Born and Raised Outdoors
Born And Raised Outdoors was founded in 2007 with the vision of capturing the reality of bowhunting and the roller coaster of emotions we experience. Having built our bond chasing bulls in the rugged coastal mountains of Oregon, we have since expanded our boot tracks to many western states. You can watch these adventures unfold on their YouTube channel. The group of “brothers” includes: Trent Fisher, Treavor Fisher, Steve Howard and Kody Kellom.
onX: What was one defining moment for you, when onX Hunt helped your hunt?
B&R: In 2012, we ventured on our first elk hunt in Wyoming. Having never been there, we solely relied on navigation with our onX maps chip in our GPS. We discovered a gated road system that wasn’t listed on our paper maps. We showed up at the gate, unloaded our gear and off we went. It was an elk mecca and within 8 days, we had filled all five tags. Without onX, we would have never discovered our new honey hole.
What is your favorite species to hunt? Why?
Hands down, elk with our bow. Growing up and cutting our teeth in the Coast Range of Oregon fuels us to chase elk anywhere we can find public land and OTC tags. Options are almost endless, especially when you have rut crazed bulls driving you. The intensity of having a screaming bull coming in at 20 yards cannot be duplicated and the rush is second to none. Come September, you will find us chasing Rocky Mountain or Roosevelt Elk.
Who were your biggest inspirations in hunting (personal and industry)?
Our outdoor adventures started early in our lives. Most of us, still in diapers. Without the dedication and direction from our fathers, we wouldn’t have the drive to explore and inspire others.
In the outdoor industry, we are thrilled to watch Steve Rinella lead the charge, exposing the non-hunting community to the truth of hunting and pure organic meat we yield from our quarry. Steve’s vast knowledge and experience are something we strive to learn and hope to achieve in the coming years.
Which conservation groups do you belong to/support?
We support many conservation groups but one that is near and dear to our hearts is Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Growing up primarily hunting USFS, BLM and private timberlands ground, we know the importance of protecting our public lands and access. In the past ten years here in Oregon, our hunting opportunities have drastically changed. The private timberlands that allowed public access have shifted to paid permits, which ruin the opportunity for many to enjoy the landscape. With this shift, it made us realize that if we can’t access the landscape, we can’t hunt. It’s that simple. We have to be stewards and protect the lands for the generations to come.
What is one of your most memorable hunting trips?
We’ve had many unbelievable memories over the years, but nothing has compared to our first “Out of State” hunt. In 2012, we loaded up and headed to Wyoming to chase elk the last 10 days of season. We drove 1200 miles to an area we located on onX with a gated road system. Unloaded the mountain bikes and pedaled into “Elk Heaven” It was loaded with bulls and we filled all 5 of our tags in 8 days of hunting. Pretty incredible experience having never been there before and never hunted Rocky Mountain elk. It was RAD!
In your opinion, which species is the most challenging to hunt?
Right out our backdoor, holds the most elusive species we’ve ever hunted, the Columbian Blacktail deer. The thick dense forest and their nocturnal habits make for little opportunity to see these mature bucks. We’ve struggled to kill a mature buck over the years, but hopefully this is the year one makes a mistake.
What is the scariest situation you’ve ever had in the woods?
The scariest situation we’ve been in was in the Colorado high alpine. We were above timberline on a high peak glassing for elk. We looked west and saw a huge thunderhead rolling in our direction. With no cover, we decided to scramble off the peak to the timber below. Once in the timber, we felt more protected until we were standing in the lightning zone. All the trees around us were scarred, or blown apart, from previous lighting strikes. As the storm approached, we found a little rock cove out of the weather. The storm was brief but intense. High winds blew several dead snags down and lightning lit up the dark sky all around us. Luckily it dissipated as quickly as it arrived and we made it off the mountain safely.
In your own words, what does hunting mean to you?
Hunting is more than the act of pursuing our quarry. For us, it is time to share an adventure with our brothers. The time spent together in the woods is sacred to us and a bond built in the mountains can’t be replicated. The camaraderie and the sharing of campfire stories is the foundation of hunting for us. We look forward to the next adventure and the next challenge with our fellow brothers alongside.