Meet James Doumtsis
Where are you based?
Armidale, NSW
What type of hunting do you do?
Bowhunter
How did you get into hunting?
I was lucky enough to be raised in a hunting house hold. From the ripe age of 4 dad started taking Ayden and I hunting, camping and fishing. At 11 we got our first bows and never looked back. Since then bow hunting has really shaped a large portion of my life. It's taken me to 4 continents, started multiple business and most of my friends are in the hunting our outdoor space. It's a lifestyle I wish more people had the privilege of being born into and hopefully I can inspire more people to get into it in my life.
Where is your favourite location to hunt?
Thats a hard one! Currently it has to be the USA - Montana
Tell us about your most memorable hunt
I've been lucky enough to experience so many incredible hunts. But the one that comes to mind is my most recent mission to Montana. It began months before, with a lot of consultation and luck I drew a once in a lifetime elk tag. That set into motion months of networking, research, e-scouting and most importantly training. Trying to predict and control every problem and mitigate it, leaving nothing to chance. Looking back all the preparation seemed to fly by and before I knew it we were beginning our journey to Montana.
What we endured and experienced is hard to describe in as many words. 4am starts every day, most days walking 15 km's or more with 10kg's at least on your back, most nights getting to bed after 10pm, it was grueling. We pushed ourselves to our physical and mental limit trying to find the biggest bull we could. We worked hard and hence had some fantastic opportunities and encounters but for one reason or another it never paid off.
After 20 days of scouting and hunting it all happened. We got into a rutting frenzy and was able to capitalise and take out the herd bull. What made it even more special was having my brother there by my side every step of the way filming the process. The physical and emotional roller coaster is hard to describe and hence I'm really looking forward to making the video of the hunt to share with everyone. It's going to take a very special hunt to top those 20 days we spend in the wild Montana wilderness.
What are your top three "holy grail" items?
Head torch knife first aid kit A lot can also be said for water as well depending on how long you intend to be out for.
Why do you hunt?
The age old question asked to any hunter, why do we do it..? The simple answer is, it's a very complex and multifaceted answer.
The long version is, I hunt for my protein. Except for chicken (which I haven't been able to figure out how to source from the wild) all the protein I eat, I've either hunted, or speared or caught.
There's a lot to be said for conservation and pest management where hunting helps to manage populations. Keeping herd numbers in check, having the correct balance between predator and prey and ultimately keep ecosystems in order.
But to be completely honest, at the core of it, it's who I am. Being a bowhunter, an outdoors man is my identity. I'm not a vet, I'm not an entrepreneur, I'm not a soy, decaf latte drinking city slicker, I'm a hunter. It's the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about before bed. I've dedicated a large portion of my life to bowhunting and the outdoors and it's given me so much back. I don't know what I'd do with my life without it. I just hope I can share my passion for hunting and the outdoors to as many people as possible.
Additionally, hopefully one day when I have kids, I can take them hunting and show them the incredibly diverse benefits of hunting and the great outdoors.