Western Hunting Journal, Premiere Issue whj001_premiere | Page 9

EDITOR’S LETTER By Travis Moncrief
been a unique and uplifting experience. And while my
hunting trips have taken me to some incredible plac-
es, I return to my roots where I was raised. I still live
in Tillamook, Oregon where my wife and I are raising
our two children. It’s where my parents still live. It’s
home, and it’s close to many of the things I hold dear.
I was blessed to have a dad that introduced me
to this lifestyle, and a mom who encouraged us to be
on the hunt even if that meant missing Thanksgiving
dinner because we had a bull on the ground; or giving
us the nod to go jump shoot ducks after the presents
were open on Christmas morning. Not much has
changed from those days and dad and I hit it as of-
ten as we can. At 68 he is still going strong, whether
it’s bighorn sheep hunting or packing out bucks and
bulls on his back. I can only hope to continue at that
pace. He’s truly an inspiration.
I have been surrounded by some of the best hunt-
Welcome to the Family
I
paced around the house, the anticipation
was almost more than I could take. Staring at
the clock a myriad of scenarios ran through
my head. It was opening day of deer season
and my dad left the house hours before the
sun rose. My thoughts raced as I stared out the living
room window waiting for my dad to return. When I
saw his green truck coming down our road a rush of
adrenalin raced through my body — an excitement
that only hunters really understand. I’d know soon
enough if he was successful by the way he pulled into
the driveway. Backing in meant there was something
in the bed of the pickup that needed to be unloaded,
and if he pulled in, well, I wasn’t prepared for the dis-
appointment.
The truck paused and the backup lights lit up. He
was making an arching turn towards the garage.
“He’s backing in,” I screamed as the last words were
cut off as the door slammed behind me. I knew there
was a buck in the back and I had to get my hands on it.
It was opening day of Oregon’s blacktail deer season.
The year was 1980 and I was seven years old. I was too
young to accompany my dad, but I was there in spirit
every step of the way. Hunting has consumed me ever
since and it is what drives me today.
I’m Travis Moncrief and welcome to Western Hunt-
ing Journal, where that passion I had at seven years
old for all things hunting will be the cornerstone of
this magazine. There have been a lot of tags and hunts
across many Western states since that day in 1980, and
those emotions from long ago have never waned. It is
with that same exhilaration and passion that will be the
driving force behind what I feel is the most informative
and entertaining hunting magazine in the West.
I have spent the last 20 years guiding salmon and
steelhead anglers in Alaska, and the Pacific North-
west. I have hunted throughout the western United
States and been on some exceptional hunts. Each
one—whether it’s an Idaho whitetail, an Arizona elk,
a Wyoming antelope or an Oregon blacktail—has
ing buddies anyone could ask for and all have helped
shaped me who I am as a hunter and a person. My
long-time childhood best friend Mike McKibbin, who
I’ve spent more days hunting with other than my
dad, was by my side when I pulled the trigger on my
first buck. Kevin Madison and I guided and outfitted
together in Idaho and Montana and we’ve been on
some amazing hunts throughout the western states.
Eric and Sherri Camp, who through the years, have
let me breeze into elk camp with nothing more than
my bow. Their kindness and commitment to hunt-
ing is contagious. Pat Hoglund, good friend, hunting
buddy and now business partner, and I have teamed
up to bring you Western Hunting Journal. Pat’s near-
ly 30 years in the magazine and publishing industry,
combined with his addiction to hunting, will give the
magazine the foundation that will set us apart from
other outdoor media. My dad, who still hunts with
me, has been the foundation for all of my pursuits.
Collectively and individually, each person has helped
me to keep the hunting passion burning.
As editor and associate publisher my job is to
make sure the magazine’s heartbeat is not only steady
and strong, but spikes with shots of adrenaline. (Kind
of like a seven-year-old kid waiting for his dad to pull
into the driveway with a buck in the back of the pick-
up). Most importantly, my goal is to provide you with
a tool, a resource if you will, for all things hunting in
the West. Using a group of talented writers and hunt-
ers, the magazine will delve into destinations, gear
reviews, tactics, shooting, archery, big game, wing-
shooting and what’s trending in the western states.
We are confident you will find Western Hunting Jour-
nal every bit as useful as it is entertaining.
It does not escape me that you have many choic-
es where to spend your time and money. This is what
will drive us to publish what we think is the best hunt-
ing magazine in the market. On behalf of Pat, myself
and crew, we are honored to bring Western Hunting
Journal to life. Welcome to the family.