This Front Range Firefighter Chases Big Game and Flames Around Colorado
Whether he’s kicking up roosters, laying down decoys, or calling in big bulls, Donny O. is always ready for the next adventure.
Whether he’s kicking up roosters, laying down decoys, or calling in big bulls, Donny O. is always ready for the next adventure.
Fire Captain, Donny O.
Days at the firehouse are filled with high-intensity shifts, but when those days off finally hit, you can find Donny chasing elk, waterfowl, upland birds, fish, and his next adventure all over Colorado and beyond. It’s a high-energy lifestyle, but together with onX Hunt he’s able to take it all on while giving back to his community.
Quick Hits
- Occupation: Fire Captain, Army Veteran
- Activities: Hunting and Fishing
- Years in Occupation: 13
- Hometown: Denver, Colorado
- Current Location: Denver, Colorado
Chasing Fires and Elk in Colorado
When Donny sheds his firefighter uniform, you can find him offline chasing game throughout the Rocky Mountains.
Why Donny Uses onX Hunt
When Donny is loaded up and living out of his truck and trailer, he’s putting miles down looking for birds as far away as Saskatchewan. So when it comes time to find some hunting grounds, he relies on onX Hunt to help him get oriented. “It gives you the confidence to know that I’m in the right spot. I’m about to throw out a lot of decoys and build a blind, I don’t want to have any question about where I’m allowed to be.”
Private Land Appreciation
When you first meet Donny, his charisma is striking. So, it’s no wonder that as a freelance waterfowler you can find him at local watering holes chatting up local landowners looking for permission to hunt. “At the end of the day, it’s these private landowners that are giving us the opportunity to do what we’re doing.”
What Does Time Offline Mean to You?
“It’s that feeling of not being able to call somebody to get help. You have to know when to look at the phone and when to take a tactical pause. I like that feeling of self-reliance. I’m going to go up on the mountain, hunt the elk, eat, sleep well, be up early, and out late. I love a lot of places, but the extra special ones are those that are offline. You have to download the maps and plan it out. It’s a place where you don’t miss a moment.”
Q&A
What’s your favorite wild game recipe?
“Oh man, there’s all kinds of good ones out there. Everything from jerky to fajitas to bacon and brown sugar in a skillet. Cooking rare is always the way to go. My favorites have always been cooked in a citrusy sauce—mandarin style over some rice.”
What parallels can you draw between your time in the Army and the firehouse?
“We’re in uniforms, there’s rank structure, and there’s risk analysis. You’re in danger, there’s quick decision-making under stress, and you don’t sleep much. It was easy for me to translate what I did in the Army to what I’m doing with the fire service. The camaraderie is special. We’re going out to help people, but sometimes you need to throw down. You have to protect yourself and have a tactful mindset.”
How’d you find onX Hunt and what keeps you renewing your subscription?
“I first found it while freelance waterfowling, but quickly found it helpful for going offline, using satellite image maps, Layers, and labeling content for my elk hunts.”
What is your family life like?
“I knew my now-wife Channing in high school, but I didn’t impress her very much. Years later, when I returned from the Army and matured a bit, I saw her in a little breakfast cafe and she gave me her number. She’s a super badass hunter and angler—we just have stories for days. Now, we have a Brittany spaniel named Scarlett, who’s a sweetheart and a good little pointer.”
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