A Hunter's Quest

One of the most striking animals in Africa-the Hamadryas baboon of Ethiopia. 🇪🇹

Having been fortunate enough to hunt and travel throughout Africa, Ethiopia stands apart as one of the most unique destinations on the continent. Its rugged mountains, dramatic landscapes, and remarkable collection of endemic species create a hunting experience unlike anywhere else on Earth.

What impresses me most about Ethiopia is its commitment to wildlife management. The country has demonstrated that when wildlife has value, it is protected. Through regulated trophy hunting, local communities, wildlife authorities, and conservation programs receive the resources needed to preserve habitat, combat poaching, and ensure that these incredible animals continue to thrive for future generations.

Conservation is not simply about protecting animals—it is about creating sustainable systems where wildlife and people both benefit. Ethiopia has embraced this model, and the results can be seen in the healthy populations of many of its unique species and the vast wild landscapes they inhabit.

This is conservation in action-wildlife given value, habitat protected, and future generations able to experience these remarkable animals in the wild.

🫎 Few animals symbolize the wild places of North America more than a giant Alaska-Yukon moose. This old bull was taken deep in the Alaska backcountry, in rugged sheep country where the mountains are vast, the weather is unpredictable, and every step must be earned.

After locating him holding with two cows across a canyon, a precise 670-yard shot was required to bring the hunt to a successful conclusion. But as every experienced mountain hunter knows, the shot is only the beginning. What followed was the real challenge-packing hundreds of pounds of meat and a massive trophy off the mountain through steep, unforgiving terrain. It took determination, teamwork, and many hours of hard work, but every ounce of effort was worth it.

What makes Alaska so special is its incredible remoteness. There are still places where a hunter can travel for days and never see another person. The scale of the landscape is difficult to describe until you’ve experienced it yourself. Vast mountain ranges, endless valleys, unpredictable weather, and true wilderness create an adventure unlike anywhere else in North America.

This hunt remains one of my most cherished memories. Not just because of the size of the bull, but because of everything it took to reach him and bring him home. Standing over such a majestic animal in one of the last great wildernesses on earth is a reminder of how wild and untamed Alaska still is.

The Alaska-Yukon moose is one of North America’s most iconic species, and harvesting an old bull like this is a privilege I will never forget.

‼️Big Game Hunts on A Hunter’s Quest YouTube channel 📺

One of the oldest and most impressive warthog boars I’ve been fortunate enough to take, harvested in the wilds of Uganda 🇺🇬 with Lake Albert Safaris ( ). In today’s Africa, truly giant old boars are becoming increasingly rare due to constant pressure from predators, poaching, disease, and natural mortality. Reaching old age is an achievement in itself, making a trophy like this incredibly special.

What makes this hunt even more meaningful is the conservation story behind it. The Lake Albert region is a shining example of how sustainable hunting can protect wildlife and habitats. Not long ago, Uganda kob populations in this area were on the brink of disappearing. Through strong wildlife management, anti-poaching efforts, and revenue generated by regulated hunting, the kob have made an extraordinary recovery. Along with them, species such as warthog, buffalo, and many other plains game animals have flourished.

Standing behind this old warrior is a reminder that conservation success stories are possible when local communities, outfitters, governments, and hunters work together. Uganda’s wildlife comeback is proof that sustainable use can be one of the most powerful conservation tools in the world.

A 15+ foot crocodile from Zambia’s legendary Luangwa River-one of Africa’s greatest places to pursue these ancient monsters. 🐊

The Luangwa is vast, wild, and full of hidden channels where old crocodiles can survive for decades on a steady diet of antelope and other wildlife coming to the water’s edge. The biggest bulls become true dinosaurs of the river, growing to immense size and often creating real danger for the local villages that depend on these waters every day.

This old warrior had clearly lived a long life. During the skinning process, we discovered brass bangles worn by local women, along with the remains of a puku and numerous other bones in his stomach-evidence of both his age and the immense power he wielded along this river system.

For me, pursuing old giant crocodiles is one of Africa’s ultimate hunting challenges. I’ve been fortunate to take four crocodiles exceeding 15 feet, and every one of them required patience, preparation, precision, and respect for an animal that has survived for decades in one of the wildest places on Earth.

