About Pro-Outdoorsman

Real Experience. Practical Knowledge. Traditional Outdoor Skills.

The Story Behind Pro-Outdoorsman

Pro-Outdoorsman was created to share practical outdoor knowledge gained through years of firsthand experience in the mountains and wilderness of Idaho. There’s no shortage of outdoor information available today, but there’s something valuable about learning from someone who has spent years doing these things for a living. My goal is to help preserve traditional outdoor skills while sharing useful information that people can put to work in their own outdoor adventures.

Whether you’re an experienced outdoorsman or someone just getting started, I want this to be a place where you can find straightforward advice and practical instruction. I believe there’s always something new to learn, regardless of how many years you’ve spent in the outdoors. That’s the kind of resource I want Pro-Outdoorsman to become.

Where It All Began

I was born and raised on a rural 40-acre property bordering the national forest in Idaho. The outdoors wasn’t something we had to travel far to experience; it was right outside our door. Growing up, it wasn’t unusual for me to come home from school, grab my rifle, and head into the woods hunting elk or whitetail deer.

I also hunted bear and mountain lion, and spent much of my summers riding horses with friends. One of the biggest influences on my early years was my cousin Bud, who had worked as a professional hunting guide long before I was born. His experience and the time we spent hunting together played an important role in the direction my life would eventually take.

When I was 12 years old, Bud bugled a bull elk to within about ten yards of me. I took my first bull that day, and from that point on, I was hooked on elk hunting. Bud’s background as a guide also planted an idea in my mind that stayed with me throughout my teenage years: someday, I wanted to guide hunters myself.

What You’ll Find Here

Pro-Outdoorsman is organized around four main areas, each focused on practical information and skills that can be put to use in the field.

  • Elk Hunting: Elk behavior, hunting strategies, scouting, and practical hunting knowledge.
  • Packing & Guiding: Horse and mule packing, stock handling, backcountry camps, and equipment.
  • Backcountry Skills: Wilderness survival, firecraft, navigation, and traditional outdoor skills.
  • Fishing: Fishing techniques, tackle, reading the water, and understanding fish behavior.

Much of the content will come from my own experiences, while other subjects will involve research and information gathered from reliable sources. The important thing is that the information is accurate, useful, and presented in a way that’s easy to understand. As the website grows, I also plan to add instructional videos, equipment reviews, books, and other resources for people interested in learning more about the outdoors.

A Practical Approach to Outdoor Knowledge

I’ve always believed there’s a difference between knowing how something is supposed to work and having the experience to put it into practice. Anyone who spends much time in the backcountry eventually learns that things don’t always go according to plan. Weather changes, equipment fails, animals behave unpredictably, and sometimes you have to make the best of whatever situation you’re facing.

That’s the approach I want to bring to Pro-Outdoorsman. I want to share practical information, honest observations, and lessons that can help others become more knowledgeable and capable outdoorsmen. I certainly don’t claim to know everything, and I still believe there’s always something new to learn. My hope is that the experience I’ve gained, along with good research and the knowledge of others, will make this website a useful resource.

Looking Ahead

My goal is to build Pro-Outdoorsman into a growing collection of outdoor knowledge, stories, instruction, and resources. There are plenty of subjects I’d like to cover, from the everyday realities of working as a wilderness guide and packer to the smaller techniques and lessons that can make a real difference in the field.

Whether you’re interested in elk hunting, fishing, exploring the backcountry, or learning practical outdoor skills, I hope you’ll find information here that helps you get more out of your time outdoors.