Matt Bouwmeester - Fisherman/Hunter/Taxidermist/Friend of T.R.O.E.

Hey, Matt Bouwmeester here, the one behind Matt's Taxidermy and Lord of the Fins. I grew up not far from where I currently am, Rockwood, Ontario. On the outskirts of town on a farm, although my family is not farmers it afforded me plenty of acres to wander and roam as a child. I could usually be found at one of the two ponds stocked with trout and bass, spending every waking moment enjoying my childhood passion, fishing. As I got older I'd walk down the road to the river in search of pike and bass. Hard to believe but no one else in my family is fishers. My love for the sport has always been supported by my parents, they even got me a boat when I was 14 so I could travel further, it afforded me the opportunity to explore more ways to fish and species.

Later on in my life when I was in my early 20s I took up the sport of hunting. To which the chase of all query triggered a new love for the outdoors. The challenge and new learning curve I was about to endure was a great experience. Not having any family or mentor to guide me it was mostly self-taught, with a lot of tough lessons along the way. With a few good friends, lots of youtube videos and tv I got the hang of it. I was fortunate enough though to always accomplish the hunt with a reward of a kill. My nickname became "Horseshoe" because of this. Shooting was always a hobby but the knowledge of animal habits and rituals I take seriously. I was very fortunate to get a deer, turkey, coyote, and moose in my first few seasons of hunting. The challenge fuels my

passions. All of this combined led me to chase trophy animals just like in fishing. I started falling in love with the memory of each hunt with some sort of taxidermy or memorabilia. Realizing I wanted to do more with the art and learn on a deeper level. I got to apprentice under Mike Thorpe for 6 months, learning the basics of preserving and mounting. Once on my own, I have found great reward in advancing my skills, as the years have passed I've come to stick with to the motto that producing a product of quality vs quantity of products produced. My favourite part is seeing the customer face when they pick up the mount, their amazement of the lifelikeness, and being able to show them how that is achieved with the finer details. My love for fishing remains strong and I run a charter on the Great Lakes. The outdoors has always been a great part of my life and is where I find my peace. I hope for many more great years of adventure and memories.

Linda's Story - Her First Buck

This is a great #passiontoplate story from Linda Arends, a friend, and viewer of the show. Thanks for sharing your story with us Linda!  #keepitreal  

I am a bit of a girly girl, but I enjoy the outdoors.  My enjoyment of the outdoors started in more recent years.  I was privileged to marry a man who loves the outdoors. He has been a great mentor to me, our friends and family, as well as to our children.  I acquired my PAL years ago and didn’t really do much after that. 

Three years ago I attended a women’s outdoors weekend.  I was really nervous prior to this weekend.  I didn’t know any of the attendees, had very little experience and very little knowledge.  I was a changed person after this.  I learned a lot, met a lot of women who share similar passions, made new friends, and came back home with a new passion.  I bought a new gun similar to the one I had tried at this event, became an active member at a range, and enjoy working hard on achieving higher scores on my targets now. 

Two years ago, I counted down the day until the women’s outdoors weekend again.  I could not wait to try out a crossbow.  I had been offered chances to try other people’s crossbows prior to this, but I could never pull the string back enough.  There was a small crossbow there, a women’s edition.  I loved this crossbow!  I have since purchased my own crossbow.  I was afraid of recoil, with a crossbow there is no recoil.  I have put in lots of practice at the range, shooting at my archery block. 

Linda's first harvest

I had the sheer privilege of taking it out deer hunting.  My brother offered to take me out a few mornings. The one Saturday morning I was sitting a little man-made blind.  It is roughly a foot tall.  I was scanning the open area in front of me when something happened.  Two deer appeared out of nowhere.  I double checked my time. It was legal hunting time.  I ever so slowly raised my crossbow. They looked at me.  I put my crosshairs on them.  They looked at me.  I tried to slow my breathing down.  I felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest.  I clicked my safety off.  I heard those deer wheeze, and they bolted.  I was crushed.  I learned a few things in that short moment, out in the bush.  Hunting is hard work.  Those hunting movies make it look easy. 

A few weeks later, it was muzzleloader season in our WMU area.  Opening day was amazing!  I saw so many deer, but none even came close enough or stopped long enough for me to get a decent shot.  Our twelve year old son shot his first doe this day! He was over the moon happy!  My husband showed him how to field dress it.  We took his doe home to hang up and seeing his happy face, I knew he had whitetail fever too.  I am so very proud of him.

Joey's first!

                The next day did not start out the way I had hoped.  I woke up at 4AM feeling sick.  I crawled back in bed and slept for a while.  My husband and I finally headed out to our blind around 2PM.  We sat there.  Saw nothing.  No action.  I was sitting there, with about an hour left till legal hunting time ended.  I was starting to get frustrated.  I was mentally preparing myself to get up the following day at 4AM, when my husband tapped me on the knee and whispered, “there’s a deer”.  “Where?!”  I whispered back.  A deer was coming in slowly through the field.  I raised my muzzleloader.  I asked if I should take the shot.  “Just wait”.  I waited.  We watched the deer come closer.  “I have it in my crosshairs. It’s broadside” I whispered to him.  “Just wait, it will come closer”.  I waited. For what felt like forever.  It came closer.  “I have the perfect shot” I whispered to my husband.  “It’s kind of far….”  was the last thing I heard.  I pulled the trigger.  That deer dropped like a rock.  People will tell you all sorts of things when you first get started into hunting.  There are no words for the emotion you will feel.  I was so thankful that I was able to make an ethical shot.  That I was providing healthy venison for my family to eat. That I, as a woman, could fill my freezer. 

                It was the hardest, longest wait before we attempted to get closer to my deer to check it out.  My husband said, “You shot a buck, perfect shot”.  At this point, I had no idea that I had shot a buck.  I just saw a perfect deer, lined up perfectly in my crosshairs. Adrenaline hit at this point.  My hands shook so bad that I needed help to attach my tag. We did use the range finder later, I had made my shot at 115 yards. 

                I learned a lot, just in this hunting season. You will walk for what seems like miles, and miles.  You will freeze.  You will cry sad tears.  You will develop whitetail fever.  I learned a woman can hunt.  A woman can shoot, and make an ethical shot.  I have whitetail fever!  I look forward to the next hunting season, more learning experiences and filling my freezer.

~Linda Arends