‼️These are the adventures I love sharing through A Hunter’s Quest. Join us on YouTube as we document these incredible hunts, the wildlife, the people, and the conservation stories behind them.

Almost 20 years... and somehow it still feels like it started the moment I first saw you and just knew.

In a life that’s taken me across continents, into the wildest places on earth, chasing dreams that demand time, distance, and sacrifice-you have been the constant. The steady ground beneath every step. The strength behind every mile.

You’ve carried more than your share... raising our two incredible daughters with love, patience, and grace while I’ve been out in the world pursuing a passion and a purpose. A Hunter’s Quest, the message, the miles, the moments-it all exists because you believed in me enough to let me chase it. That kind of love isn’t loud... it’s powerful, selfless, and unwavering.

And eight years ago, when our faith, our trust, and our love were tested in a way neither of us could have ever imagined... there was never a doubt. Not in you, not in us. We faced it head on, together-and came out stronger, closer, more connected than ever. If there was ever a moment that made everything clear, that was it. It showed me, without question, that I cannot walk this life without you.

We’ve had our highs, our challenges, and everything in between-but through it all, there’s never been a moment l’ve questioned that you are the best decision l’ve ever made.

You are my partner, my foundation, my home. And everything I’ve been able to experience, everything I’ve been able to build... is because of you.

Here’s to the life we’ve lived-and the one still waiting for us. I’d choose you all over again, every single time. ❤️

❤️

There are certain animals that leave a permanent mark on your soul as a hunter... and for me, the greater kudu has always been one of them.

The very first animal I ever harvested on the continent of Africa many years ago was a greater kudu, and ever since that moment, this magnificent spiral-horned ghost of Africa has held a very special place in my heart. After hunting over a dozen kudu across Africa, this old giant stands alone.

Crossing the tape at over 62 inches, well beyond the magical 60-inch mark, with the mass and character of a true monarch, this was one of the greatest animals I have ever taken. An ancient bull at the very end of his life that had survived hunters for many years in a completely free-range environment. Every inch of him tells the story of survival, intelligence, and age.

This hunt was a complete chess match from beginning to end — the kind of pursuit that reminds you why mature old animals become legends. And every time I look at these horns in my trophy room, they almost don’t seem real. This kudu was nearly 20% larger than any mature bull I had ever seen or taken before, a true giant among giants.

But what makes this animal even more meaningful to me is what it represents beyond the trophy itself. This free-range population exists because wildlife has value. Regulated hunting helped protect this habitat, sustain these kudu populations, and combat meat poaching that once threatened wildlife across many areas of Africa. It is a powerful reminder that conservation and hunting are deeply connected.

An unforgettable adventure. An ancient warrior. And one of the greatest game animals Africa has ever created.

🇺🇸 On this Memorial Day, I find myself reflecting on words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln more than 160 years ago — words that still echo with incredible power today.

Three years before Memorial Day was officially recognized as a national holiday, then known as Decoration Day, Lincoln stood on the battlefield of Gettysburg after one of the bloodiest battles in American history. Thousands of Americans had given what he called “the last full measure of devotion” so that a nation could endure.

In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln said:

“Through their deeds, the dead of battle have spoken more eloquently for themselves than any of the living ever could... We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”

As someone who came to this country from another part of the world, I feel that reality deeply.

The life I’ve been blessed to live - the ability to pursue my dreams, build a life through hard work, explore wild places across the globe, speak freely, raise a family in freedom, and live out a quest I once only imagined - would not have been possible anywhere else in the world in the way it has been possible here in the United States of America.

No words will ever be enough.

But on this Memorial Day, may we remember them. May we teach the next generation what this day truly means. And may we live lives worthy of the sacrifice made on our behalf. 🇺🇸

In the far reaches of Siberia-where distance, weather, and time itself seem to stand still—I was given the privilege to pursue one of the true monarchs of the wild. This old boar, a ghost of the forest for years, had eluded hunters and lived a long, dominant life on his terms. At last light, in a steady drizzle, our paths finally crossed.

