Fredericksburg, Virginia’s Kevin Paulson, founder of www.Huntinglife.com is one of three individuals named by Field and Stream Magazine and Toyota as the January Heroes of Conservation. Field and Stream and Toyota have joined forces to recognize individuals that have made significant contributions in the field of conservation. Kevin’s selection occurred because of his donations to conservation and his work to bring conservation issues to the forefront on-line through www.HuntingLife.com. Kevin will receive a check for $1000 that he has chosen to donate to the Mule Deer Foundation.
Paulson’s selection to have the money support the Mule Deer Foundation was an easy one. “In my opinion, mule deer are the species in the greatest need of help based on their declining numbers, resulting from habitat loss from fires and drought, and encroachment of humans into historic areas of prime habitat,” declares Paulson. “We need to purchase and protect critical habitat in the west. We need to support projects that regenerate sagebrush plant communities throughout the west. As the most desirable sagebrush plants are replaced by other plant communities, the mule deer find tough competition for food from whitetail deer. This competitive situation favors the more aggressive whitetail. Protection and regeneration of these critical habitats should allow a recovery by the mule deer. Our support of the Mule Deer Foundations efforts will help in this healing process.”
Paulson issues a challenge to other conservation minded citizens to contribute what they can to this and other conservation organizations that endeavor to purchase lands that will be kept available for hunting and other conservation activities.
Kevin started www.HuntingLife.com in 2007 as a means to give back to the hunting community and build awareness world-wide about the North American Conservation Model and the amazing things that organizations are doing to ensure the perpetuation of species and the hunting heritage. Kevin is donating 10% of all money collected by Team HuntingLife to conservation. This money is earmarked to go toward the purchase of habitat and programs to recruit new hunters (women, children, physically challenged, and veterans).
Kevin’s strong conservation ethic and love for the outdoors was instilled in him by his father, a dedicated employee of the U.S. Forest Service for 35 years. “I remember catching my first fish when I was three years old. We were fishing from the bridge over the American River in Jackson, California,” remembers Paulson. “The bridge must have been 65 to 70 feet above the water. I struggled to land the fish, pulling it up through the bridge pillars, but it planted a memory that I will never forget.”
“My father taught us to hunt, fish, shoot, and camp. I took up hunting ducks, pheasants, and doves by the time I was 12. I had been shooting my bow since I was 10, but I had to earn the opportunity to hunt with the bow. The summer before I turned 15, I practiced long and hard, shooting every day in order meet my dad’s strict standards and gain his approval for me to bowhunt. He required me to put 50 straight arrows in a pie plate sized target at 50 yards to prove my archery shooting skills. I worked diligently to meet the challenge. Kevin’s desire to hunt caused him to grow into a dedicated, determined, responsible young man. I haven’t always made the best choices, but we are all human. If I learn from my mistakes, they provide valuable education opportunities.”
“At 17, I took my first big game animal, an antelope, with a .270 caliber FN Mauser which was given to me by my grandfather. I will pass that gun on to my son, Tristan, in a few years.”
Kevin has been passing along opportunities for many of us to enjoy the outdoors as a result of his contributions to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Kevin’s active involvement in these organizations has found him occupying leadership positions and laboring exhaustively to reach their missions.
Kevin, we at Team HuntingLife are very proud of you. I look forward to working with you to raise awareness of conservation issues through our website and raise money to do our part.
2/20/08 – Joella Bates
