Pro Staff
Site Owner
Harry Howland / MIBIGBUCKHUNTER
I guess you can say I was a late bloomer to hunting, I first started to get into Hunting when I was in my mid 20's. It was such a peace of mind that I felt like just sitting there and watching nature. Now that I am in my early 40's The Passion that burns in me is unreal. I am strictly a Bow Hunter at heart. Nothing gets my blood pumping more than getting within bow range. I frequently do shows and seminars for my sponsors. I Enjoy educating the public in the products I believe in. I would like to give a Big Thanks to my wife Kristy for her patience. I have 2 Beautiful daughters who every now and then enjoy sitting in my ground blind and hanging out with their Dad. I live in the Thumb Of Mich.
I've been an outdoors person my whole life. ANYTHING outdoors works for me. So when Harry approached me about getting this site done, I was behind him 100 percent! We took many days together, first discussing what it was we wanted the site to be, and then the specifics of what we thought we wanted in the way of content. There isn't a day that goes by that thought isn't put into what may make the site better. The rewards are obvious. We have a top notch Staff that really cares about making this site THE site to log on to, and are quick to give input whenever they see the need. We have an ever increasing number of GOOD, friendly, and helpful users. The Sponsors are all TOP OF THE LINE companies. What more can one ask out of their efforts?
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The Website Designer
Bob Trevorrow / Old FartI've been an outdoors person my whole life. ANYTHING outdoors works for me. So when Harry approached me about getting this site done, I was behind him 100 percent! We took many days together, first discussing what it was we wanted the site to be, and then the specifics of what we thought we wanted in the way of content. There isn't a day that goes by that thought isn't put into what may make the site better. The rewards are obvious. We have a top notch Staff that really cares about making this site THE site to log on to, and are quick to give input whenever they see the need. We have an ever increasing number of GOOD, friendly, and helpful users. The Sponsors are all TOP OF THE LINE companies. What more can one ask out of their efforts?
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Barb Davenport / BowGal
That all changed very quickly when we bought 130 acres in Pike County, Illinois. It was all timber and at first and I could not even envision the joy this land would bring to me in the future. I decided on Oct 12, 1991 that I would give bowhunting a try.
Fast forward to where I am today and what hunting means to me. The hard work of food plots started in 1993 as we decided what we were going to do to manage our land and grow mature whitetails and learn everything we could about the herd. We created a safe haven which was a 2 acre clover field in the front yard that we used to video and see what bucks we where holding. We also declared a few other areas of the property that we would not hunt. This allowed us to watch up and coming bucks grow to the age of 4 and 5 years old. It brought a whole new meaning of the word “hunting" to me. Every time I strap that bow over my shoulder, I enter the woods first for peace of mind, and to enjoy all of God's beautiful creatures. I no longer think it is just about a kill. Yes, I start my journey in hopes that I will have the opportunity to outsmart a buck I know and respect, but we all know it does not always happen that way. But getting that encounter even if the animal is out of range is just as rewarding whether it be a doe, buck or a big ole’ long beard. Hunting is just not just a "few months out of the year" for me. It is year round hard work, learning, preparing plots, running trail cams and shed hunting. It is very hard to sum up all the joy hunting has brought to my life in the last 20 years. All I know it has given me the chance to meet so many great people, and the life long memories of seeing a child get their first deer. How something as simple as hunting can impact a persons life in the way it does, is beyond me.
I love it.
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PJ Turpin / BuckRubIL
After moving all around the United States for most of my childhood, my family finally settled down in Central IL when I was 12 and I’ve been hunting and enjoying the outdoors ever since. Bowhunting big-daddy whitetails is my passion, but if it moves and has a season, I hunt it with gun and bow. I also enjoy fishing, mushroom hunting, and shed hunting in the “off” season. If I’m not out in the wild myself, I’m on the internet browsing hunting sites, reading books, or just talking to fellow outdoorsmen trying to quench my thirst for more knowledge. My life revolves around the outdoors, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
After moving all around the United States for most of my childhood, my family finally settled down in Central IL when I was 12 and I’ve been hunting and enjoying the outdoors ever since. Bowhunting big-daddy whitetails is my passion, but if it moves and has a season, I hunt it with gun and bow. I also enjoy fishing, mushroom hunting, and shed hunting in the “off” season. If I’m not out in the wild myself, I’m on the internet browsing hunting sites, reading books, or just talking to fellow outdoorsmen trying to quench my thirst for more knowledge. My life revolves around the outdoors, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
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Jimmy White / shedaddict
I am 26 years old and my passion is the outdoors. I was
introduced to hunting by my father and grandfather. I’ve been hunting
since I could remember and shot my first deer with a gun when I was
eleven. Every since that day I have been hooked. I didn’t start bow
hunting till I was 16 and that is when I found the real challenge. I
managed to take my first whitetail that year.
