NRA Blog by Nate Hosie
Professional Turkey Hunter, NRA Country music artist and host of Headhunter TV, Nate Hosie, shares with us 8 ways that the outdoors creates and instills great qualities within ourselves.
There are numerous reasons why people venture outdoors; the fresh air, the warm sun, that feeling you get as soon as you step outside. Without realizing it, the time spent outdoors has really shaped me in to the person I am today. Here’s my list of top qualities:
1. Healthy Lifestyle (physically and mentally)
There are many ways the outdoors has created the healthy lifestyle I lead. A major part of hunting is being physically prepared. In many hunting scenarios you need your strength, agility and endurance that can only come from adequately preparing your body beforehand. I know that I’ve always felt better about a hunt the more physically prepared I am for it. That in mind, I train in the gym and take long runs. This all helps me to not only physically prepare but mentally as well. While I’m taking care of my body, I’m taking that time for me and my well being. It gives me the opportunity to clear my mind of other distractions and daily stress so I can then focus on what’s next – the hunt.
Another part of being physically healthy is the ability to shop in mother natures grocery store. As a hunter, providing healthy unprocessed protein for my family is the most organic way to eat. No additives, no chemicals, just organic and God-made. Can’t have a cleaner diet than that!
As a hunter, you develop a sense of pride, discipline, and accomplishment. Every time you’re able to bring something home from the woods that confidence is achieved. In time you learn what works and what doesn’t and improve upon your skills.
I was a shy kid, but as I became a better and more skilled hunter, my confidence increased. I truly believe without having those experiences in the woods as a young kid, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I practiced and worked hard on my turkey calling skills as a youngster to be that skilled turkey hunter. Now I’m credited as a professional turkey caller and hunter. If that’s not a confidence booster, I’m not sure what is.
My advice is to never stop learning. Listen to others, be positive, encourage others and be that stepping stone for another hunter to help build them up as well.
3. Critical Thinking
When planning a hunt, there are a lot of important factors to think about. From preparing and packing your equipment to mapping your locations to planning weather conditions and more, there is so much to plan for before venturing on a journey outdoors. Whether realizing it or not, making these preparations involves a lot of critical thinking from preparation, to the hunt, and making your way back to base.
These skills are not only applicable to the outdoors but can also be utilized in other facets of life. I’ve been able to use these skills when filming for HeadHuntersTV, going on the road for shows, and everything in between. Developing these skills have proven to be an important asset in multiple ways in my day-to-day and have helped me to be more productive at work, increase my efficiency in daily chores and is something I feel has come from hunting preparation from a young age.
I’ve spent my fair share of time hunting in the woods by myself and I’ve also spent time sharing the woods with friends and family. I honestly don’t know where I would be without the camaraderie that comes with each of my hunting trips and the countless memories I have made over the years. Hunting alongside friends and even hunting alongside people you might not know as well creates friendships and memories that become stories told down the road. As a hunter we all share a special bond, we understand and respect the beauty of the sport, the beauty of the animals we chase, and the beauty of God’s work. I believe that building those bonds through the years has helped me to be a more personable person and to enjoy the people I surround myself with.
The outdoors has taught me a lot of lessons. One in particular is patience. Ask any hunter and they’ll more than likely say the same. I’m the first to admit patience wasn’t easily learned and at some point we all struggle with it. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been better about it. Once you’ve learned patience, patience usually teaches you appreciation.
Every hunt I try to take time to appreciate where I’m at and the beauty around me. Every hunt is not a guarantee. Though when the opportunity to squeeze that trigger arrives, it’s important to also take in your environment, that moment, and for the opportunity had. Patience is golden and something we can continue working on.
The outdoors for me has been my favorite teacher when it comes to life’s lessons. Spending time hunting or hiking through the woods and enjoying everything I’m surrounded by. There are no world-class or pro-hunters. There are just hunters. We each take to the woods to do our best and it’s a reminder to be humble not just in the woods but in life.
At the tender age of five, the first thing I learned about hunting wasn’t shooting but ethics. My grandpa and dad taught me one of the most important lessons that I still use to this day; respect the land, respect the animals, and respect other hunters. Sportsmanship is crucial and way more important than harvesting an animal. Looking back on it now, my grandpa and father weren’t just teaching me hunting, they were teaching me about sportsmanship and what it means to enjoy hunting for what it is, a sport. I closely tie the respect I have for many other things in my life to the lessons of sportsmanship I was once taught. Applying sportsmanship in my daily life isn’t always easy. After all, going to the grocery store can’t really be treated like a sport. It’s the aspects of sportsmanship, fairness, respect, ethics, and fellowship that I use in my interaction with others.
Hunting teaches us responsibility in so many aspects. From the moment you take your hunter safety course to the moment you tag your harvested game, hunting teaches responsibility. Hunting builds up strong, confident young men and women. Hunting prepares you for obstacles faced in life. Hunting is a great source of learning. Every point mentioned above is encapsulated by being a responsible individual.
Each wilderness adventure has created and instilled in me a sense of knowledge that I wouldn’t otherwise have and am able to apply in my daily life. How has hunting impacted your daily life?