The Hunter Spotlight Series | Devian Ramos

Last week The Hunter Spotlight Series brought us to NYC and that's where we stay...as we catch up with adult-onset bowhunter and entrepreneur, Devian Ramos.

By Cliff Cadet | Equalized Outdoors Newsroom

Devian with his Pope & Young T-Rex harvest.

Full Name:

Devian Ramos, Jr.

Hometown:

Brooklyn, NY

Currently Residing:

Queens, NY

Hunting weapon of choice: Bow

Devian, and I (the author), sharing a blind on a turkey hunt.

I already know that you’re a bit of a “collector”. How many bows do you own?

"I own four, at the moment (got a new one ordered and on the way). This year I've shot everything...a Hoyt RX9, a Darton Sequel 31, a Mathews Arc 34 (definitely a runner up for favorite bow) and I own 2 trad bows."

Which is your favorite on the list and why?

"I love my PSE Sicario. I shoot it well and am the most confident with it."

If different from above, what’s your bowhunting setup?

"You actually caught me right in the middle of making some changes.

"I'm currently shooting the Sicario at 80lbs, running a DIALED 3VA with .10 pins. I ordered a set of 70lb limbs and a new DIALED housing with .19 pins (The .10 pins were great for T.A.C., but a little too small for hunting in my opinion)."

How long have you been hunting and what got you started

"My first hunt wasn't until 2022, and my biggest early influence was the fact that I was binge watching Meateater during the movie shutdowns in 2020.

"I went out for a mentored hunt in December 2022 with BHA and Kinfolk and was able to meet a great group of people to learn from and was inspired to really lean into the conservation and stewardship connection of hunting and it's been really fulfilling and such a big part of my family."

Devian, afield with his trad bow.

You’re a husband and father. How has your hunting experience been when it comes to your wife and kids?

"It's been great. The wife shoots a Mach 30 and 2 of my 5 kids shoot compounds as well. We've created a tradition of going out and sitting in the blind on New Year's Eve, with my 10-year-old. She's closest to hunting age and wants to get out there as much as possible. Planning on my wife getting out there for her first hunt next year...Lord willing."

About a year ago, you got a side gig working in a bow shop. What was that experience like?

"It was great. I had been in the fitness industry for 15 years and was looking for something more fulfilling and it felt like my skills could benefit that environment. And with my sales background, it was a match made in heaven. It also put me in a great position to start working and learning the bow tech side of things in a more hands on way."

What was your biggest takeaway in that experience?

Devian perched up, high in a tree and in a saddle.

"It was great to be in an industry where I could help people directly...in their pursuits of animals and providing food for their families."

You recently started your own business…a mobile bow shop. What's it like to go from being a bowhunter…to an employee in a shop…to now running your own bow shop?

"We started Empire Bow Works at the end of January and early on it was a big learning curve.

"Having to submit dealer applications for all these different brands and learn what inventory we need to carry, as well as what is more of a special-order option, even setting up the website and managing the p.o.s. from the backend was a huge learning curve."

If there’s one thing you’d want a bowhunting customer to know…what would that be?

"Do some research and don't believe everything you hear on YouTube!"

Devian with his very first deer harvest.

Devian and Mike celebrating his first deer.

You shot your first deer last year. Tell us about that experience.

"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. Mike Cruz had just ended his hunt on opening morning early. He then came to me and taught me how to gut my deer and get it ready for the processor. The hunting community is a beautiful thing when your surrounded by the right people! Y'all are my tribe."

If logistics and money were no problem, what would your dream hunt be?

Devian, behind his former workplace, getting his reps in.

"I would have to say anything in Alaska. Don't know that I have a specific species in mind...but maybe sheep hunting in Alaska. Mountain vibes, sunrise and sunset out there would be a bucket list achievement for sure."

Like me, you consume a lot hunting content (podcasts, YouTube, etc.). Do you have a favorite that you could recommend to newer hunters right now? If yes, what is it?

"I am a huge fan of the series "GRIT"...on YouTube. It's a cool hunting series with even cooler cinematography. I like a lot of Levi Morgan's content also. It seems pretty practical for us here in NY...since he's from PA."

Thanks for catching up with The Hunter Spotlight Series. To continue following Devian, on his hunting journey, follow him on Instagram: @citykidbushcraft