Nick ’ s Wild Ride is a unique series , because it focuses on so many different aspects of an adventure , from the culture , to the activities , and even to the food . Can you explain why it ’ s so important to highlight all of these components ?
Anyone who has ever traveled to hunt does these things anyway . We go out to eat and explore local sights and sounds . We meet people . We take little side adventures . But often , those stories are not told . I find that part of a hunt as fascinating as the hunt itself and on a social level , I feel like this shows the other facets of the hunter : the traveler , adventurer , and conservationist . These attributes are important for the non-hunting community to see . Hunters , as a whole , are very misunderstood by the non-hunting community and beyond all of that , I think by showing these different aspects it also makes for a TV show that offers something for everyone on the couch , whether you hunt or not .
What tips would you give to fellow American hunters that would help to better prepare them for the spring hunting season , and any hunting trip in general ?
1 . Practice , practice , practice . I have missed my share of shots over the years because I didn ’ t put the time in . 2 . Study your destination . Go online and research where you are going ahead of time . You may stumble on a local gem that you wouldn ’ t otherwise know about . Maybe a great hamburger , a killer beer , or a cool museum . You never know . 3 . Dream , and make a bucket list . In the off season , I think it ’ s so much fun to read , surf the web , and daydream about where you will or could go someday . Make a list of those places and check them off as the years go by .
When is your favorite time of year to hunt ? Is there a specific type of game you would say is your most favorite ?
It ’ s hard to beat the whitetail rut in the Midwest . Some of the most exciting hunts have been in a tree in Iowa watching the woods erupt with deer activity , but my first love was ducks and I look forward all year to the cold weather when the ducks come south and my dog , Waylon , and I can get in the boat and chase greenheads .
What is the biggest fish you ever caught ? Can you tell us a good fishing story ?
I caught an almost 6-foot-long tarpon off the flats of Key West about 10 years ago . It was the fight of a lifetime . I ’ ll never forget its huge jumps out of the water and the way my belly was bruised from the rod . When the fish finally gave up and we gaffed it and were pulling it into the boat for a picture before releasing it , the water next to the boat ERUPTED ! It scared the crap out of us ! When the commotion ended , there sat half of my fish in red water with a big half-moon bite out of it . A big bull shark had eaten the other half . I still took a picture with the half that was left ! I needed proof to show my buddies !
100 | Spring 2017 | Adventure Outdoors