Hunting is hard. Flat out. It takes patience, courage, and grit. More often than not you are left with an unfilled tag in your pocket and a long walk back to the truck. So why do it? Why put in so much time, money and effort if percentages do not go in your favor? I know why I do it. I do it because the effort it takes to successfully harvest an animal is unlike any other feeling in life. Because with no risk there can be no reward. It is what makes hunting and harvesting your own meat so special.
Being new to hunting, I constantly second guess myself and have doubt about if I am doing the right thing, especially since I never had a mentor to bounce questions off of. It is my weakness. It is the internal battle that I struggle with when hunting. Have you ever had questions about what others would do in certain situations? Maybe you catch yourself not staying in the game mentally. I know I often do. I find myself double guessing a move or a plan of attack when I hunt. Being new to hunting can be frustrating and defeating, so much that it is hard to stay motivated.
This blog series is meant to be a way to inspire and motivate you and others when it comes to hunting your dreams, and at the same time making a difference in recruiting new members and building community in the hunting world. Hopefully the advice and insight shared by our guests can help you feel like you are not alone in your struggle against the wild, as well as build confidence in your chase.
WBC: What is your name?
Jeremiah: Jeremiah Doughty
WBC: Where are you from and where do you currently live?
Jeremiah: Born & raised in Sunny Southern California.
WBC: What is your day job?
Jeremiah: I am a Wild Game Chef/ Blogger/ freelance writer.
WBC: Do you have any family or pets?
Jeremiah: A beautiful wife, 2 amazing daughters, plus a new fox red lab puppy.
WBC: How and why did you get started into hunting?
Jeremiah: When I was 6 years old, I remembered hearing stories of my dad, uncles and grandpa hunting and wanted to be apart of the stories. From that point on, my love of wing hunting became my passion. 7 years ago at the age of 28, I got into big game hunting due to developing a beef allergy.
WBC: Did you have a hunting mentor? What did you learn from them and or what did you want or wished to learn from them?
Jeremiah: No real mentor, that is why I’ve taken on that role. I want to be there for those who did not grow up hunting or fishing. I want to help them grow in the world of organic food gathering.
WBC: If you did not have a mentor, how did you learn to hunt?
Jeremiah: I learned to wing shoot by watching my family. In the world of big game, turkey and waterfowl hunting, it was a world of self exploration.
WBC: What has been your favorite hunt? Why?
Jeremiah: My favorite hunt is when I took my dad on his first big game hunt. Being there for his first rifle kill, gut, skin and butcher was one of the highlights of my life.
WBC: What has been your biggest struggle when it comes to hunting?
Jeremiah: Combating the “trophy” vs. “meat” arguments. The people who are in it for the “instafame” and not the story, animal and food.
WBC: Our strengths can also be our weaknesses. What are your weaknesses that can inhibit you on your hunts?
Jeremiah: Fear. Fear is the only thing that holds me back.
WBC: What piece of gear can you not hunt without?
Jeremiah: My Binos. If you can’t see, identify and figure out a plan, then you have no reason hunting.
WBC: What is your favorite place to hunt and or species (i.e. terrain, location, topography, region, state)?
Jeremiah: Wyoming: Antelope or High Timber Elk.
WBC: What is one piece of advice you would have liked to have or know when you first started hunting?
Jeremiah: Keep going, your meal might be right on the other side of that ridge you think you can’t climb.
WBC: What is your social media account handles or website?
Jeremiah: Instagram: Fromfieldtoplate Twitter: Fromfield2plate
Facebook: Fromfieldtoplate Web: Fromfieldtoplate.com
We want to thank Jeremiah for allowing us to interview him and for sharing his insight and thoughts. If you want to know more about Jeremiah and what he does, be sure to follow along on his journey by checking out his social media accounts and website. He offers great recipes on wild game that you will surely fall in love with. You can also sign up for his 3 day From Field To Plate classes that he offers every November in Texas. These classes include harvesting a big game animal, instruction on how to field dress, as well as how to cook for success. For more information on his classes click here.
If you enjoyed reading the blog or can think of anyone that could benefit from the insight given, please share it with others. It is “OUR” job to continue the growth of the hunting and outdoor community. Be sure to invite someone to start hunting with you, you never know what type of impact it may have for them and their life.
If you would like to be featured in the blog series or know someone who should be, let us know by emailing us or direct message on Instagram.
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