Living in Central Illinois my entire life I have been blessed with some of the best hunting. I have taken several nice whitetails over the years and am very grateful for every one of them. In the late winter, early spring you’ll find me shed hunting, mushrooming, and chasing long beards. In the summer I’m fishing and scouting. In the fall and through the winter I’ll be chasing small game, off course whitetails, and the always exciting predators.
Although my focus on hunting has changed a little in the last year. My girlfriend Nicole, of 5 years has finally taken the interest in deer hunting. In her first year which was last year she was fortunate enough to take not only her first buck but her first doe as well. Those are the two hunts that I will always remember and hope there are many more just like them to come.
Living in Central Illinois my entire life I have been blessed with some of the best hunting. I have taken several nice whitetails over the years and am very grateful for every one of them. In the late winter, early spring you’ll find me shed hunting, mushrooming, and chasing long beards. In the summer I’m fishing and scouting. In the fall and through the winter I’ll be chasing small game, off course whitetails, and the always exciting predators.
Although my focus on hunting has changed a little in the last year. My girlfriend Nicole, of 5 years has finally taken the interest in deer hunting. In her first year which was last year she was fortunate enough to take not only her first buck but her first doe as well. Those are the two hunts that I will always remember and hope there are many more just like them to come.
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Tim Bannen / G3
I am born and raised in northern Michigan and have spent my time fishing and hunting the woods and waters around my home, chasing everything from salmon and trout to beavers and porcupine, whatever is in season I am after. I got bit by the whitetail bug around my 9th birthday when my dad brought home a deer he had taken. That was it for me, I knew what my passion was from that time on. I spend most of my time in my home state but have traveled to hunt Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio. I have been to Illinois quite a bit to shed hunt, and drive around to get a peek at the bruisers that call that state home. I am married to Nichole and together we share five children and hopefully they all take to the outdoors because I truly believe in take your kids hunting so you don't have to hunt for your kids
I am born and raised in northern Michigan and have spent my time fishing and hunting the woods and waters around my home, chasing everything from salmon and trout to beavers and porcupine, whatever is in season I am after. I got bit by the whitetail bug around my 9th birthday when my dad brought home a deer he had taken. That was it for me, I knew what my passion was from that time on. I spend most of my time in my home state but have traveled to hunt Iowa, Minnesota, and Ohio. I have been to Illinois quite a bit to shed hunt, and drive around to get a peek at the bruisers that call that state home. I am married to Nichole and together we share five children and hopefully they all take to the outdoors because I truly believe in take your kids hunting so you don't have to hunt for your kids
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As a child, my father was big into fishing and he was the first to introduce me into the outdoor world. I fished numerous bass tournaments with my dad, which took us too many different parts of the U.S. Though I enjoyed fishing I always had a desire to hunt and couldn’t wait to get more involved in the outdoors. Due to a busy childhood with multiple sports and schooling, that desire had to sit on the back burner until I graduated high school and got into College.
Whitetail Deer and Turkey always were appealing to me, so once I enlisted in the hunter safety course and completed the process, I was ready to learn. In my first year of hunting I attempted to take a turkey with no luck. Knowing what I know now about turkeys, it’s no wonder I didn’t see a bird. Deer season on the other hand, that’s where the true addiction started. Sitting in the stand on that first crisp morning of my first shotgun season and seeing my first deer was a feeling and moment I will never forget. After that day, the true Whitetail Addict was unleashed from within.
After my first year of hunting had come and gone with no harvest, I started reading and watching everything that had to do with whitetail deer and turkey to better my knowledge. I’m the type of person that when I am doing something I love, I like to do my best, and learn as much as possible the game I will be pursing. In my short hunting career, I have accomplished taking my first buck with a bow, multiple does with my stick and string, and a few more can be added to the tally with the shotgun. Since I grabbed my first set of antlers, I have set out to try and harvest my first Pope and Young. I have had several encounters that would have allowed me to accomplish my goal, but for some reason or another, the deal was not sealed. Through those trials, I believe that is just one of the reasons that keep’s my crazed addiction at its highest.
Hunting to me is not only a chance for personal alone time with just me and the game I’m pursuing, but a chance to spend with family and friends. Sharing time with family and friends over the years has allowed for stories to be shared and memories to be made that would not have happened without hunting. I have met some great people, started lifetime friendships, and have had many learning experiences/memories I will never forget.
I truly enjoy every minute and experience, good or bad, in the outdoors. I appreciate everyone who has helped me along the way and I hope I am able to have many more years of hunting and good ole’ times to come.
My final note, I encourage everyone to take a friend or family member and introduce them to this sport we all love! Tagging along with friends/family and sharing in their hunting experiences is just as exciting to me as a personal harvest. So good luck on your next outing and stay safe out there!