This 5-minute video will show you what we’re about here at Fish Hunt Forever and if you want to learn where our philosophy started, keep scrolling to read a story I’ve never shared before.

When I was around 8 or 9, I took a trip to my uncle’s dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin. I looked forward to these trips because I’d get to run free on the sprawling landscape with rolling hills, a meandering creek and see all sorts of critters – domestic and wild.

But this trip was different. I had recently gotten my first BB gun and after an eternity (a few months seems like an eternity for an 8-year-old) of watching my older brother, cousins and uncles depart on hunting trips that I was too young for, I was finally going on one myself. Sort of.

Despite the fact that there were no hunting seasons open, I stared at the back of the truck during the two-hour drive, waiting to wrap my fingers around that cold steel. The plastic forearm just begging to be pumped 8 or 9 times, depending on how excited I am. I had the moment of arrival all planned out, as soon as the truck stopped, I’d grab that Daisy and head out in search of targets.

Blackbirds, pigeons, squirrels and whatever else that would make the mistake of resting long enough for me to put the iron sights on would be fair game. I was thirsty.

Ultimately, no animals, birds or stop signs were harmed on this trip.

As we arrived, the adults had other plans for us. My disdain for hugs and handshakes spilled across my face as the primal urge for hunting took over. Supper was consumed slowly as my eyes darted towards any movement out the windows. My lack of focus was obvious and after we finished eating my father and I had a talk.

I’ll never forget this moment and how I look back on it with disgust. My dad inquired about my restlessness, peppering me with questions about my actions, I finally blurted out, “I came here to kill.”

As I watched the color of his face drain, I realized I had said something wrong and tried my best to get my 8-year-old brain to comprehend what it meant.

Obviously I was referring to the troublesome pigeons that sat atop the barn and silo and nothing more nefarious than that, but still, the words had meaning and I knew I’d messed up.

For a few years prior, my brother had spent summers there, working the farm and managing the pigeon population, so I’d heard stories of shooting piles. Again, I was finally old enough to be a part of the big kid fun and wanted in on the action.

While my still-growing understanding of life caused me to pout in that kitchen, my father acted swiftly. That gun was taken away from me before I fired a shot and I didn’t see it again until we got home. He spent a considerable amount of time explaining that while we do kill things when we hunt, that’s not what its about.

It was my first lesson in conservation and one that made a big impact. It was exactly the right time for some tough love from my father, who I can thank for a lot of lessons learned in the outdoors. Some of those came from his father, Helmer, who introduced all of us boys to hunting and fishing. You can find out a little more about him in this film, “1956”.

While I have gone on to kill a lot of things during the many hunting seasons since then, I’ve always maintained that while I enjoy the harvests and the meals that come from them, I made sure to enjoy the adventure and time together more. Our family went on to have annual fishing trips to Ontario, waterfowl trips, pheasant trips and we spent many years at a cluster of cabins in the land of cheese sitting in trees during the 9-day gun deer season. Before I was blessed to get into a life of daily outdoor adventures, I looked forward to these trips and weekend getaways with the exuberance of that 8-year-old but the measured expectation of a burgeoning conservationist.

That’s the approach we take here at Fish Hunt Forever. We want to help you be more successful in the field, but understand that ultimate success isn’t measured in piles or limits. The experience, the education, the friendship, the tradition and the conservation is what it’s about. Don’t get me wrong, I will still always try to kill or catch something when I go, and I do get frustrated at times when I don’t, but ultimately I know how valuable it is to just to be outside and have these opportunities. If we’re not vigilant about protecting that right, it’s possible that it could be taken away.

That’s why we also work hard to be advocates for the outdoors here at Fish Hunt Forever. Speaking up about issues that are affecting our rights. Pushing for other hunters and anglers to approach the outdoors the right way and to teach the next generation how to respect wildlife, landowners, our waterways and the ground we’re hunting on.

We also work to help others grow their business in the outdoor space. Hunting and angling contributes billions to the US/CAN economy, providing jobs in small towns and keep cafes, gas stations and hotels in business. Our small towns are drying up already and without hunters and anglers even more people will just move to the city and that ain’t gonna be good for anyone. I believe in the right to own a business and create jobs, commerce and, ultimately, wealth. If I can help someone accomplish that living in the promised land of rural North America, I’m going to do what I can to make that possible.

I don’t get too excited about shooting pigeons anymore, but if they’re causing a problem or if I have a young dog that needs training, I’ll set up some decoys, get a makeshift blind set up and enjoy a couple of hours in the outdoors. But if I don’t kill anything, that will be just fine with me.

If you share similar philosophies in the outdoors, we’d love to work with you. We have multiple ways of helping you grow in the outdoors and working to preserve our rights as hunters and anglers. Contact us today to learn more.