Georgia Mentor Competition: Brandon Adams

Mentor Background
Brandon Adams: I started going hunting with my Dad at around 8 years old. I have been fortunate to hunt a wide variety of game thanks to adults who have been willing to mentor me. Introducing my children and others to the outdoors is my way of paying it forward.

Mentee Background
My daughter Anna Adams, 12, went on her first deer and squirrel hunts with her mom and I at 3, her first dove hunt at 6 and duck hunt at 7. We have stressed hunter safety to our children, and they would have the opportunity to hunt themselves once they have demonstrated they know what it means to be a safe hunter, have the ability to accurately use a bow or firearm and respect for the game. This year we felt our daughter was ready to be the hunter.

By Brandon Adams
My daughter and I have been fortunate to hunt on our good friend’s land that is only 10 minutes from the house, which has allowed us to get in several afternoon hunts this year. Each hunt is more than a hunt. We have talked about the signs we have seen, other animals we have seen from the blind, habitat management and had quality father-daughter time.

She willingly passed on a couple of young bucks and does, hoping for one of the several mature bucks our friend has had on camera. She had the chance to shoot two mature bucks, but they did not offer ethical shots. The maturity she has shown in the blind has made her dad and mentor proud. It has been wonderful watching as she has matured with each day spent in the outdoors. I know the lessons learned in the outdoors will serve her well the rest of her life.

Why Is Mentoring Is Important To Me
Lessons learned in the outdoors have helped to make me the person I am today. I am very fortunate to have grown up with a family that hunted and fished. I have also been fortunate to have met people along the way who were willing to take me along with them hunting and introduce me to duck hunting along with sharing their knowledge. I have always felt it is important to pay it forward and share my knowledge and love for the outdoors. I have been fortunate to be on hunts with youth, introduce experienced hunters to new hunting and to share my knowledge through my photography and writings.

My greatest mentoring goal is to insure I pass my love for the outdoors on to my children. Both of my children spend time with me outdoors taking photos, fishing, hiking and hunting. We discuss what we are seeing, the importance of conservation and respect for the habitat and animals. Both have their lifetime license, which is one of the greatest investments my wife and I have made. I feel without mentoring new hunters, we will have insured the end of the hunting tradition as we know it.