter Spotlight Series takes us to none other than Virginia the home of Equalized Outdoors Name: Dontae M. Thorne Hometown: Ettrick, Virginia Currently Residing: Richmond, Virginia Going fishing with Dontae! How long have you been hunting? "I didn’t grow up with the same kind of hunting background that a lot of people in the outdoor industry did. My journey into hunting came later, which is actually one of the reasons I’m so passionate about bringing other people

This week's Hunter Spotlight Series brings us to Texas...where we learn about Steven and his love for BOTH hunting and fishing. By Cliff Cadet | Equalized Outdoors Newsroom Name: Steven Ford Hometown: Marksville, LA Currently Residing: Garland TX Steven posing with a hog harvest. Steven with a big catch! We've been stalking you...I mean following you on social media and see that you enjoy hunting AND fishing. Which do you enjoy doing more? "I can’t pick one over the other. I

I respect the level of difficulty that it takes to hit a small target that can fly up to 55 mph. I like the amount of action, with a high daily limit of 15 doves. I relish making dove (instead of chicken) nuggets out of them to eat. My other favorite wild game to hunt is turkeys, pheasants, and predators."

The week's Hunter Spotlight Series sheds a little light on how a grandfather's influence inspired his grandson's love of the outdoors.

Hunting became more than a hobby—it became a way for me to provide clean, responsibly sourced meat that I know I can eat. Processing my own game also gives me a better understanding of what I'm putting into my body.

Any recommendations for bowhunters just starting out? "Get set up professionally...to a bow that fits your needs and current physical capabilities. Once getting said bow, shoot the hell out of it before upgrading everything hoping you shoot better. "Learn to appreciate shooting paper/3D for score. It's a necessary task and we owe it to the animals we hunt to be the best shooters we can be."

"I believe being country is in you, not on you. It's not being from the city and participating in country folk's activities. It's not about what you wear. It's a lifestyle and how you're raised"

This week's spotlight focuses on a veteran and avid bowhunter.

This weeks Hunter Spotlight Series Features: Name: Lafayette Trowell Jr. Hometown: The Midlands of South Carolina Currently Residing: South Carolina Hunting Weapon(s) of Choice: Deer - Suppressed Weatherby 7mm-08 Wild Turkey - 20-gauge Winchester SXP