Faces of Hunters is a new blog post series that brings together a group of exceptional hunters from across the country. Each week, these avid sportsmen will be sharing tips and tales from the field, as well as their ideas on how we can better preserve our outdoor heritage. Our first guest blogger that we would like to introduce is Candace Hubble, better known as Camo Candace by those who follow her in the Twittersphere!
What is your favorite style/method of hunting?
Although any type of hunting gets me excited to spend time outdoors, I know that hands down my favorite method is bow hunting. Whether from a ground blind, a tree stand, spot and stalk, or even night stalking, the challenge of bow hunting makes every hunt more rewarding in my opinion. Knowing and experiencing the countless hours tuning, adjusting, practicing, and learning the intricacies of my bow as it suits my personal shooting characteristics and then waiting patiently for that close encounter in the field for just the right shot on the right animal surpasses any other style of hunting I have yet to experience. It is extremely hard to pick up a rifle after accepting the challenge of a bow and I have recently started learning the basics of shooting a recurve to take the challenge even further.
What do you do for a living? If retired, what did you do?
I am currently employed as a civilian with the Department of Defense.
Why did you join USSA?
There are many organizations available for hunters to be a part of but USSA has an undeniable reputation for positive influence, outreach, stability, education and protection of our rights and heritage. There are so many issues affecting and threatening our hunting heritage and I want to ensure I am educated and current on anything that could adversely affect it. With so much erroneous information and media coverage available (and social media distortion) it is important to get the facts and knowledge. As a hunter and outdoorswoman, I want to continue educating myself as much as possible and I know USSA will keep me on the right path as well as providing opportunities to help others.
What is your most memorable experience while hunting?
I believe this is one of the hardest questions to answer as a hunter! Every moment and every hunt in the field holds some special place in my heart and has engrained a specific memory in my mind; many of those when animals were not even taken. It has never been and never will be about the kill, but the time spent outdoors alone or with others, and the unforgettable moments. However, I won’t avoid the question!
I absolutely love hunting wild pigs and I can remember the exact moment and how I felt when I harvested my very first pig with a bow. I was in a tripod in south Texas when a black boar came out. The sun was fading and after what seemed to be an eternity he finally presented a shot. I took it and after my arrow hit he ran straight to my tripod, stood under me and stomped and squealed looking up at me. He ran a few more yards and expired. I know I should have been nervous or scared but I could not remove the grin I had on my face, the chills I had all over my body, and the indescribable feeling that overtook my soul. Not only was this my first pig with a bow, but my first official bow kill and recovery. I had taken other animals with a rifle but I have never let that feeling and excitement from that bow kill leave my heart and it is what drives me into the woods in the dark on solo hunts for pigs nearly every weekend. That moment kick-started a passion deep inside that has led to countless other memories.
What do you perceive as the largest threat to our outdoor heritage?
Unfortunately there are numerous threats to our outdoor heritage that could destroy so much of what we have worked for including deer population, both high density and decreasing numbers due to disease, hunting land access, brutal attacks from anti-hunters and even division within our own hunting community. However, I think there is one massive threat that if addressed right could encompass all of these issues and that is education for both hunters and non-hunters.
With society’s ever-growing need for instant gratification we have to address education through different methods than years past. Gone are the days when a hunter education course as a child, yearly guides and regulation booklets, and newspaper or magazine articles were enough to reach the public and educate or dispel any myths. Now we are battling social media where everything can seems to be trusted as fact without much research. Education will always be the only way to reach everyone equally about all of the threats to our heritage but finding the right ways in today’s modern world is the bigger challenge.
Who do you enjoy sharing your passion for the outdoors with?
Anybody who will listen or read! I talk and write…a lot, but I absolutely love sharing my hunting stories, mistakes, and educating anyone who will listen as well as learning from others. I never know when something I say or write could spark an interest where one never was and thus begin a wonderful journey for someone who may have never considered hunting. I love sharing my passion with all of my social media family, where such a supportive group of hunters exist and stand up for each other; we are constantly learning from each other.
With regards to sharing hunts and memories in the field, my first choice has and always will be my husband Donald. We have learned so much from each other and shared so many memories together that I couldn’t imagine having anyone else by my side. Although we don’t have children of our own, I enjoy the surprise and delight in a young child’s eyes when they experience any ‘first’ in the field. Sharing knowledge and igniting their passion is the future of hunting. I also enjoy sharing my passion with my girlfriends who have the same fire for the outdoors; there will always be a special bond present between us when we are making memories and having fun with anything related to hunting and fishing.
Keep up with Candace this fall by liking her page on Facebook or following her on Twitter.
