"I can remember following my grandfather and father around in the woods when I was barely able to walk," he says. "I was carrying my own double barrel .410 by age six and had downed my first deer at 11. In my family, hunting was a part of life."
At age 15, Richard bagged his two best bucks to-date — a 119-class eight point and a monster 168 1/8" 10 point. Both were taken in his hometown.
"My family was so proud of my big deer they paraded it around at all the local hunting shows," he said. "I won the Best of Show and Best of the 10-point class with that buck at the Tennessee Deer & Turkey Expo. After that year, I learned to love being around other people who shared my passion for hunting."
At that point, Richard had hunted everything from rabbits and deer to squirrel and coons. But he still hadn't tried his hand at turkey hunting.
"So," he said, "That year, I bought a turkey hunting video, a box call, a few diaphragms, an owl hooter and a crow call. It took me a few years to work out the kinks, but five years later I took my first gobbler and I've taken at least one every year since. Needless to say, I am addicted!"
Richard said that as much as he loves deer and turkey hunting, he loves to introduce people to it as much as actually hunting. His NWTF chapter hosted its first Women In The Outdoors event at Fall Creek Falls State Park recently.
"I truly enjoyed watching the ladies learn to do the sports I have grown up loving," he said. "I hope to be able to stay involved in teaching others to hunt and fish. Our environmental future depends on the growth of the hunting and fishing sports."
Richard is a dedicated member of the Daybreak Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, a Buckmasters member and holds a Lifetime Sportsman's License in Tennessee. He is also a member of the Team Frady Pro Staff.
E-mail Richard Edmons at richardedmons@tnhunting.com.
