Somewhat of a “loner,” I have, for as long as I can remember, sought out the peacefulness, solitude and adventure that only the great outdoors can offer.  From my early childhood, my grandfather taught me about wild plants…specifically those that had value such as ginseng.  Our neighbor was kind enough to take me, just a teenager at the time, coon hunting. Though he had long since given it up, he still had a hound and I pestered enough to convince him to get out in the woods again. I can remember like yesterday the first deer I shot, a nice doe as I sat in a depression under a tree, the first coon I trapped on my trap lines, a big boar in a leg hold on the creek bank using only a little anise scent.  I can remember how proud I was when I carried that coon back up the hill to my grandparent’s house; I was probably about 14 at the time.  Strangely, no one in my family hunted during my childhood.  My grandfather coon hunted way before I was born, but his health precluded my ever getting to take part in that with him.  What planted the seed I do not know, but looking back, I think the encouragement I received had a great impact on shaping me into the outdoors person that I have become.

As for today, I reside in East Central Illinois in close proximity to the Embarrass and Wabash Rivers. In addition to being a lifelong hunter, I spent a few years fishing local in regional bass tournament circuits. While it was a great deal of fun, I never seemed to have ample time to prepare for the fall hunting season. I have since given that up to concentrate on the hunting. My hunting has generally been in the vicinity of where I grew up with the goal of putting meat in the freezer. Now that my daughter is grown and my job a little less demanding, I am planning on adding at least one out of state hunting trip (two if I’m lucky!) each year. My focus has also shifted from meat in the freezer to mounts on the wall!! I have been fortunate enough to have been able to purchase a portion of the family farm where I grew up, ensuring that I will have a place to hunt until I can no longer draw a bow or shoulder a shotgun. There are abundant deer and turkey as well as the usual small game. I will even have the opportunity to shake the dust off my trapping skills this winter as several beaver have set up housekeeping and are causing a bit of destruction! 2006 will be the first year that this land has seen any kind of wildlife management practices. It will be a long and slow process but I am looking very forward to seeing the results! I have also just recently become the proud “mom” of a WHD puppy, Aryl. He is destined to be a blood tracking dog, specifically bred for that purpose, and will be trained to recover wounded game. His natural ability is very impressive and I hope to eventually offer a volunteer deer recovery service in our area.

I make my living as a Manufacturing Accountant, holding a BSB in that area. I also have college certificates in Industrial Equipment Maintenance and Wildlife and Forestry Conservation. I like to walk the fields and streams looking for Indian artifacts and have a small collection. I dabble a bit in genealogy and love to read about history. The one thing on my list of items to yet accomplish is to take a cinnamon bear with my longbow. (Although any bear would do, I really would like a cinnamon!!) Stay tuned for that one...