This was no ordinary bear. A massive, mature male—well beyond his prime— representing everything that makes the Siberian brown bear so unique: resilience, intelligence, and sheer power. Animals like this are not found by chance. Success here comes from deep knowledge of the land, respect for the animal, and the expertise of those who have dedicated their lives to these remote places. 🐻

Where the wild still feels untouched-hunting animals on their own turf, in the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth. Siberia delivered that in every sense. An adventure not just of a lifetime... but of many lifetimes.

Moments like this also reinforce something
I’ve seen across the globe-when wildlife has value, it is protected. Regulated hunting here supports conservation, funds local communities, and helps ensure these great animals continue to thrive while keeping poaching in check. The management I witnessed in Russia was exceptional, and the results spoke for themselves.

And perhaps most meaningful of all— despite the tensions we often hear about— my experience as an American hunter in Russia was nothing but welcoming. The people, the culture, and the shared language of the hunt reminded me that respect for the wild transcends borders.

A giant of the forest. A place few will ever go. An experience I’l never forget.

Santa Rosa Island was once one of the most magical wild places I had ever experienced. I hunted there many years ago when the island still held thriving populations of elk and mule deer across more than 50,000 acres. Those animals were not just surviving there — they were part of the ecosystem. They browsed constantly, opened habitat, kept vegetation lower, and helped reduce the fuel load that can turn dry islands into tinderboxes.

Then California decided to eradicate them.
Roughly 2,000 elk and deer were shot out.

An entire wildlife resource removed from the island.

Now, years later, nearly 20,000 acres of Santa Rosa Island are burning in a catastrophic wildfire.
And I cannot help but think about what was lost.

The very animals that once helped naturally manage that landscape are gone. Vegetation grew unchecked. Fuel accumulated year after year. And today, the island is paying the price.

That is why this matters so much for Catalina Island. Catalina is now standing at the same crossroads. There is currently an approved plan to eradicate Catalina’s mule deer - animals that have lived on that island for more than 100 years and have become part of its identity, history, and ecosystem.

But we already have a proven management tool: regulated hunting.

Responsible wildlife management can control populations while still preserving wildlife on the landscape. It creates value for wildlife, funds conservation, and keeps these animals part of the ecosystem instead of wiping them out completely.

Even the Los Angeles County fire chief recently raised concerns during hearings about the danger of removing Catalina’s deer population and the role those animals play in reducing wildfire risk. That warning should not be ignored.

Because if the deer and elk had still existed on Santa Rosa Island today, there is a very real argument that they could have helped reduce the fuel loads feeding this devastating fire right now.

Santa Rosa should be a warning.

The answer is not eradication. The answer is balanced wildlife management rooted in science, conservation, and common sense.

Catalina does not have to repeat the mistake of Santa Rosa.

There are awards in hunting... and then there are milestones that represent something far greater than the pursuit itself. Receiving the World Conservation & Hunting Award from Safari Club
International — the highest honor the organization bestows — was one of the most meaningful moments of my life.

Yes, the journey required hunting more than 250 species across the globe in a free range environment. But this award was never truly about numbers, trophies, or collecting animals. It was about understanding the deeper purpose behind hunting and seeing firsthand, on multiple continents, how regulated hunting has become one of the greatest forces for wildlife conservation in the modern world.

This journey took me to remote corners of Africa, Asia, and beyond - places where wildlife survives because it has value to local people. Places where hunting funds anti-poaching, protects habitat, creates jobs, feeds families, and gives wild animals a future. In many of these places, without conservation through hunting, these species simply would not exist.

The World Conservation & Hunting Award gave me more than a roadmap to adventure. It gave me perspective. It allowed me to witness the direct connection between hunters and conservation, and to better understand the tremendous responsibility we carry as stewards of wildlife and wild places.

To celebrate this moment with my family made the evening even more special. And to receive this honor alongside two true legends of the hunting world — Alain Smith and Jim Shockey - both men who have dedicated so much of their lives to wildlife and conservation, was something I will never forget.

This award represents far more than hunting.

It represents conservation.
It represents stewardship.
It represents adventure with purpose
And above all, it represents the truth that WHEN WILDLIFE HAS VALUE, IT IS PROTECTED.